“Nor I,” admitted Frank. “But I thought it best to investigate.”
The horse was again set at liberty. They had no time to bother with it then. Once more they found the trail and rode on.
Before them loomed the dark chaparral, into which wound the road they followed. On either hand the tangled thicket was dark and grim.
“A right nasty place for a hold-up!” muttered Buckhart, whose hand was on his pistol.
“If any one tries that little trick,” observed Cap’n Wiley, “it’s my sagacious opinion that they are due to receive a surprise that will disturb their mental condition and throw their quivering nerves into the utmost agitation. I am ready to keep the air full of bullets, for in that way something will surely be hit. Reminds me of the time when I went gunning with Johnny Johnson. We came to a promising strip of forest, and he took one side and I took the other. Pretty soon I heard him banging away, and he kept shooting and shooting until I grew black in the face with envy. I reckoned he was bagging all the game in that preserve. In my seething imagination I saw him with partridges, and woodcock, and other things piled up around him knee-deep.
“For just about an hour he kept on shooting regular every few seconds. At last I came to him, for I didn’t find a single measly thing to pop at. Imagine my astonishment when I found him idly reclining in a comfortable position on the ground and firing at intervals into the air. ‘John, old man,’ says I, ‘what are you doing?’ ‘Wiley,’ he answered, ‘I am out for game. I haven’t been able to find any, but I know where there is some in this vicinity. I arrived at the specific conclusion that if I could keep the air full of shot I’d hit something after a while, and so I am carrying my wise plan into execution.’ Oh, I tell you, John was a great hunter—a great hunter!”
“Better cut that out,” said Frank. “This is a first-class time for you to give your wagging jaw a rest, cap’n.”
“Thanks, mate; your suggestion will be appropriated unto me.”
Through the chaparral they went, their eyes searching the trail and noting every dark spot on the ground. At length they came to the farther border of the thicket, but without making any discovery.
“Here’s where Felicia said the race began,” said Brad. “We haven’t found a thing, Frank—not a thing.”