“Couldn’t be beat!” declared Frank, who was doing the same thing as was his chum, and with as much relief to his cramped muscles.
“But we’ve got to go hungry to-night, boys,” remarked Mr. Riley; “which is some hardship to a couple of lively and growing lads, I take it.”
“Oh! if it comes to the worst,” chuckled Frank, “I’ve got a little something here in my ditty bag. Always carry a small lot of dried beef along. Once in a while it comes in mighty handy. Try it, Bob?”
“It might take my mind off other things if I worked my jaws; so perhaps you can pass me along a little hunk,” the other replied. “Fact is, I’m more thirsty than near the starvation point.”
“Hark!”
Frank said this, as he sat upright.
“It was only one of the horses, Frank, giving a little wheeze,” Bob remarked.
“Yes, I know that; and it was Buckskin too,” Frank went on. “I reckon I know just what that little wheeze means. The wise chap smells water close by. There must be a creek coming down from the hills somewhere near.”
“Perhaps if we listened we might hear it gurgle,” suggested Bob.
“That’s a good idea, old fellow,” Frank observed.