“If riding affects them like that,” Virginia laughed, “it is time we called a halt. What do you say, Jim?”
“For ten minutes,” Jim nodded.
They fell from their mounts, grateful for the respite. Tom promptly stretched out on the ground, his hat over his face to shut out the sun. Jim led the horses to a little stream of water as the girls stamped the stiffness out of their cramped legs.
“Where’s Jim?” Virginia wanted to know at the end of the allotted ten minutes for Jim was not in sight. The horses were standing ready for their riders, but they could not proceed without the guide.
Virginia went over and poked her brother into wakefulness.
“What’s the matter?” he asked drowsily.
“Jim hasn’t come back yet,” Virginia informed him, “and if we don’t get started, we won’t make our next campsite before dark.”
Tom stretched lazily. “Well, stay here an’ I’ll find him.”
Gale and Virginia mounted their horses and the others did likewise.
“You know, I’m either going to wear the horse out or he is going to wear me out,” Janet declared with a grimace as she lowered herself into the saddle. “I’m afraid it is the latter.”