“Well, they call it that,” explained Jack, as he told how it came to be formed.
“Cæsar’s side saddles!” suddenly exclaimed Nat, when they had gone a little farther. “Did you see that rabbit? It was as big as a dog!”
“That’s a jack-rabbit,” explained Mr. Pierce.
“Why didn’t I keep out my gun?” asked Sam with regret in his voice. “I’d like a shot at it. That’s the biggest game I’ve seen in some time.”
“Wait until you see a mule deer, or a big-horn sheep,” said Mr. Blender. “Then you can talk.”
They continued on slowly for several miles, the view changing every moment, and bringing forth exclamations of astonishment and delight from the boys. To Jack and Nat, who had been West before, there was not so much novelty in it, but Sam, Budge and Bony said they had never seen such beautiful aspects of mountain and valley.
They stopped at noon to get dinner at a stage station, and though the place was of the “rough and ready” style, the meal was good.
“’Sanycowboys?” asked Budge of Jack, as they came out to resume their journey.
“I suppose you mean where are any cowboys,” said Jack, and Budge nodded, being too busily engaged in preparing a fresh wad of gum at that moment to answer in words.