The two lads gazed at each other. Their plight was a serious one, for they were in no condition to remain out in the cold night without shelter.
All at once, from somewhere off to the left, there came a curious noise. It startled the lads, and Nat exclaimed:
“What’s that?”
“I don’t know,” answered Jack. “Some sort of an animal,” and in spite of himself he felt the cold chills running down his spine.
“Maybe it’s a bear,” suggested Nat. “I wish——”
The noise came again, louder than before, and closer.
Jack burst into a laugh.
“Aren’t we the ninnies?” he exclaimed. “Those are our horses whinnying, and the echoes made their calls sound strange. Now we’re all right, Nat. We’ll find the horses and ride right to camp.”
“My! but that’s good news!” responded his companion.
Once more came the whinnying, and following the direction of the sound, the lads soon came to their horses, but, to their surprise, the steeds were standing in among the sawtooth peaks of the bad lands.