“That’s what we will!” added Nat. “First thing you know we’ll wake up some night and find ourselves gone.”
They made preparations to be away all night if necessary, taking plenty of blankets and food. Budge and Long Gun decided to remain in camp to look after things.
“S’posin’youdon’tcomeback?” asked Budge, all in one word.
“Oh, we’ll come back,” replied Jack confidently. “If we don’t, you and Long Gun will have to come after us.”
“Where’llyoube?”
“You’ll have to hunt,” was Jack’s answer as he flicked his horse with the quirt.
They had decided to do some hunting as they proceeded, and were on the lookout for game. The weather continued fine, and the snow had disappeared, though they might expect heavy storms almost any day, Long Gun said.
They crossed the mountain ridge, and started down the other side, without having had a chance to shoot anything. They reached the place where they had seen the mysterious marks in the snow, and made a careful examination, but could discover nothing new.
“Well, Jack, which way now?” asked Sam as they stood looking about them.
“Down the mountain,” decided Jack. “I think we may get a shot at some deer, if we don’t find anything else in the valley. Long Gun said it was a good hunting ground.”