“But that needn’t worry us,” said Bob. “We’ve got fine shelter, even if it should rain, which it won’t. And the refrigerator——”
“Yes, one of us can crawl in there and sleep!” laughed Ned.
“Suppose we camp right here,” suggested Jerry, bringing the car to a stop. It was on a sort of wagon road that ran over a big grassy plain.
“This is as good as any,” agreed Ned. “I don’t see why we didn’t hit the ranch, though.”
They made their preparations for spending the night, not exactly in the open, for they had their shelter tent, but at least far from any habitation. There seemed no need of setting a watch and after an hour or two spent around the campfire, they turned into their bunks and were soon sound asleep.
It was still dark when Jerry was awakened by hearing a movement outside the shelter curtains of their tent. It was as though some large body were being dragged over the ground, and there was a distant hum and murmur.
Then as the lad sat up on his cot to listen better he heard a voice saying distinctly:
“It’ll be easier to drive them over to the north I reckon. There aren’t many in this bunch and they’re quietin’ down.”
“Yes,” agreed someone else. “But for well brought up cattle these were as ornery a bunch as I ever seen. They’re all right now, though, an’ we can soon run ’em over.”
Jerry was out of bed in a hurry, and a second later had awakened Ned and Bob, but had prevented them from calling out by putting his hand over their mouths.