"How much further have we to go?" questioned Dave.
"Not over a quarter of a mile," answered the cowboy. He was still in the lead and he had his eyes on the alert for the first glimpse at the big game.
The boys were pretty well winded when Sid Todd called a halt. They had reached a clump of cedar trees and beyond was an open spot among a number of loose rocks, with patches of rich mountain grass between.
"Gone!" said the cowboy, with a deep sigh.
"Gone!" echoed the three boys, in dismay.
"Yes, gone. They were right out yonder, grazing as peacefully as could be. Now I don't see 'em anywhere," continued the cowboy, mournfully.
"It's too bad!" murmured Dave. "Maybe you would have done better if you had fired on them."
"I wanted you lads to have a chance."
"Perhaps they are still in this vicinity," suggested Roger. "Let us take a look around."
The others were willing, and slowly and cautiously they made their way among the cedars and the big rocks, exposing themselves as little as possible, and speaking only in a whisper. They had the rifles and shotguns ready for action.