It was Phil who asked the question, as he and Dave and Roger watched the old miner disappear around a bend of the back trail.
"I don't know about that," returned Dave. "But if he gets the horses back it will be something."
"I should say yes!" cried the senator's son. "Why, we won't be able to go on unless we get them back!" he added, his face showing his worry.
"Listen!" exclaimed Roger a minute later. "Somebody is shooting!"
It was true—a shot had sounded out on the morning air. Soon it was followed by another, at a greater distance—showing that pursued and pursuer were drawing farther from the boys.
The boys walked slowly back to the campfire and commenced to stir it up, and then they finished their morning toilet. Dave heaved a deep sigh.
"I must say I don't feel much like eating," he observed.
"Oh, we might as well fix breakfast," came from Phil. "It will help to pass the time. It won't do any good to just sit around."
Fortunately their provisions were at hand, so it was an easy matter to prepare the morning meal. Before eating, however, Roger and Dave climbed the tall rock behind the camp and looked for some sign of Tom Dillon and the man he was pursuing.
"I can't see a thing," announced Roger, after a long look through the field-glasses. "Here, you try," and he handed the glasses to our hero.