Silently the others followed the directions of their leader, and once again they plunged into the brushwood. The way was harder than before and more than once they had to halt, not knowing exactly how to proceed.
"This is dead loads of fun," grunted Whopper. "Never had such fun since I was born. It's almost as good as chopping wood when the other fellows are playing ball!"
"Do you want to go back?" questioned Snap, quickly. "For you can if you wish, you know."
"Humph! not much. I'm going to see the end of it."
"Then, don't grumble," put in Giant. "It's harder work for me to climb the rocks than you."
On they went until they came to another opening. They gazed forward eagerly, but to their chagrin the deer had disappeared.
"Now what do you make of that?" came quickly from Shep.
"They can't be far off," said Snap, cheerfully. "Perhaps they are just beyond the bushes yonder."
Up the mountainside they went, sometimes abreast and then in Indian file. Soon they came to a mass of heavy undergrowth.
"Gracious, what a tangle this is!" cried Giant. "I don't seem to be \able to get through, no matter how hard I try."