"We'll risk it."
And so it was decided. Maybe Dixon said he would accompany them, and made out a list of what he thought they ought to take along on the long and perilous climb over the Rockies.
The roads so far had been fair, but now they often struck barren spots and places where it was next to impossible to get good water.
"Gosh, how this smells!" exclaimed Si, on getting a drink one afternoon at a spring.
"There is sulphur in that water, and also magnesia," answered Mark.
"Will it hurt one to drink it?"
"I think not—but I wouldn't drink too much."
The next day they came to another spring, this time of good, cold water. Over the spring was a rude board on which were the words:
Drink Your Fill Here!
Thirty-two Miles to the Next Good Water!
"There's a warning for all," said Si. "I am going to get all I want."