“We’d better dump all that other stuff away,” said Fred. “No use of carrying it if it isn’t fit to eat.”
“Maybe some of it is good,” returned Andy.
“Do you want to sample it and make sure?” questioned Jack, with a grin.
“Not on your life! I wouldn’t want that burning taste in my mouth again for a hundred dollars.”
The boys threw the highly-seasoned cake and the doughnuts away, repacked what was left of the other food, and then continued on their ride. The trail led through the patch of timber and then over some rather rough rocks and through some brushwood. Among the rocks they found a spring where the water was clear and cold, and here they had a most refreshing drink and watered their horses.
“It’s queer this spring is away up here on the top of the hill,” remarked Spouter. “That water must flow underground from the mountains yonder.”
“What a lot of underground streams there must be!” returned Fred.
While moving along those in the lead had kept their eyes open for more snakes. But no reptiles appeared, for which they were thankful.
“But I’m sorry we didn’t see some sort of wild animals,” said Randy, in speaking of this. “I thought sure we’d see a bear or a deer or something like that.”
Even birds seemed to be scarce in that vicinity, and the only sound that broke the stillness as they advanced was their own voices and the clatter of the horses’ hoofs on the rocks.