“It would be a bad spot for a runaway,” returned Jack.
Back of the precipice was some brushwood, as well as a number of tall trees, and here the boys proceeded to make themselves at home. They had sandwiches, cake, and some fruit, and that being so did not deem it necessary to start a fire for the purpose of making anything hot to drink. They had passed a spring in coming up to the precipice, and obtained a bucket of cool, clear water.
“This region is certainly a lonely one,” said Jack while they were eating. “Just think—we’ve been traveling for better than three hours and haven’t met a soul!”
“It would be a great place for a stage hold-up,” returned Randy. “The bandits could get away with almost anything out here.”
“We don’t want any hold-up,” put in Fred. “All we want to do is to enjoy ourselves,” and he leaned back contentedly against a tree while munching a chicken sandwich.
A little later found the boys again on the way, and by three o’clock in the afternoon they came in sight of Gansen Lake. The lake was supplied from a mountain torrent and the torrent contained a waterfall ten or twelve feet in height and half that in width.
“Here is certainly an ideal place for camping out!” exclaimed Jack. “To my mind, it could not be better.”
“It’s all to the mustard!” sang out Andy. “Let’s unload right here and call it a day.”
“That lake looks mighty inviting to me,” declared Fred. “I’ll say a swim wouldn’t go bad.”
“Now you’ve said something!” burst out Randy. “Let’s get settled as soon as we can and then go swimming.”