But Master Tad had already been using his eyes. He nodded as he caught the guide's eye.
"There has been a bunch of unshod ponies along here, if that is what you mean," he said.
"How do you know?" demanded Stacy.
"I see their tracks there. Saw them the minute I got over here."
"Maybe that's the crowd that called at our camp the other day," suggested Walter.
The guide shook his head.
"There was no one on these horses," said Tad.
"Right," emphasized the guide. "That's observation, young men. You will notice, by examining these hoofprints carefully, that the weight of the animal is thrown more on the toe——"
"How do you know that?" cut in Stacy.
"Because the toe sinks into the soil more than it would if the animals were loaded. In the latter event, the heels would dig deeper. Now if you will follow along a little further I may be able to show you the hoofprints of the leader of the band of wild horses, for that is what they are——"