"Yes," answered Ned anxiously.
"We'll crawl along in the shadow to the south. I think the prowlers are up there on the ridge to the west. If they are, they'll be watching the camp-fire. Maybe they have smelled us and run away by this time, even if they didn't hear us talking."
"Keep still, everybody," warned Ned.
The boys stole along as silently as shadows. After moving some ten rods to the south, Tad motioned for them to turn west, which they did.
No sooner had they changed their course, however, than Chunky with a loud "Ouch!" plunged headlong, his rifle falling several feet ahead of him. With frightful howls he began hugging one foot, rocking back and forth in great pain.
"What's the matter?" snapped Ned Rector.
"My foot! My foot!"
"What about it——"
"I—I don't know. I——"
Tad grabbed the boy by the collar, jerking him clear of the place. The first thought that came to him was that Stacy had been bitten by a snake, though Tad did not even know whether or not there were snakes on the desert.