"Sun gone to your head, too, Chunky?" chuckled Ned. "Oh, no, I forgot; it's dog days," he added maliciously.
"Your master had better get a collar and chain for you, then, Ned," laughed Stacy, in high good humor with himself.
The guide's voice put a sudden end to their merriment.
"Here's the river," he cried. "There is plenty of water in it, too."
The boys gathered about him quickly.
"I don't see any river," averred Walter.
"There isn't any," answered Ned, in a low voice.
"I'll show you whether there is or not," snapped Parry, who had overheard the remark. "You boys think I have gone crazy, don't you? You'll find there is something to learn about this old Nevada Desert—some things that you never even dreamed of. Hand me a shovel, please."
All at once Stacy began pushing his companions roughly aside.
"Here, here, Fatty! What are you trying to do?" the others demanded, beginning to struggle with him to prevent being bowled over.