Ned laid a hand on the shoulder of each boy.
"That shot attracted attention," he whispered, "or the runaways are coming back. I hear some one tramping over rock, and a moment ago I caught the gleam of a gun barrel."
"Then it's me for a hole to crawl into!" whispered Jimmie. "I've had troubles of my own for the past few hours! Say, but I'm hungry, boys."
The boys left their place of retreat just as a couple of bullets spattered on rock.
CHAPTER XVII
JUST A LITTLE DARK WASH
More shots were fired, but the boys were soon out of range. A flush of pink was showing in the sky now, and the sun would be up in half an hour. Jimmie looked longingly toward the camp, and Ned turned his footsteps that way.
"Speaking of quitters," Jimmie said, as they moved along, "the two men who geezled me take the bun! They quarreled all the time because some one else didn't come and do something they wanted done! No wonder they ducked when one shot was fired!"
"About the boy you saw yesterday afternoon," Ned asked. "Are you sure it was the lad who was brought to our camp?"
"Of course it was!"