“Not so much as a rattler. They must all have holes somewhere here among the stones. Mind! Take care!”
“What for? Why?”
“They may come darting out and attack us.”
“I say,” continued Griggs, after a careful look round, “weren’t dazed with the hot sun and dreamed all that, did we?”
“Did the mules and horses dream it too?” cried Chris scornfully.
“No, of course not. But it’s a puzzle, my lad. I wouldn’t have believed such a sight possible; but there it was. And now I wouldn’t have believed this could have happened; but it has, for I can’t see a snake.”
“Never mind the snakes as they’re not here,” said Chris, setting the example of reining up, for the two mustangs to stand calmly enough; “I want to find those two water-barrels.”
“Ah, to be sure; we’ve come for them,” said Griggs, looking curiously about. “I say, was that the mule that carried the kegs?”
“Oh yes; didn’t you see the pack-saddle?”
“To be sure. If it hadn’t been for that I should have been ready to say that the one with the water had gone right off somewhere.”