“Gone!” Dr. Rander could hardly believe the fact.
Bob and Joe had watched the accident tensely, unable to render any assistance to the terrified mule. At last they climbed up on the rock with a resolution to take matters as they were.
“Talk about adventure,” said Bob with a grim smile. “I guess we’re getting plenty of it.”
“Just wait,” murmured Joe meaningly. “This won’t be anything to what’s coming, or else I’ll miss my guess.”
“I sincerely hope nothing else will happen today,” Dr. Rander said. “I wish to get beyond this short range of mountains before nightfall.”
They later saw that traveling was so slow that it would be impossible to do this. But they were well on the other side of the peaks when darkness overtook them.
“Now to make camp,” sang Bob, tethering the foremost mule to a stout crag.
“Wait,” called Joe, who was just out of sight around a turn.
“What for?”