He rode slowly on. The patch of trees was really larger than he had imagined, and, while about it, Dick felt he should make doubly sure. Perhaps they might run on a small spring there in the oasis, though the appearance of things did not inspire him with much confidence.
“It would be even better than finding game, if we did come across a water hole,” he was telling himself as he pushed on.
He heard Roger give a loud yell on the other side of the oasis. Evidently he had just discovered the skulking animal and was shouting to start him in full flight across the sandy waste. But he did not shoot, for which Dick was glad.
Now, having arrived at the border of the scrubby trees, Dick jumped down and fastened his horse to a convenient branch. It was his intention to enter the patch of timber on foot, as Roger was doubtless doing from the other side. They could scour the whole of it in a brief time, and find out whether so much as a cup of water was to be obtained.
He could hear Roger advancing opposite to him, and knew they would soon meet. Even then he caught sight of the other moving along, though evidently hopeless of finding anything in the shape of game.
Dick had just opened his mouth to say something when he was thrilled to hear a dreadful, rattling sound that he knew only too well. At the same time Roger sprang hastily back, and uttered a loud cry of alarm.
CHAPTER XXVI
AMONG THE NEZ PERCES
“Look out, Dick, there are rattlesnakes all around here. I can see three of them right in front of you! Get back, Dick, get back, I tell you!”