Not many yards farther on the long file of horsemen entered a little glade, pleasantly shaded.
“Hooray!” cried Cranny. “Isn’t this fine?”
“Great!” responded Dave. “I could stay here all day!”
The steady crashing of horses’ hoofs in the underbrush suddenly ceased, and men and boys dismounted. After securing their mounts to convenient saplings they sought the cool, greenish shadows, where each, with expressions of satisfaction, immediately stretched himself out on the ground.
The party quickly found, however, that they were not destined to remain there long in peace. Hordes of mosquitoes swarmed down upon them; and though a vigorous defense was offered to the vicious attacks, the immense numbers of the little buzzing insects made such efforts almost futile.
“Mercy, help!” murmured Don.
“Kill ’em and they come right back,” grumbled Dick; “eh, Tom?”
Tom, however, merely nodded. He expected discomforts out in the open and when they came generally bore them with heroic fortitude.
“I say, Carl,” he exclaimed, “where is the ranch of this Colonel Brookes Sylvester, who has been having trouble with the rustlers?”
