A long time passed; yawns came with steadily increasing frequency, and on several occasions only heroic efforts saved him from falling over into a doze.
"Hello," he murmured, suddenly, "there's the moon coming up; isn't that dandy?"
In the east, a faint glow was beginning to show. It slowly increased, edging masses of low-lying clouds with lines of silvery white. Dick almost forgot his sleepy feelings as he watched them growing stronger and stronger. Presently the rim of the moon appeared in view over the hills.
"Gee! That's a corking fine sight," muttered Dick. "Wouldn't Dave like—"
His sentence came to an abrupt close.
With a suddenness that made him almost jump, the bronchos began snorting and neighing loudly, evidently in the grip of frantic fear.
CHAPTER XIII
THE BIG CAT
Dick Travers was profoundly astonished.