"Why?"
"Because we'd want the break to come as far away as possible from either end, to make it take longer to find and mend it."
"That's right, Dick. I never thought of that. Then there isn't really much use looking along here. We might as well ride fast to a point about half way. We'll find the break there."
"No, we don't want to do that, Bud. We'll just ride along as we have been going, and we'll look at every foot of wire."
"But I thought you said——"
"I said if we had to cut an enemy's telephone line, we'd probably do it about half way between the two main points. But we can't take any chances. These fellows may have reasoned that we'd think they cut it half way, and, just to fool us, they may have gone only a quarter way."
"Oh, shucks! If you think onery sheep herders have brains to do any of that sort of reasoning, you're 'way off, Dick!"
"Well, maybe I am, but we won't take any chances. We'll inspect every foot until we come to the break."
And this plan was followed.
It was not until after they had ridden several miles that they saw, dangling between two poles, the severed ends of the wire.