"Yes," agreed Bud, "it isn't more than five miles, though we'd have to carry lanterns, and we might get lost in some side passage."
"That's just what I want to find out about!" cried Nort. "If there is a branch passage maybe that's where the water goes! Come on, Bud, let's go through the tunnel!"
"I'm with you!" said Dick.
For a moment Bud hesitated and then, as he was about to reply, there came the sudden sound of a shot, which shattered the night with a sliver of flame, plainly visible to the boys.
Instantly a band of coyotes set up their weird howling, and the startled steers lowed and bellowed as they rushed about.
CHAPTER X
INTO THE TUNNEL
"What's that?" cried Bud.
"Who's there?" demanded Nort.