CHAPTER XII
During one part of the journey Steve Harrison and Murray had found the ledge along the mountain side pretty rough travelling, but their horses were used to picking their way along bad roads, and after a while they succeeded in getting out on to the comparatively smooth slope of the pine-forest.
"Our only risk now is that we may meet some of their hunters up here after game. We'll push right on."
"I'll fight if it can't be helped, Murray, but I'd a good deal rather not meet anybody."
"Well, so had I. Our business, just now, is scouting, not killing."
"I'll scout all day," said Steve.
"We must find a hiding-place for the horses, and creep down into the valley on foot. I'll show you some new tricks to-day."
The trees were large and the forest open, and no proper place was found for the concealment of such large animals, until they made their way at last to the very edge of the pass, at the point where it left the rugged cliffs of the "gap" and entered the more gentle slope of the forest.
"This'll do, Steve. I could hide a company in here; and no one squad need know where the next one was lying."