“Rock-basin holding rainwater,” explained the hunter. “There’s been no rainfall since August. If they find the _tenaja_ empty they’ll, have barely enough in the canteens they pack to get them to the next water, the Tenaja Poquita, around behind the mountains and across the desert into the next range.” “What’s the next water to that?” “The Stream of Palms. That’s a day and a half on foot.” For the space of a hundred oar-strokes Average Jones ruminated. “Suppose—er—they didn’t—er—find any water in the Tenaja Poquita, either?” he drawled. “Then they _would_ be up against it.” “And there’s no other water in the Pintos?” “Yes, there is,” said the captain. “There’s a _tenaja_ that’s so high up and so hidden that it’s only known to one other man besides me, and he’s an Indian. It’s less than an hour from the _tenaja_ that Richford will take his party to. And we’re sure of finding water there. It never dries up this early.” “Get me to young Hoff, then, Captain. You’re in command from the moment we land.” It was broad day when the keel pushed softly into the muddy bottom of a long, shallow arm of the lake. Captain Funcke rose, stretched the kinks out of his back, and jumped ashore. “You say I’m in command?” he inquired. “Absolute.” “Then you roll up under that _mesquite_ and fall asleep. I’m going to cast about for their trail.” To the worn-out oarsman, it seemed only a few moments later that an insistent grip on his shoulder aroused him. But the overhead sun, whose direct rays were fairly boiling the sweat out of him, harshly corrected this impression. “I’ve found their boat,” said Captain Funcke. “The trail heads for the Pintos. They’re traveling heavy. I don’t believe they’re twenty-four hours ahead of us.” Average Jones stumbled to his feet. “I’m ready,” he said. “It’s a case of travel light.” The hunter handed over a small bag of food and a large canteen full of water. He himself packed a much larger load, including two canteens and a powerful field-glass. Taking a shotgun from the boat, he shouldered it, and set out at a long, easy stride.