The cowboys who were to stay at home and perform the regular routine of ranch duties accompanied the party for several miles; then at a sign from Lige Smith they gave a parting yell and turned back. At last the treasure seekers were off in good shape, with all sorts of possible adventures lying ahead in the unknown lands they must traverse. Frank, however, could not keep Minnie's queer manner from filling his thoughts as he rode on his way. CHAPTER IX LANKY'S SCHEME WOBBLES Knowing the magnitude of the journey they had before them, the adventurers did not intend to make any attempt at speed. They must preserve the strength of their mounts for the hard part of the trip after arriving in the rough region of the mountainous country. They had a cold snack and rested their mounts at noon. The forty miles in a southwesterly direction was passed over before a halt was again made for supper. Jerry and Zander Forbes were in charge, the one as "big boss," the other in the guise of a guide; though most of Jerry's work was apt to come after they reached their goal and found themselves at the old mining camp. When they put saddles on the ponies, and started off, they faced due west and a setting sun. "Only for that heat haze over there," raid Zander to the boys close at his side, "you might glimpse the tops of the mountains if you happened to have sharp eyes and knew just where to look. Most green-horns would be apt to reckon it was only the dim outline of a low-hanging line of white clouds." Lanky strained his eyes to stare in that direction. Sometimes he felt pretty certain he could just discern a faint line above the level horizon, which he fondly told himself must really be the outline of the lofty Rockies, the object of their long ride. When the day was done the sun had finally disappeared and the glorious bed of crimson and gold that awakened lively feelings of admiration in the souls of the boys had turned to dark blue, it was decided to camp for the night on the prairie. This was now nothing new to Frank and his chums, since they had been out overnight several times with some of the punchers, riding range after straying stock. "I'm glad of one thing, though," Lanky told Paul, as a fire was kindled of such stuff as they had managed to pick up on the way. "Shoot!" exclaimed the other, when Lanky held back, as was his habit when he wanted, to enliven the curiosity of those in his company. "We didn't run across the rough-house gang of punchers that hold out over at the Double Z Ranch, nor yet any of the sheep-herders from over near Skidmore Station. We're trying to mind our own business and looking for trouble with no outfit, though of course we don't mean to be stood on." The night passed in comparative peace, though a pack of coyotes persisted in keeping up an all-night chorus of yelps and long-drawn howls that sounded more wolf than otherwise.