Sunday was spent at Fort Laramie, and bright and early Monday morning they took again to the trail, which now led across some broad stretches of prairie lands, dotted here and there with clumps of trees and bushes. Soon they were along the Platte once again, and then they left the immediate vicinity of the river and took to the dry bed of a stream which had once been a good-sized body of water. By Wednesday they were again ascending a ridge. "We'll be getting to the foothills soon," said Mark. "Then is when the real climbing will begin." "Not to say anything about when we reach the real mountains," put in Bob. "They say some of the spots are fearful." "The question is, are we going through this fall or are we going to wait until next spring?" came from Si. "We've got to do one thing or tudder." "Oh, don't let us wait," said Mark, impatiently. "I don't know as we can afford to wait," added the former sailor boy. "We haven't any too much money, and if we remain here all winter we'll be stranded in the spring, so far as money is concerned." The boys talked it over several nights, while seated around the campfire. They learned that Socket was going through without delay, and also several other emigrants with families. "If those fellows can get through with women and children we ought to be able to get through," said Mark. "Maybe they won't get through," said Maybe Dixon, who was present. "More'n one pusson has lost his life on a mountain trail in snowy weather." "I know that," answered Bob. "But I, for one, am pretty tough. When I was whaling I was often out in the north seas in a blinding snowstorm and always got back to the ship in safety." "All the same, I reckon a howling snowstorm in the mountains is not to be sneezed at," said Si, with a shake of his head. There was a general pause. "Do we go, or don't we?" asked Mark, boldly. "I say go on." "So do I." "We'll risk it." And so it was decided. Maybe Dixon said he would accompany them, and made out a list of what he thought they ought to take along on the long and perilous climb over the Rockies. The roads so far had been fair, but now they often struck barren spots and places where it was next to impossible to get good water. "Gosh, how this smells!" exclaimed Si, on getting a drink one afternoon at a spring. "There is sulphur in that water, and also magnesia," answered Mark. "Will it hurt one to drink it?" "I think not--but I wouldn't drink too much." The next day they came to another spring, this time of good, cold water. Over the spring was a rude board on which were the words: Drink Your Fill Here! Thirty-two Miles to the Next Good Water! "There's a warning for all," said Si. "I am going to get all I want." "Yes, and we'll give Darling a good drink too," added Bob.