But Polly now bent suddenly forward and intently eyed something she saw on the verge of the ledge above. She kept her eyes focused there, and carefully felt for and caught up her rifle. She silently lifted it, took aim, and fired! A gleam of red and a spurt of blue came from the mouth of the gun even as the sharp report cracked the echoes in the gully. Instantly following the shot, a wild howling as of fifty beasts fighting, made Polly shoot again. Snarls and yelps followed, until Polly heard the clamor grow fainter until all was quiet once more. "Well, girls! As long as we are fully awake, suppose we forage for breakfast and make an early start!" said Anne. "Can we get away, do you think, Polly?" asked Eleanor. "Yes, it's a clear morning and it doesn't take long for the snow to melt, once it gets started!" replied Polly. "Have you enough ammunition to load again in case of need?" questioned Anne. "Yes, I always look after that! But I was wondering what we can have for breakfast?" "Ha! Leave that to the cook!" laughed Anne, going to the ledge and reaching up behind a crevice in the rocky wall. She brought forth one of the small fish spared from the night before. "Good for you, Anne! If you could only dig up some sandwiches as readily!" laughed Polly. "Maybe I can do that too, if you will look after the horses and burros!" said Anne, taking a small newspaper bundle from behind her spruce bed. When opened, it showed that Anne had stolen some of the oats from the feed. This she rolled between two stones until it was crushed. Then she told Eleanor to pick out as many of the husks as possible. "She's going to give us Rolled Oats, as I live!" laughed Eleanor. Polly smiled for she was surprised to find Anne could prepare a feast in the wilderness; and soon the oatmeal was cooking beside the fish-pan. "How can you girls enjoy that awful stuff without sugar or cream?" asked Barbara, plaintively. "We're eating ours without a grumble, but I notice, you are also eating yours and doing all the complaining!" retorted Eleanor. "I have to eat it to keep from starving, still I can't enjoy it as you seem to, Nolla. I declare, you seem to be getting awfully common in your tastes." "Huh! Show me a selection of food for breakfast!" laughed Eleanor, smacking her lips over the last spoonful of oats. "What shall we do about feeding the animals?" asked Eleanor, as they got up from the ground to pack up the pans and other stuff waiting to be taken back home. "We'll stop at the first good Park and let them graze for an hour or two. Then a good drink from a stream will fix them all right!" said Polly, glancing at Noddy, who had come from her stall and stood looking sleepily at the girls. "Doesn't Noddy look for all the world like a sleepy child who has to get up for school, but who hates to be disturbed!" laughed Anne, as Noddy's tousled head bobbed up and down while she sniffed the air redolent with oatmeal.