Of course the others would have much preferred that Billie stay with the animals, but neither of them dared hint as much. He had as much right to go as they did, if he felt so inclined. So Donald hastily started to fasten the pack mule to a branch. As for _Wireless_, the broncho had been well trained, as a cow pony always is, and when his reins were dropped over his head he would stand a long time unless something unusual occurred to frighten him. Adrian was of the same mind, as could be seen from the way he threw his bridle forward, and then landed on his feet. “Me too,” said Billie, promptly; and with the words he proceeded to fix _Jupiter_ after the same fashion, knowing that the horses would be quite content to stand there in company. All this had taken place in much less time than it takes to tell it. The Witch Doctor had disappeared from sight, but could not be so far ahead but that they might quickly overtake him, if they were spry. Donald led off, as it had been his proposition which the others had accepted; and on this account, as well as his familiarity with the customs of these strange cliff dwellers, he might be accorded the position of pilot, during the time they remained in the neighborhood of the Zuni village. The boy had taken particular note of the place where the strangely attired old medicine man had last been seen; and it took the three chums but a few seconds to arrive there. Just as the guide anticipated, he found that there was something in the nature of a path worn along the rocks, and among the dead fragments of brushwood. It was as though the Witch Doctor had gone back and forth along this same route many times a week for years and years. What influenced Donald and Adrian to accept of this sudden opportunity to spy on the Zuni medicine man it would be hard to say. Perhaps Donald, whose father was a mine operator as well as a big rancher, may have had a little notion that he would like to know more about the source of that precious metal which report said the old magician knocked from some wonderfully rich ledge inside the mountain nearby the village. That would not be so very strange after all, though the boy might be taking fearful risks in thus following such a vindictive old fellow as the Witch Doctor was reported to be. As for Adrian, he did not have the same sort of temptation beckoning him on. In all probability the subject of mines and rich ore deposits would have failed to lure him; whereas the prospect of a pleasant little mystery to be solved would act as a spur.