"Then you agree, do you?" demanded the other, eagerly. "I'll keep my eyes peeled for sight of a deer, and I do hope it isn't going to be long before we get a chance at one." As luck would have it, before another ten minutes had passed the opportunity he was hoping for came their way. Dick was ready, and with the report of his gun a yearling doe fell in a heap, just when in the act of plunging into the dense thicket. Of course Roger would not think of any delay in getting a fire going and some of the tender meat broiling before the flames. While he looked after the fire Dick cut up the game, and it was not long before an appetizing odor began to make both boys wishful for the feast to begin. "We can make up for this stop," said Roger as he sat there devouring piece after piece of the half-cooked venison, "by not halting at noon for a rest. Then again, we can hurry our steps at times and so get along faster." "No trouble about that," Dick assured him, "for I figure that we have plenty of time to get there by dark. You remember that we were only on the move some six hours yesterday, and we have the whole of to-day for tramping." "Do you know, Dick, this reminds me of how we chased after the expedition for weeks and weeks when determined to find Jasper Williams, and get that paper signed for our parents. Hundreds of miles we followed the trail as it ascended the Missouri River, until at last we overtook them."[4] "What we did once we can do again, this time on a small scale," Dick assured him. "I was just watching those crows over there in that tree-top. They seem to be holding a regular caucus, and keep on scolding like everything." "Yes," added the other boy, "and sometimes crows turn out to be a pest in lots of ways besides eating the settler's corn. Old hunters have told me they hide from crows whenever they find themselves in hostile territory, because through their cawing the birds tell the Indians strangers are in the woods." "There, the whole lot has flown away, and making all sorts of noises in the bargain," Dick went on to say. "I don't like crows myself any too much. They are too noisy, and seem to think every one is trying to creep up on them for a shot." "When we do strike the river, Dick, can we easily tell whether the expedition has passed or not?" "All we have to do is to examine the ground, for their horses would leave a plain trail, you know, Roger." "And if, after searching, we do not find any sign, we will know they haven't come along yet. In that case all we have to do will be to sit down, and take things easy until they show up." Roger seemed to have left most of his troubles behind, after making a good breakfast on the deer meat. With the intention of chiding him for displaying any eagerness for food when there was none to be had, Dick took up the subject again as they trudged manfully onward.