“And no sign of those rascals yet,” grumbled Dig. “Could we have crossed their trail without knowing it?” “Sure!” admitted Chet promptly. “I’ve been looking sharply for signs, and so have you. But everything or anything is possible on the trail. We aren’t the smartest fellows who ever lived, Dig. If we were only a little bit smarter we wouldn’t have been robbed at all.” “Don’t rub it in,” grumbled Digby. “I hold myself responsible for all this trouble.” “I don’t hold you responsible. Just bad luck and bad figuring. I am fully as much to blame as you are. I had reason to believe we were being followed, and you hadn’t. Humph! No use crying over spilled milk.” “That’s all right,” said Dig. “But where are we going to camp to-night? In the open, or shall we push on to that timber?” “We’ll be more sheltered there,” Chet said, gazing ahead at the distant line of trees. “There is water between here and there. We can let the horses drink, refill our canteens, and push on for the woods.” “Just as you say. Get up, Poke!” The timber was much farther away than it seemed, however. The boys did find water; rather, they let the horses find it for them. But it was an open water-hole and the sun had evaporated the water until it was very low. “Maybe there will be a running stream in the woods. This is as flat as dishwater,” declared Dig, tasting it. “’Tisn’t fit to drink straight. Wish we could boil some of our coffee.” “Let’s keep on to the timber and make a regular camp,” Chet advised. “Then I’ll rig something to hold a canteen over the fire and make coffee.” “You can’t do it.” “Well, I can try,” returned Chet. “Anyway, we’ll take shelter in the woods. Our camp won’t be spotted so far.” “Waugh!” ejaculated Dig, with disgust. “No use in locking the stable after the horse has been swiped. Those fellows don’t want anything more of us, that’s sure. They’ll let us alone after this, I reckon.” But he did not oppose his chum’s suggestion. They got into the saddle again and pushed for the timber line. The sun had sunk altogether behind the mountains and darkness on the plain gathered quickly. The timber was tall and thick and they were in the shadow of it for some time before they reached the first line of trees. It was Chet who observed the light first. It twinkled at a stationary point some distance back in the forest. He drew in Hero quickly and put out a hand to warn Dig back. “There’s a campfire,” he said quietly. “Whew! Who’s that, do you suppose?” “That’s what we want to find out,” Chet said, with decision. “And we want to find it out before we get into any trouble. Look out, Dig! that black scamp is going to whinny.” Dig swiftly stifled that desire on Poke’s part by pinching his nostrils between thumb and finger. “There are other horses here, you may be sure. We’d better take our horses back farther and tether them before we do anything else.”