The fact suggested more than one startling supposition, but the youths were in no mood to speculate thereon, for it will be admitted that the incidents of the forenoon were sufficient to engage their thoughts.
It was a hard fact, however, that when they looked at their watches and found that it was noon, the most interesting subject that presented itself was as to how they could secure the meal which they felt was overdue.
"Let's make a hunt in a different direction," said Fred.

"It is best to keep away from the neighborhood of those Indians, so far as we can locate them from the shots we occasionally hear, for the game isn't likely to stay where they are." "Off yonder to the north appears to be a valley," remarked Jack, after the two had studied their surroundings for some minutes through their glasses.

"I can't tell how extensive it is, for it is shut out by that mountain peak on the right, but I suppose one place is as good as another." Having agreed as to their course, they wasted no time.

It was a long and severe tramp to the locality, for again the peculiar purity of the atmosphere misled them, and what they took to be one mile proved to be fully double that length.

Finally the hungry lads reached a ridge from whose top they could look down in the valley that had first caught their attention, but which for the last hour had been excluded from their sight by the intervening obstacles.
"Now, we can't tell whether any game is below waiting for us," said Jack, "but we can't lose anything by acting as if there is." It was a wise precaution, as speedily became apparent.