other thoughts left the mind of Stacy Brown when the question of food
was raised. He quickly slipped from his pony, running back to hurry
the burros along so as to hasten the meal for which he was yearning.
Only one burro was unpacked, as it was the intention of the outfit to
push on soon after finishing their lunch.

While the guide, under Ned's direction, was making it ready, Tad and
Chunky strolled off to climb a high rock that they had seen in the
vicinity and which, they thought, might give them a good view of the
plains to the southwest on the other side of the range.

They had promised to be back in half an hour, but circumstances arose
that caused them to delay their return considerably.

After threshing through the bushes, over sharp rocks and through
miniature canyons, they gained at last the object of their quest. The
distance had been further than they had imagined.

"We'll have to make a short trip of it up to the top and back," said
Tad. "It has taken us almost all our time to get here. But we'll have
a look, anyway."

They soon gained the top of the rock, which stood some twenty feet
higher than the crest of the mountain on which it rested.

"Isn't this great?" exclaimed Tad.

"Might think we were in the Rockies."

"Or the Ozarks."