"I hope we don't have as much trouble here as we did in that range.
Our guide is not much better than the Shawnee we had for a time on
that trip. I can't see the foothills, but the plain on beyond is
pretty clear."

"Hope we don't have to chase all over the desert for water. I--"

Tad grasped his companion by the sleeve and jerked him violently to
the rock.

"What's up? What's the matter with you?" protested Stacy.

"Keep still, some one's coming."

The lad's keen ears had caught a sound which Stacy had entirely failed
to hear. It was the sound of horses making their way through the
bushes. There were several in the party, Tad could tell by the sounds,
and having in mind the man Lasar, he thought he might perhaps learn
something of advantage by remaining quietly on the top of the rock.

All this he explained in a few brief words to his companion. Then both
boys crouched low, peering over the cliff, having first removed their
sombreros.

What they saw, a few moments later, surprised them very much indeed.

The horsemen in single file suddenly appeared out of a draw to the
east and headed for the rock where the lads were in hiding.