"I don't know," answered Jack. "Some sort of an animal," and in spite of himself he felt the cold chills running down his spine.
"Maybe it's a bear," suggested Nat. "I wish----"
The noise came again, louder than before, and closer.
"Aren't we the ninnies?" he exclaimed. "Those are our horses whinnying, and the echoes made their calls sound strange. Now we're all right, Nat. We'll find the horses and ride right to camp."
"My! but that's good news!" responded his companion.
Once more came the whinnying, and following the direction of the sound, the lads soon came to their horses, but, to their surprise, the steeds were standing in among the sawtooth peaks of the bad lands.
"Didn't we leave them outside, on the edge of this pestiferous region?" asked Nat in some doubt.
"We sure did," replied Jack, "but they've pulled up the tether pegs and followed us in. Never mind, they can probably find their way out. We'll mount them and let them take us back to camp."
With hearts very much lighter, the two lads leaped into the saddle, and calling to the horses, let the reins lie lightly on their necks, trusting to the superior intelligence of the beasts to extricate them from their plight.
As if only waiting for their masters, the horses started off. It was almost dark now, and one or two early stars could be seen.
"Ho! for camp, and a good, hot supper!" exclaimed Jack.
"Jumping Johnniecakes! but you're right!" cried Nat with something of his old enthusiasm. "I don't believe I ever was so hungry."
The horses walked at a fast pace, and seemed to have no hesitation in making their way out of the bad lands.
"Next time I'll ride my horse in," said Jack. "I didn't think it was good footing, or I'd have done it to-day."
They rode on for some time longer, and then Nat remarked:
"Seems to me it's taking quite a long while to get out of this place. The horses must have come in quite a distance."
"Maybe they did," agreed Jack, "or maybe they're taking us out on the other side. I don't know as it makes much difference."
"Well, we're going up hill, anyhow," went on Nat. "It's quite a grade."
It certainly was, and the horses were having no easy task. But they kept on, as if they knew just where they were going.
