"If we don't bag at
least one of 'em, we may not get another such chance all the time we are
out here."
Presently they came to something of a hollow on the mountain side. Here
was a fine spring of sparkling water, and all stopped long enough to get
a refreshing drink. It was hot in the sun and all were beginning to
perspire freely.
"If we get those elk we'll earn 'em," was Roger's comment.
"Right you are!" panted Phil.
"How much further have we to go?" questioned Dave.
"Not over a quarter of a mile," answered the cowboy. He was still in the
lead and he had his eyes on the alert for the first glimpse at the big
game.
The boys were pretty well winded when Sid Todd called a halt. They had
reached a clump of cedar trees and beyond was an open spot among a
number of loose rocks, with patches of rich mountain grass between.
"Gone!" said the cowboy, with a deep sigh.
"Gone!" echoed the three boys, in dismay.
"Yes, gone. They were right out yonder, grazing as peacefully as could
be. Now I don't see 'em anywhere," continued the cowboy, mournfully.
"It's too bad!" murmured Dave. "Maybe you would have done better if you
had fired on them."
"I wanted you lads to have a chance."
"Perhaps they are still in this vicinity," suggested Roger.
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