CHAPTER XXI 

A WILDCAT AMONG THE HORSES 

The bringing down of the grouse filled the boys with satisfaction, and they inspected the game with much interest. 

"They'll make fine eating," declared Roger. 

"Let us see if we can't get some more," pleaded Phil. The "fever" of hunting had taken possession of him. 

"We'll not find much in this neighborhood," said Dave. "But I am willing to go a little further," he added, seeing how disappointed the shipowner's son looked. 

Placing the game over their shoulders, they reloaded their weapons and continued on through the forest, taking a trail that seemed to have been made by wild animals. Twice they had to cross a winding brook, and at the second fording-place Dave, who was in the rear, called a halt. 

"What do you want?" questioned Roger, as he and Phil turned back. 

"I want you to look at these hoofmarks," answered Dave, and he pointed up the stream a short distance. 

All passed to the locality indicated, and each youth looked at the hoofmarks with interest. They were made by a number of horses, probably six or eight, and though the marks were washed a little, as if by rain, they could still be plainly seen. 

"Do you think they were made by the horses that were stolen, Dave?" questioned Phil. 

"I don't know what to think." 

"The horse-thieves might easily have come this way," said the senator's son. "They would be more apt to go away from the ranch than towards it." 
Who was not happy they couldn't continue to hunt there?
"We'll not find much in this neighborhood," said Dave. "But I am willing to go a little further," he added, seeing how disappointed the shipowner's son looked. 