The Peril Finders Part 42

"Ducks they are," cried Griggs, as a little flock rose cackling from somewhere away to their right and skimmed along over the top of some waving reed-beds, but far out of shot.

"Another proof that we shall not starve," said the doctor, as they rode slowly on, with the gra.s.s in places reaching to their saddle-bows.

"Let's strike away to the left here," he continued. "I fancy the ground is drier. It is certainly wetter down to the right there, and the gra.s.s longer."

He was quite right, for by bearing off a little they found at the end of about half-a-mile that their progress had grown more and more easy, the gra.s.s now only reaching to their stirrup-irons, while away further to their left it was shorter still, looking quite lawn-like in the distance.

"We're a good deal higher than we were at the camp, aren't we?" asked Bourne.

"Certainly, and far-off as we are we certainly seem to be approaching the mountain by a gradual slope."

"And that chain of pools and swamps is something of a river or stream that comes down from one of the valleys yonder. Hallo! look out!"

Every one present had already been put on the _qui vive_ by a quick rustling in front, followed by a loud whirring sound, as some half-a-dozen birds, which they had evidently been driving before them through the long gra.s.s in which they had kept out of sight, had now found themselves too much exposed in the shorter herbage and taken flight.

"Big partridges--monsters!" cried Chris excitedly.

"Yes," said the doctor dryly; "the most monstrous partridges I ever saw, Chris. Why, they're turkeys, boy. They're making for those trees yonder across the pools, eh, Griggs?"

"That's right, sir. They'd be worth stalking too, but I don't think we could follow them through that swamp. I dare say, though, that we could get a shot at them some other day. Might perhaps as we come back."

"We'll be ready for them then," said the doctor quietly. "Now then, the ground's firm, and the gra.s.s getting shorter; let's try a canter."

He pressed his pony's sides and led off, the rest following in single file now, with the ground slowly rising, the gra.s.s getting shorter and shorter, till at the end of about half-an-hour the doctor reached the bottom of a mound, drew rein, and let his mount walk to the summit, where he halted for his companions to join him and drink in the soft cool air as yet unheated by the ardent sun.

The next few minutes were spent in sweeping the country round, and in a very short time they were pretty well acquainted with their position.

For right away forward and to their left the gra.s.s grew shorter and shorter for a couple of miles, till it looked more than ever like some lawn whose soft green grew greyer and greyer till it was of a dull s.h.i.+mmering white.

"A great lake," cried Chris.

"Try again, my boy," said his father.

"'Tisn't salt desert, is it?" said the boy.

"Breathe in the air that is coming from it, my lad."

"Hot and dry," cried Chris excitedly. "That's why I was getting so warm. I thought it was from riding so fast."

"We're skirting the edge of the desert," said the doctor, using his gla.s.s. "Yes, as far as I can see it is all tableland that way; the gra.s.s soon ends, and all is dusty sand with the air quivering over it as it sweeps away towards the mountain chain, while this way to the right the gra.s.s and trees seem to run up green and beautiful into the hills, which widen out into a valley."

"Can you see water, sir?"

"Yes," said the doctor, scanning the land to his right and away forward; "water in two places. Our course is plain enough--to keep along here at the edge of the great plain where the gra.s.s is short and the ground firm. We are on a dividing line between the bad land and the rich park-like patches and the pools and swamp. This ought to take us into the valley yonder and to one of those hills where we can camp in what must be a good hunting country. Forward!"

They cantered on, drawing rein now and then to breathe their horses, to find that the desert land with its quivering layer of air grew more clearly marked on one side, the country more beautiful and park-like, diversified by hill and dale, on the other, and away in front the mighty peak looking as distant as ever, but with its features more plainly defined.

Twice over they came to a halt, the first time being at the edge of a narrow lake which resembled a piece cut off from a tolerably wide river, whose ends had been filled up by the growth of reeds.

Noon was long past, but the air was so fresh and invigorating and their level track so easy to follow, that the doctor decided upon pus.h.i.+ng on again for another couple of hours, before making a final halt for refreshment, and then turning back.

This final stoppage was beneath a clump of fairly grown trees whose boughs formed a goodly shade from the westering sun, and all revelled in the beauty of the view forward as they partook of their scanty meal.

"Glorious!" said the doctor at last. "We can't do better than make our way up here to-morrow. The journey for the mules will be easy enough if we bear more to the left, and they ought to get up here by night."

The others agreed, Griggs being full of approbation.

"And two days will easily take us right up the slope of that mountain.

Shouldn't wonder, if we started early enough, if we did it in one. But hadn't we better be going back now, sir?"

"Yes, at once," said the doctor. "Can you pick up our trail now and then, only leaving it when we can cut off some of the way?"

"I shouldn't wonder if I could, sir," was the reply. "I'll try."

"That's right; but we must spread-out a little, and be on the lookout for a shot or two, so as to have something to cook when we reach camp."

"Partridges, father," said Chris, unslinging his gun.

"Yes," said the doctor, smiling; "we ought to get one or two of those monsters if we get a chance."

But, as Wilton had suggested, now that they wanted something in the way of game, nothing was to be seen, and they were fully half-way back and the evening coming on fast, but with the moon well up ready to give its light as the sun went down, before there was a fair chance. They had seen partridges again, and sent a flock of ducks skimming over the reeds, but in both cases they had risen far out of shot.

"We must get more into the longer gra.s.s," said Griggs at last. "We shall get something then, and as soon as we've got enough we can bear off again into the short, and canter."

It proved to be good advice, for about half-an-hour later, when they had been compelled by the thickness of the growth to proceed at a walk, Griggs, who was in front, suddenly turned in his saddle.

"Come more into line," he said; "there is something on in front waiting to be flushed."

The evolution was made, and the six ponies went steadily on through the dense growth with a loud rustling sound, while from time to time a glimpse was obtained of the waving green surface being agitated not far in front, plainly showing that they were driving something before them.

"Which way will they go, Griggs, when we flush them?" said the doctor.

"I don't see any trees to the left, sir, or they'd fly for them; so I fancy they'll rise and make for the open plain yonder. It looks quite clear, and if we don't bring any down when they rise we ought to canter out after them and get a shot there, or ride them down."

"Too long a task, as it's getting so late."

"Oh no, sir; they're very heavy birds. But I don't like this; we're getting into longer gra.s.s and--down--dismount--quick, every one--quick!"

n.o.body stopped to ask why, but obeyed one whom they knew to be the most experienced member of the party, and his tone of voice was so eager and intense that all thought the time had come for a good shot, as dropping from their saddles they stood ready to fire over their ponies' heads.

"Well, where's the game?" said the doctor, after a few moments' silence.

"Here, sir," said Griggs hoa.r.s.ely. "We're it if we've been seen."

"What do you mean?"

"Look yonder, sir, over the gra.s.s out towards the desert where there's that golden s.h.i.+mmer above the plain."

"I don't see--yes, I do. Stoop, stoop, every one, or we shall be seen, if it isn't too late."