The method worked out just as Hippy's informant had said it would, and Hippy determined never again to be caught napping. However, his respect for the guide had increased considerably, and especially for the keenness of Woo Smith's eyes.
With all the venison they could carry packed in their kits, the party set out early on the following morning and soon found themselves on the brink of another box-canyon, which they reached without mishap, then made their way up the side of another mountain, and on over a series of rugged elevations that would tax the sure-footedness of a mountain goat.
"This up and down progress reminds me of a wild ride that I once had on a scenic railway at Coney Island," declared Elfreda Briggs as they finally halted for a rest. Elfreda's face was red from exertion and excitement, and her hair had become the plaything of the mountain breezes.
"Don't wolly till to-mollow," chuckled Stacy.
"Stacy, you're right," nodded Tom Gray. "But it is now time we were moving. See that ridge to the right of us?"
"Surely we do not have to cross that, do we?" begged Emma.
"Yes. We shall have to ride its entire length in order to reach the high mountain peak that you see still farther on. Either we must start now or wait until tomorrow," averred Tom.
"It never will do to be caught on the top of that ridge in the darkness," agreed Hippy.
The ridge referred to lay slightly higher than their present position, but there was plainly a safe trail leading to it. Orders to move were given by Hippy. The Overland Riders were quickly in their saddles, and the party slowly mounted the ridge, but halted as they came to the top of it. For once the girls experienced a case of "nerves."
"We never shall be able to ride over this awful trail," cried Elfreda Briggs.
"Impossible!" answered Hippy. "This is the trail that we shall have to follow to reach the high peak of the Sierras."
"If the horses behave and no one loses her head we ought to be able to cross safely," averred Grace.
"My head is swimming already," moaned Nora.
"Why don't you turn it over and let it float for a few minutes?" suggested Chunky.
After directing Woo to proceed on ahead, the journey was resumed, and the ponies stepped out over the knife-edge top of the ridge. This ridge, not more than a dozen feet wide along the top, formed a natural bridge connecting two mountain ranges. Here and there the sides of the ridge fell away sheer for hundreds of feet, and at others, smooth granite rocks sloped away to the canyon below.