diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/prbnm10h.htm')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/prbnm10h.htm | 8165 |
1 files changed, 8165 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/old/prbnm10h.htm b/old/prbnm10h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ddc4c1a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/prbnm10h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8165 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>The Pony Rider Boys in New Mexico</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= +"text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> +<style type="text/css"> +<!-- +body {margin:10%; text-align:justify} +blockquote {font-size:14pt} +P {font-size:14pt} +--> +</style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Pony Rider Boys in New +Mexico by Frank Gee Patchin</h1> + +<pre> +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Pony Rider Boys in New Mexico + +Author: Frank Gee Patchin + +Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4991] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on April 7, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN NEW MEXICO *** + + + + +This eBook was produced by Jim Weiler, xooqi.com + + + + +</pre> + +<h1>The Pony Rider Boys in New Mexico</h1> + +<h4>or</h4> + +<h4>The End of the Silver Trail</h4> + +<h2>by Frank Gee Patchin, 1910</h2> + +<hr> +<h3>CHAPTER I</h3> + +<h4>SOMETHING IN THE WIND</h4> + +<p>"What was that?"</p> + +<p>"Only one of the boys in the seat behind us, snoring."</p> + +<p>"Sure they're asleep?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but what if they're not? They are only kids. They +wouldn't understand."</p> + +<p>"Don't you be too sure about that. I've heard about those +kids. Heard about 'em over in Nevada. There's four of them. They +call themselves the Pony Rider Boys; and they're no tenderfeet, +if all I hear is true. They have done some pretty lively +stunts."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's all right, Bob, but we ain't going to begin by +getting cold feet over a bunch of kids out for a holiday."</p> + +<p>"Where they going?"</p> + +<p>"Don't know. Presume they'll be taking a trip over the plains +or heading for the mountains. They've got a stock car up ahead +jammed full of stock and equipment."</p> + +<p>"Scarecrows?"</p> + +<p>"No. Good stock. Some of the slickest ponies you ever set eyes +on. There's one roan there that I wouldn't mind owning. Maybe we +can make a trade," and the speaker chuckled softly to +himself.</p> + +<p>A snore louder than those that had preceded it, caused the two +men to laugh heartily.</p> + +<p>The snore had come from Stacy Brown. Both he and Tad Butler +were resting from their long journey on the Atlantic and Pacific +train. Further to the rear of the car, their companions, Ned +Rector and Walter Perkins, also were curled up in a double seat, +with Professor Zepplin sitting very straight as if sleep were +furthest from his thoughts. They were nearing their destination +now, and within the hour would be unloading their stock and +equipment at Bluewater.</p> + +<p>"They're asleep all right," grinned one of the two men who +occupied the seat just ahead of Stacy and Tad. "Is old man +Marquand going to meet us at the station?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no. That wouldn't be a good thing. Might attract too much +attention. Told him not to. We'll get a couple of ponies at +Bluewater and ride across the mountains. But we've got to be +slick. The old man is no fool. He'll hang on to the location of +the treasure till the last old cat's gone to sleep for good."</p> + +<p>"Any idea where the place is?"</p> + +<p>"No. Except that it's somewhere south of the Zuni range."</p> + +<p>A solitary eye in the seat behind, opened cautiously. The eye +belonged to Stacy Brown. The last snore had awakened him, and he +had lain with closed eyes listening to the conversation of the +two men.</p> + +<p>He gave Tad a gentle nudge, which was returned with a soft +pressure on Stacy's right arm as a warning that he was to remain +quiet.</p> + +<p>"Do you know what the treasure consists of?"</p> + +<p>"Maybe a mine, but as near as I could draw from Marquand's +talk it is jewels and Spanish money which one of the old +Franciscan monks had buried. The Pueblos knew where it was, but +they sealed the place up after the Pueblo revolution in 1680, and +it's been corked tight ever since."</p> + +<p>"How'd Marquand get wise to it?"</p> + +<p>"From an old Pueblo Chief whose life he saved a few months +ago. The old chief died a little while afterwards, but before he +went, he told Marquand about the treasure."</p> + +<p>"Didn't suppose a redskin had so much gratitude under his +tough skin. Does the old man know where the place is?"</p> + +<p>"No, not exactly. That's where we come in," grinned the +speaker. "We are going to help him find it."</p> + +<p>"And then?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, well. There's lots of ways to get rid of him."</p> + +<p>"You mean?"</p> + +<p>"He might tumble off into a canyon, or something of the sort, +in the night time. Here's the place."</p> + +<p>The train was rounding a bend into the little town of +Bluewater.</p> + +<p>"Sit still," whispered Tad. "I want to get a look at those +fellows so I'll know them next time I see them."</p> + +<p>The Pony Rider boy left his seat, and hurrying to the forward +end of the car, helped himself to a drink of water from the tank; +then slowly retraced his steps.</p> + +<p>As he walked down the car, he took in the two men in one +swift, comprehensive glance, then swung his hands to his +companions at the other end of the car, as a signal that they +were arriving at their destination.</p> + +<p>"Know 'em?" whispered Stacy as Tad began pulling his baggage +from the rack.</p> + +<p>"Never saw either before. Better get your stuff together. This +train is fast only when it stops. It drags along over the +country, but when it gets into a station it's always in a hurry +to get away," laughed Tad.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later the party of bronzed young men sprang from +the car to the station platform, where they instantly became the +center of a throng of curious villagers.</p> + +<p>Readers of the preceding volumes of this series are already +too well acquainted with the Pony Rider Boys to need a formal +introduction. As told in "THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE ROCKIES," +the lads had set out from their homes in Missouri for a summer's +vacation in the saddle. That first volume detailed how the lads +penetrated the fastnesses of the Rockies, hunted big game and how +they finally discovered the Lost Claim, which they won after +fighting a battle with the mountaineers, thus earning for +themselves quite a fortune.</p> + +<p>In "THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN TEXAS," the boys were again seen to +advantage. There they joined in a cattle drive across the state +as cowboys. They played an exciting part in the rough life of the +cowmen, meeting with many stirring adventures. It will be +remembered how, in this story, Tad Butler saved a large part of +the herd, besides performing numerous heroic deeds, including the +saving of the life of a member of the party from a swollen river. +At the end of their journey, they solved a deep mystery—a +mystery that had perplexed and worried the cattle men, besides +causing them heavy financial loss.</p> + +<p>In "THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN MONTANA," the scene shifted to the +old Custer Trail, the battle ground of one of the most tragic +events in American history. The story described how Tad Butler +overheard a plot to stampede and kill a flock of many thousand +sheep; how after experiencing many hardships, he finally carried +the news to the owner of the herd; then later, participated in +the battle between the cowmen and sheep herders, in which the +latter emerged victorious.</p> + +<p>It will be recalled too, how the Pony Rider Boy was captured +by the Blackfeet Indians and taken to their mountain retreat, +where with a young companion he was held until they made their +escape with the assistance of an Indian maiden; how they were +pursued by the savages, the bullets from whose rifles singing +over the heads of the lads as they headed for a river into which +they plunged, thus effectually throwing off the savage pursuers; +and finally, how in time they made their way back to the camp of +the Pony Riders, having solved the mystery of the old Custer +Trail.</p> + +<p>After these exciting adventures, the lads concluded to cut +short their Montana trip and go on to the next stage of their +journeyings, which was destined to be even more stirring than any +that had preceded it. How Tad Butler and Stacy Brown proved +themselves to be real heroes, was told in "THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN +THE OZARKS."</p> + +<p>For a long time, an organized band of thieves had been +stealing stock in the Ozark range, baffling all efforts to +apprehend them. The boys had been warned to guard their own stock +carefully, but despite this, their ponies were stolen from camp, +one by one and in a most mysterious manner, until not an animal +was left. Then, one by one, the Pony Rider Boys became lost until +only Tad and Stacy remained. They were facing starvation, and it +will be recalled how Tad Butler made a plucky trip to the nearest +mining camp for assistance. There the boys were imprisoned +underground by a mine explosion; escaping from which, they met +with perils every bit as grave, and from which they were +eventually rescued by Stacy himself.</p> + +<p>Through the disaster, the lads solved the Secret of the Ruby +Mountain, thus putting an end for good to the wholesale thieving +in the Ozark range.</p> + +<p>Though the Pony Rider Boys had suffered many hardships in +their journeyings, those that lay before them were destined to +try them even more. In "THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE ALKALI," they +faced the perils of the baking alkali desert. It will be recalled +how they fought desperately for water when all the usual sources +of supply were found to have run dry; how Tad and Stacy Brown +were captured by a desert hermit and thrown into a cave; how, +after their escape, they were lost in the Desert Maze, and how +after many hardships, they finally succeeded in making their way +to camp, dragging behind them a wild coyote that Tad had roped +when the boys were beset by the wild beasts in the dead of +night.</p> + +<p>Nothing daunted by their trying experiences the Pony Rider +Boys set out on the concluding trip of the season—a journey +over the historic plains and mountains of New Mexico. After a +long railroad ride, they had finally arrived at the town of +Bluewater, from which they were to begin their explorations in +the southwest.</p> + +<p>A guide was to meet and conduct them across the mountains of +the Zuni range and so on to the southern borders of the +state.</p> + +<p>By the time they reached the platform of the station, the +stock car had been uncoupled and was being shifted to a side +track where they might unload their belongings at their +leisure.</p> + +<p>"I wonder where that guide is," said Tad.</p> + +<p>"He was told to be here," answered the Professor.</p> + +<p>"Never mind; we can unload better without him," averred Ned, +starting off at a brisk trot for their car which had been shunted +alongside the platform at the rear of the station.</p> + +<p>With joyous anticipation of the new scenes and experiences +that lay before them, the lads set briskly to work, and within an +hour had all the stock and equipment removed from the car.</p> + +<p>There was quite an imposing collection, with their ponies, +their burros, tents and other equipment, the latter lying strewn +all over the open level space beyond the station.</p> + +<p>"Looks as if a circus had just come to town," laughed +Walter.</p> + +<p>"We've got a side show, anyway," retorted Ned.</p> + +<p>"What's our side show?"</p> + +<p>"Chunky's that."</p> + +<p>"No; he's the clown. The rest of us are the animals, only +we're not in cages."</p> + +<p>"Hey, fellows, see that funny Mexican on the burro there," +laughed Chunky. "Guess he never saw an outfit like ours +before."</p> + +<p>The lads could not repress a laugh as they glanced at the +figure pointed out by Stacy.</p> + +<p>The man was sitting on the burro, his feet extended on the +ground before him, hands thrust deep into trousers pockets. He +was observing the work of the boys curiously. The fellow's high, +conical head was crowned by a peaked Mexican hat, much the worse +for wear, while his coarse, black hair was combed straight down +over a pair of small, piercing, dark eyes. The complexion, or +such of it as was visible through the mask of wiry hair, was +swarthy, his form thin and insignificant.</p> + +<p>Stacy Brown strode over to him somewhat pompously.</p> + +<p>"You speak English?" questioned the boy.</p> + +<p>"Si, señor."</p> + +<p>The Mexican's lips curled back, revealing two rows of +gleaming, white teeth.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad to hear it. I didn't think you could. We are looking +for a guide who was to have met us here to conduct us over the +mountains. His name is Juan. It'll be something else when he does +show up. Do you know him?"</p> + +<p>"Si, señor."</p> + +<p>"Isn't he coming to meet us?"</p> + +<p>"Si, señor."</p> + +<p>"Well, I must say he's taking his time about getting here. +Where is he?"</p> + +<p>"Juan here, señor."</p> + +<p>"Here? I don't see him," answered the lad, looking about the +place.</p> + +<p>"Me Juan," grinned the Mexican. "You?"</p> + +<p>"Never mind the señor. I'll take for granted I'm a +señor, or whatever else you think. Say, fellows, come +here," commanded Stacy.</p> + +<p>"Well, what's the matter?" demanded Ned, approaching, followed +by the other boys.</p> + +<p>"This is it," announced Stacy, with a wave of his hand toward +the Mexican.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" sniffed Ned.</p> + +<p>"This."</p> + +<p>"Chunky, what are you getting at?" questioned Walter.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps this gentleman will know where we may find our +guide," interrupted the Professor, coming up. "Señor, do +you know one Juan—"</p> + +<p>"Yes, he knows him," grinned Stacy. "He's very well acquainted +with the gentleman."</p> + +<p>"Then where may we find this Juan</p> + +<p>"That's Juan—that's your guide," Stacy informed the +Professor.</p> + +<p>"You—are you the guide?"</p> + +<p>"Si, señor."</p> + +<p>The Professor opened his eyes in amazement. The burro, on the +other hand, stood with nose to the ground sound asleep, oblivious +to all that was taking place about him.</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you make yourself known—why haven't you +helped us to unload?" demanded the Professor in an irritated +tone.</p> + +<p>"Me no <i>peon</i>. Me guide."</p> + +<p>"He's a guide," explained Stacy. "Guides don't work, you know, +Professor. They are just ornaments. He and the burro are going to +pose for our amusement."</p> + +<p>The boys laughed heartily. Professor Zepplin uttered an +exclamation of impatience.</p> + +<p>"Sir, if you are going with this outfit you will be expected +to do your share of the labor. There are no drones in our +hive."</p> + +<p>"No; we all work," interposed Stacy.</p> + +<p>"And some of us are eaters," added Ned.</p> + +<p>Juan shrugged his shoulders and showed his pearly teeth.</p> + +<p>At the Professor's command, however, Juan stepped off the +burro without in the least disturbing that animal's dreams and +lazily began collecting the baggage as directed by the Professor. +After the equipment had been sorted into piles, the boys did it +up into neat packs which they skillfully strapped to the backs of +the burros of their pack train. Juan, lost in contemplation of +their labors, forgot his own duties until reminded of them by +Stacy, who gave the guide a violent poke in the ribs with his +thumb.</p> + +<p>Juan started; then, with a sheepish grin, became busy +again.</p> + +<p>It was no small task to get their belongings in packs +preparatory to the journey; but late in the afternoon the boys +had completed their task. They had had nothing to eat since early +morning. But they were too anxious to be on their way to wait for +dinner in town.</p> + +<p>After making some necessary purchases in the village, the +procession finally started away across the plain.</p> + +<p>"You'll never get anywhere with that sleepy burro, Juan," +decided the Professor, with a shake of the head.</p> + +<p>"Him go fast," grinned the Mexican.</p> + +<p>"So can a crab on dry land," jeered Ned.</p> + +<p>Just then the guide utter a series of shrill "yi-yi's," +whereupon the lads were treated to an exhibition such as they +never had seen before.</p> + +<p>The sleepy burro projected his head straight out before him, +while his tail, raised to a level with his back, stuck straight +out behind him. The burro, seemingly imbued with sudden life, was +off at a pace faster than a man could run.</p> + +<p>It was most astonishing. The boys gazed in amazement; then +burst out in a chorus of approving yells.</p> + +<p>But it was the rider, even more than the burro, that excited +their mirth. His long legs were working like those of a jumping +jack, and though astride of the burro, Juan was walking at a +lively pace. It reminded one of the way men propelled the +old-fashioned velocipedes years before.</p> + +<p>A cloud of dust rose behind the odd outfit as the party drew +out on the plains. Their ponies were started at a gallop, which +was necessary to enable them to keep up with the pace that Juan +had set.</p> + +<p>"Here! Here!" shouted the Professor.</p> + +<p>Juan never looked back.</p> + +<p>"We're leaving the pack train. Slow down!"</p> + +<p>Laughingly the lads pulled their ponies down to a walk; then +halted entirely to enable the burros to catch up with them. By +this time the pack animals had become so familiar with their work +that little attention was necessary on the part of the boys. Now +and then one more sleepy than the rest would go to sleep and +pause to doze a few minutes on the trail. This always +necessitated all hands stopping to wait until the sleeper could +be rounded up and driven up to the bunch.</p> + +<p>Juan had disappeared. They were discussing the advisability of +sending one of the boys out after him when he was seen returning. +But at what a different gait! His burro was dragging itself along +with its head close to the ground, while Juan himself was slouching on its +back half asleep.</p> + +<p>"You must have a motor inside that beast," grinned Tad.</p> + +<p>"Him go some, señor?"</p> + +<p>"Him do," answered Stacy, his solemn eyes taking in the sleepy +burro wonderingly.</p> + +<p>"Better not waste your energy performing," advised the +Professor. "We shall need what little you have. We will make camp +here, as I see there is a spring near by. Help the boys unpack +the burros."</p> + +<p>"Si, señor," answered the guide, standing erect and +permitting his burro to walk from under him.</p> + +<p>With shouts and songs the lads, in great good humor, went to +work at once, pitching their camp for the first time on the +plains of New Mexico. There was much to be done, and twilight was +upon them before they had advanced far enough to begin cooking +their evening meal.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER II</h3> + +<h4>IN THE ZUNI FOOTHILLS</h4> + +<p>A sudden wail from the guide attracted the attention of the +party to him at once. "Now what's the matter?" demanded Tad, +hurrying to him.</p> + +<p>The guide had thrown himself prone upon the ground and was +groaning as if in great agony, offering no reply to the +question.</p> + +<p>"Are you sick?"</p> + +<p>"Si, si, señor," moaned Juan.</p> + +<p>"Where?"</p> + +<p>"Estomago—mucho malo."</p> + +<p>"Your stomach?"</p> + +<p>"He's got a pain under his apron," diagnosed Stacy +solemnly.</p> + +<p>"Been working too hard," suggested Ned.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the guide was rolling and twisting on the +ground, glancing appealingly from one to the other of them.</p> + +<p>"Professor, hadn't you better fetch your medicine case and +dose him up?" asked Tad.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'll attend to him."</p> + +<p>"Give him a good dose while you are about it," urged Ned. +"Something that will cure his laziness at the same time."</p> + +<p>The Professor brought his case; then, remembering something +else in his kit that he wanted, he laid the case down and hurried +back to his tent. However, Stacy opened the case, selecting a +bottle, apparently at random, drew the cork and held the bottle +under Juan's nose.</p> + +<p>"Smell of this, my son. It'll cure your estomago on the +run."</p> + +<p>"Be careful, Chunky, what are you doing there?" warned Tad. +"You shouldn't fool with the medicines. You—"</p> + +<p>His further remarks were cut short by a sudden yell of terror +and pain from Juan.</p> + +<p>The guide leaped to his feet choking, gasping, while the tears +ran down his cheeks as he danced about as if suddenly bereft of +his senses.</p> + +<p>"Now you've gone and done it," growled Ned. "He never moved so +fast in his life, I'll wager."</p> + +<p>Juan was running in a circle now, shrieking and moaning. +Professor Zepplin approached them in a series of leaps. He could +not imagine what new disaster had overtaken the lazy Mexican.</p> + +<p>"Here, here, here, what's the trouble now?" He demanded +sternly. "Stop that howling!"</p> + +<p>"Chunky's been prescribing for your patient in your absence," +Ned informed him.</p> + +<p>The Professor grabbed the wild guide by the collar, giving him +a vigorous shake. When he released his grip, Juan sank to the +ground in a heap, moaning weakly.</p> + +<p>"What's that you say? Stacy prescribed—"</p> + +<p>"I—I let him smell of the bottle," explained Stacy +guiltily.</p> + +<p>"What bottle?"</p> + +<p>Stacy slowly picked up the offending bottle and handed it to +the Professor.</p> + +<p>"Ammonia! Boy, you might have put his eyes out! Never let this +occur again. Remember, you are not to touch the medicines under +any circumstances whatever!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," agreed Chunky meekly, while Ned Rector strolled +away, shaking with laughter.</p> + +<p>"Drink," begged the patient.</p> + +<p>"Fetch him some water," directed Professor Zepplin.</p> + +<p>"No, no, no, señor," protested Juan, gesticulating +protestingly.</p> + +<p>"What do you want?"</p> + +<p>"Guess he wants something stronger than water," suggested +Ned.</p> + +<p>"Si, si, si," agreed the guide, showing his white teeth in an +approving grin.</p> + +<p>"You won't get anything stronger than that in this outfit, +unless you cook yourself some coffee," muttered Tad.</p> + +<p>"That's what's the matter with him," decided Chunky, who had +been observing the sick man keenly.</p> + +<p>"Guess we drew a prize when we got Juan," announced +Walter.</p> + +<p>"Give him some medicine, anyway," urged Ned. "He is sick— +let him take the dose."</p> + +<p>"Let him have the worst you've got in your case, Professor," +added Tad, with a laugh.</p> + +<p>A grim smile played about the corners of Professor Zepplin's +mouth as he ran his fingers over the bottles in his medicine +case. Finally, selecting one that seemed to fit the particular +ailment of his patient, he directed Chunky to fetch a spoon.</p> + +<p>By this time Juan was protesting volubly that he was "all +better" and did not need the medicine. The Professor gave no heed +to the fellow's protestations.</p> + +<p>"Open your mouth," he commanded.</p> + +<p>Juan shut his teeth tightly together.</p> + +<p>"Open your mouth!" commanded the Professor sternly. "We want +no sick men about this camp. It will fix you in a minute."</p> + +<p>But the guide steadfastly refused to separate the white +teeth.</p> + +<p>"Boys, open his mouth while I pour the medicine down him," +gritted the Professor.</p> + +<p>They required no urging to do the Professor's bidding. Tad and +Ned ranged themselves on either side of the patient, while Chunky +sat on the guide's feet. Almost before he was aware of their +purpose the boys had pried his jaws open and into the opening +thus made professor Zepplin dropped the concoction he had +mixed.</p> + +<p>The effect was electrical. Juan leaped to his feet as if +elevated by springs, uttering a yell that might have been heard a +mile or more on the open plain. But Juan did not run in a circle +this time. Acting upon the mathematical theory that a straight +line is the shortest distance between two points, the guide made +a break for the spring, howling like a madman. The Pony Rider +Boys looked on in amazement.</p> + +<p>Juan fell on his knees before the spring, dipping up the water +in his hands.</p> + +<p>"What did you give him, professor?" grinned Tad.</p> + +<p>"Hot drops!" answered the man of science tersely.</p> + +<p>"Not that stuff you fed me when I ate too much honey in the +Rockies?" questioned Stacy.</p> + +<p>"The same."</p> + +<p>"Wow! I had ten drops and it felt like a pailful when it got +inside of me."</p> + +<p>"How much did you give Juan?" questioned Walter.</p> + +<p>"Twenty drops," answered Professor Zepplin without the +suspicion of a smile on his face this time.</p> + +<p>The Pony Rider Boys added their yells to those of the guide, +only with a difference. The more Juan drank of the spring water, +the more did the hot drops burn.</p> + +<p>All at once he sprang up and started for the plain.</p> + +<p>"Catch him!" commanded the Professor.</p> + +<p>With a shout the lads started in pursuit. They overhauled the +guide some twenty rods from camp, he having proved himself fleet +of foot. Then again, the fire within him perhaps helped to +increase his natural speed.</p> + +<p>"I burn! I burn!" he wailed as the boys grabbed and laughingly +hustled him back to camp.</p> + +<p>"You'll burn worse than that if you ever ask for liquor in +this outfit," retorted Ned. "We don't use the stuff, nor do we +allow anyone around us who does."</p> + +<p>"How do you feel now?" grinned the Professor as they came up +to him with their prisoner.</p> + +<p>"He's got a whole camp-fire in his little estomago," announced +Chunky solemnly, which sally elicited a loud laugh from the +boys.</p> + +<p>"Give him some olive oil," directed the Professor. "I think +the lesson has been sufficiently burned into him "</p> + +<p>But considerable persuasion was necessary to induce Juan to +take a spoonful of the Professor's medicine. He had already had +one sample of it and he did not want another. Yet after some +urging he tasted of the oil, at first gingerly; then he took it +down at a gulp.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" he breathed.</p> + +<p>"Is it good?" grinned Tad.</p> + +<p>"Si. Much burn, much burn," he explained, rubbing his +stomach.</p> + +<p>"Think you want some liquor still, Juan, or would you prefer +another dose of my magic drops?"</p> + +<p>"No, no, no, señor!" cried Juan, hastily moving away +from Professor Zepplin.</p> + +<p>"Very well; any time when you feel a longing for strong drink, +just help yourself to the hot drops," said the Professor, +striding away to his tent, medicine case in hand.</p> + +<p>The guide, a much chastened man, set about assisting in +getting the evening meal, but the hot drops still remained with +him, making their presence known by occasional hot twinges.</p> + +<p>Supper that night was an enjoyable affair, though it was +observed that the guide did not eat heartily.</p> + +<p>"Do you think he really had a pain?" asked Walter +confidentially, leaning toward Ned.</p> + +<p>"Pain? No. He wanted something else."</p> + +<p>"And he got it," added Stacy, nodding solemnly.</p> + +<p>A chorus of "he dids" ran around the table, stopping only when +they reached Juan himself.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER III</h3> + +<h4>INDIANS!</h4> + +<p>"Juan, did you see two men get off the train at Bluewater +yesterday when we did? One of them had a big, broad sombrero like +mine?" asked Tad, riding up beside the guide next day while they +were crossing the range.</p> + +<p>"Si."</p> + +<p>"Know them?"</p> + +<p>"Si," he replied, holding up one finger.</p> + +<p>"You mean you know one of them?"</p> + +<p>The guide nodded.</p> + +<p>"Who is he?"</p> + +<p>"Señor Lasar."</p> + +<p>"Lasar. What's his other name?"</p> + +<p>"Juan not know."</p> + +<p>"Did they stop in the village?"</p> + +<p>"No. Señors get ponies, ride over mountain," and the +guide pointed lazily to the south-west.</p> + +<p>"Where did they go? Do you know?"</p> + +<p>Juan shrugged his shoulders, indicating that he did not.</p> + +<p>"What is Mr. Lasar's business?"</p> + +<p>Again the guide answered with a shrug. He seemed disinclined +to discuss the man in whom Tad Butler was so much interested. Up +to that time the lad had been too fully occupied with other +matters to think of the conversation he and Stacy had overheard +on the Atlantic and Pacific train. Now it came back to him with +full force.</p> + +<p>"Know anybody by the name of Marquand in this country?" he +asked, taking another tack.</p> + +<p>Juan said he did not, and then Tad gave up his +questioning.</p> + +<p>"I was asking Juan about the two men who sat ahead of us in +the train yesterday," he explained to Chunky, as the fat boy +joined them.</p> + +<p>"Wha'd he say?"</p> + +<p>"One is named Lasar, but he did not know the other one. I +can't help believing that those fellows were plotting to do some +one a great injury."</p> + +<p>"So do I," agreed Chunky. "I guess we had better not say +anything about it to the others, but we'll try to find out who +this man Lasar is, and who Mr. Marquand is. Then we'll decide +what to do next."</p> + +<p>Their further conversation was interrupted by the voice of the +Professor, announcing that they would halt for their noonday +meal. All other thoughts left the mind of Stacy Brown when the +question of food was raised. He quickly slipped from his pony, +running back to hurry the burros along so as to hasten the meal +for which he was yearning. Only one burro was unpacked, as it was +the intention of the outfit to push on soon after finishing their +lunch.</p> + +<p>While the guide, under Ned's direction, was making it ready, +Tad and Chunky strolled off to climb a high rock that they had +seen in the vicinity and which, they thought, might give them a +good view of the plains to the southwest on the other side of the +range.</p> + +<p>They had promised to be back in half an hour, but +circumstances arose that caused them to delay their return +considerably.</p> + +<p>After threshing through the bushes, over sharp rocks and +through miniature canyons, they gained at last the object of +their quest. The distance had been further than they had +imagined.</p> + +<p>"We'll have to make a short trip of it up to the top and +back," said Tad. "It has taken us almost all our time to get +here. But we'll have a look, anyway."</p> + +<p>They soon gained the top of the rock, which stood some twenty +feet higher than the crest of the mountain on which it +rested.</p> + +<p>"Isn't this great?" exclaimed Tad.</p> + +<p>"Might think we were in the Rockies."</p> + +<p>"Or the Ozarks."</p> + +<p>"I hope we don't have as much trouble here as we did in that +range. Our guide is not much better than the Shawnee we had for a +time on that trip. I can't see the foothills, but the plain on +beyond is pretty clear."</p> + +<p>"Hope we don't have to chase all over the desert for water. +I—"</p> + +<p>Tad grasped his companion by the sleeve and jerked him +violently to the rock.</p> + +<p>"What's up? What's the matter with you?" protested Stacy.</p> + +<p>"Keep still, some one's coming."</p> + +<p>The lad's keen ears had caught a sound which Stacy had +entirely failed to hear. It was the sound of horses making their +way through the bushes. There were several in the party, Tad +could tell by the sounds, and having in mind the man Lasar, he +thought he might perhaps learn something of advantage by +remaining quietly on the top of the rock.</p> + +<p>All this he explained in a few brief words to his companion. +Then both boys crouched low, peering over the cliff, having first +removed their sombreros.</p> + +<p>What they saw, a few moments later, surprised them very much +indeed.</p> + +<p>The horsemen in single file suddenly appeared out of a draw to +the east and headed for the rock where the lads were in +hiding.</p> + +<p>"Look! Look!" exclaimed Tad in a low, suppressed voice.</p> + +<p>"I-n-d-i-a-n-s!" breathed Chunky.</p> + +<p>They seemed to rise right up out of the ground, as one by one +they emerged from the draw to the more level rocks that lay about +the hiding place of the Pony Rider Boys.</p> + +<p>"I wonder who they are?" questioned Tad.</p> + +<p>"They look savage. I wonder if they'd hurt us, Tad?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. I do know, though, that I wouldn't trust those +ugly faces one second. I thought the Blackfeet were savage, but +they're not to be compared with these redskins."</p> + +<p>A full dozen of them had, by this time, come into view. They +sat huddled on their ponies, their painted faces just appearing +above the gayly colored blankets in which they were +enveloped.</p> + +<p>"They must be cold," muttered Chunky. "Shouldn't think they'd +need bed clothes around them this time of the year."</p> + +<p>"Not so loud, Chunky," warned Tad.</p> + +<p>"Know what they are, Tad?"</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't say positively, but somehow they look to me like +Apaches."</p> + +<p>Tad's surmise was correct. The twelve warriors were members of +the savage band that had in past years caused the Government so +much trouble and bloodshed.</p> + +<p>"They're off their reservation, if they are Apaches," +whispered the lad.</p> + +<p>"What does that indicate, Tad?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. They may be on the warpath; then, again, they +may be down here after game. I'm not sure even, if there is any +game here. We'll lie still until they get by us. That's the best +plan; don't you think so?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Lie perfectly still, Chunky. The little bushes in front of us +will screen us, providing we don't move about. Indians have quick +eyes, though they do look as if they were half asleep."</p> + +<p>"They're getting off their horses, Tad. What does that +mean?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know."</p> + +<p>Tad peered through the bushes, noting every move that the +redskins made. At first he thought they had discovered him and +were about to surround the rock and take him prisoner. But he +soon saw that such was not their intention. Tethering their +ponies, the Indians cast their blankets on the ground, after +having first picked out a suitable place.</p> + +<p>"They're making camp," whispered Tad.</p> + +<p>One after another of the savages took out his pipe, and soon +the odor from burning tobacco was wafted to the nostrils of the +hidden Pony Rider Boys.</p> + +<p>"Guess they're going to get some dinner," decided Stacy, +observing that the strangers were gathering brush.</p> + +<p>This was the case. The ponies had been staked where they could +browse on the green leaves, and now their masters were about to +satisfy their own appetites.</p> + +<p>Tad groaned.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" questioned Stacy apprehensively.</p> + +<p>"They will be here half of the day at least. I know a little +about Indians, having been captured by them once. The difference +is that my Indians were in a hurry to get somewhere. These +fellows seem to have all the time in the world. They're +waiting—killing time for some reason. You'll see, after +they finish their dinner, that they will smoke some more, then +lie down for a catnap."</p> + +<p>"And—and what'll we be doing?"</p> + +<p>"We'll be hiding on the top of this rock, Chunky."</p> + +<p>"Wish I had my rifle."</p> + +<p>"Lucky for both of us that you haven't."</p> + +<p>The lads had been talking in whispers, but the words fairly +froze in their mouths, when, upon glancing down they saw the eyes +of a savage fixed upon them.</p> + +<p>"On your life, don't move a muscle, Chunky," whispered Tad, as +soon as he had recovered his wits.</p> + +<p>Tad was not sure that the Indian saw them, yet there could be +no doubt that the savage eyes were burning into their very +own.</p> + +<p>Soon, however, the Indian dropped his glances to his pipe bowl +and the boys breathed a sigh of relief.</p> + +<p>"Don't move yet, Chunky," directed Tad.</p> + +<p>It was a wise command, for almost instantly the Indian glanced +in their direction again, and, as if satisfied, emptied his pipe +and stretched out on his blanket. The two lads breathed sighs of +relief.</p> + +<p>"Did he see us, do you think, Tad?"</p> + +<p>"No. At first he thought he saw something up here, but he +changed his mind after a little, as you observed."</p> + +<p>By this time the redskins were cooking their midday meal, and +the odor nearly drove Stacy frantic. It made him realize how +hungry he was. He pulled a leaf from a bush and began chewing it +in hopes of wearing off the keen edge of his appetite.</p> + +<p>"How long we got to stay here?" he demanded. "I've a good +notion to get up and walk back to camp. They don't dare hurt +us."</p> + +<p>"Lie still!" commanded his companion sternly. "I have a plan +that we may be able to put into operation. We can't do it now, +though."</p> + +<p>The lads waited, Tad almost with the patience of an Indian, +Chunky ill at ease and restless.</p> + +<p>"Can't you lie still? What ails you?"</p> + +<p>"My stomach's fighting my appetite. Hear 'em growl at each +other?"</p> + +<p>"S-h-h-h."</p> + +<p>"I don't care. I'd 'bout as soon be scalped as to starve to +death."</p> + +<p>The braves had by now filled their stomachs, gulping their +food down without the formality of chewing it at all. Stacy's +amazement was partly mixed with admiration as he observed the +food disappear with such rapidity.</p> + +<p>Now the braves had begun puffing at their pipes. After a time, +one by one laid down his smoking bowl and stretched himself out +for a nap, just as Tad had said they would. The savages were +spread out so that they had a very good view of three sides of +the rock on which the two lads were perched, but the fourth side +was hidden from them. Tad decided that, as the Indians showed no +intention of moving, they were going to remain where they were +until night.</p> + +<p>"I want you to follow me, Chunky," Butler said, determined to +try his plan. "You will have to move absolutely without a sound. +Look before you put down foot or hand. Be sure where you place +them. We'll wait a few minutes until they're sound asleep."</p> + +<p>"What you going to do—sneak?"</p> + +<p>"Try to get back to camp. The others will be coming along +looking for us pretty soon, if we don't get away. The Indians +might resent being disturbed, and perhaps make trouble."</p> + +<p>"Tell me when you're ready, then."</p> + +<p>Some minutes had elapsed and the lads could plainly hear the +snores of their besiegers.</p> + +<p>"Now!" whispered Tad.</p> + +<p>At the same time he began crawling toward the edge of the rock +at their rear. Stacy was close upon his heels.</p> + +<p>The side which the boys were to descend was much more +precipitous than the one they had come up by, but offered no very +great difficulties for two nimble boys. Proceeding with infinite +caution, they gained the ground without a mishap.</p> + +<p>"We'll walk straight on in this direction, until we get out of +sight; then we can turn to the left and hurry to the camp."</p> + +<p>Stacy nodded. As he did so his eyes were off the ground for a +few seconds. Those few seconds proved his undoing.</p> + +<p>The lad stepped on a stone that gave way under him, turning +his ankle almost upon its side.</p> + +<p>"Ouch!" yelled Chunky.</p> + +<p>"Now you've done it," snapped Tad. "We'll have the whole pack +of them down on us. Can you walk?"</p> + +<p>"I—I don't know. I'll try."</p> + +<p>"Take hold of my hand. You've got to run."</p> + +<p>The redskins were on their feet in an instant. A few bounds +carried them around the rock whence the exclamation had come. By +this time Tad had dragged his companion into the bushes but not +quickly enough to elude the keen eyes of the savages.</p> + +<p>The Indians uttered a short, sharp cry, then aimed their +rifles at the figures of the two fleeing Pony Rider Boys.</p> + +<p>Tad saw the movement. He threw himself prone upon the ground, +jerking Chunky down beside him.</p> + +<p>They were screened from the eyes of the enemy, for the +moment.</p> + +<p>"Crawl! Crawl!" commanded Tad.</p> + +<p>On hands and feet the boys began running rapidly over the +ground, on down into a narrow gulch. If they could gain the +opposite side they would be safe, as it was unlikely that the +Indians would follow them there. To do so, the boys were obliged +to cross an open space. They had just reached it, when their +pursuers appeared behind them. Once more the Indians raised their +rifles, their fingers exerting a gentle pressure on the +triggers.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER IV</h3> + +<h4>ON THE TRAIL OF JUAN</h4> + +<p>"Look out! They're going to shoot!" cried Tad.</p> + +<p>The lads quickly rolled in opposite directions.</p> + +<p>"Hallo-o, Tad!"</p> + +<p>The call was in the stentorian voice of Professor Zepplin, to +which Ned Rector added a shout of his own.</p> + +<p>Fearing that some ill had befallen Tad and Stacy, the others +had started out after them. Following them came Walter and the +lazy Mexican.</p> + +<p>"We're down here! Look out for the Indians!" warned Tad in a +loud voice.</p> + +<p>"You're crazy!" jeered Ned. "Come out of that. What ails you +fellows? The dinner's stone cold and Professor Zepplin is all in +the stew."</p> + +<p>Tad scrambled to his feet, with a quick glance at the top of +the ridge, where, but a moment before, half a dozen rifles had +been leveled at Chunky and himself.</p> + +<p>Not an Indian was in sight. Tad was amazed. He could not +understand it. Grabbing Stacy by an arm he hurried him up the +other side of the gulch, where they quickly joined their +companions.</p> + +<p>"What does this mean?" demanded the Professor.</p> + +<p>"Hurry! We must get out of this. It's Indians!"</p> + +<p>"They—they wanted to scalp us," interjected Stacy.</p> + +<p>"But you runned away, eh? Brave man!" chuckled Ned.</p> + +<p>"Indians! There are no Indians here.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you about it when we get to camp. They were just +about to shoot at us when you appeared up here."</p> + +<p>"'Pache bad Injun," vouchsafed Juan.</p> + +<p>"Were those Apaches?" questioned Tad.</p> + +<p>The guide shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"I was sure they were, though I do not think I ever saw an +Apache before. They don't live about here, do they, Juan?"</p> + +<p>"'Pache off reservation. Him go dance. Firewater! Ugh!" making +a motion as if scalping himself.</p> + +<p>"I'm hungry," called Stacy.</p> + +<p>"Yes; so am I," added Tad. "But I think we had better not wait +to eat. We can take a bite in the saddle while we are +moving."</p> + +<p>Stacy protested loudly at this, but Tad's judgment prevailed +with the Professor, after the boys had related their experience +in detail. All hands began at once to pack up the few belongings +that had been taken from the burro, and once more they started on +their way, moving somewhat more rapidly than had been the case in +the early part of the day.</p> + +<p>"I don't suppose there will be much use in our hurrying, +Professor," said the lad, after they had been going a short time. +"I know enough about Indians to be sure those fellows will follow +us until they satisfy themselves who and what we are. They are up +to some mischief, and they thought we were spying on them. +Otherwise, I do not believe they would have tried to shoot us. +Don't know as you could blame them much."</p> + +<p>"I am inclined to agree with you, Master Tad. It will be good +policy not to pay any attention to them if we discover any of +them. Just go right along about our business as if we didn't see +them at all."</p> + +<p>"And you're not likely to," grinned Tad. "Where did you say +they were going, Juan?"</p> + +<p>"'Pache, go dance."</p> + +<p>"He means they're bound for a pow-wow somewhere. That explains +it," nodded the lad.</p> + +<p>The rest of the day passed without incident. Not a sign of the +Indians did the boys see. As a matter of fact, the roving +redskins were as anxious to keep out of the sight of the Pony +Riders as the boys were to have them do so.</p> + +<p>The party enjoyed the trip over the mountains immensely; and, +when, a few days later, they made camp in the foothills on the +southern side of the Zuni range, the boys declared that they had +never had a better time.</p> + +<p>Professor Zepplin decided that they would remain in that camp +for a couple of days, as he desired to make some scientific +investigations and collect geological specimens. This suited the +rest of the party, who were free to make as many side trips as +they wished, into mountain fastnesses or over the plains to the +south of them.</p> + +<p>Early in the day the guide asked permission to go away for an +hour or so. They noticed that he had been uneasy, apparently +anxious to get away for some reason unknown to them.</p> + +<p>"He's got something up his sleeve," decided Tad, eyeing Juan +narrowly.</p> + +<p>"You may go, but we shall expect you back in time for the noon +meal," the Professor told him.</p> + +<p>"Give me money," requested the guide.</p> + +<p>"Certainly. Let me see, you have worked a week. I gave you +five dollars when we started out. You were to have ten dollars a +week while you were with us. That leaves five dollars due you," +announced the Professor.</p> + +<p>"Me work week. Me want ten dollars."</p> + +<p>"But, my man, I've already paid you five dollars, which pays +you for half of the week. Here is the five dollars for the other +half. That's all I owe you. Do you understand?"</p> + +<p>"Si señor. But Juan work one week," protested the +guide.</p> + +<p>"Let me show him," interrupted Tad. He drew ten marks in the +sand with a stick, separating them into two groups of five. "Here +are ten marks, Juan. We'll call them ten dollars. +Understand?"</p> + +<p>"Si."</p> + +<p>"Well, here are the first five marks in the dirt that the +Professor paid you. How many does that leave?"</p> + +<p>"Five," gleamed the white teeth.</p> + +<p>"Right. Go to the head of the class," interrupted Stacy.</p> + +<p>"Chunky, you keep out of this. You'll mix him up."</p> + +<p>"Guess somebody's mixed up already," retorted the fat boy.</p> + +<p>"Five is right," continued Tad. Five dollars is what we owe +you. Is that clear now?"</p> + +<p>"Si, señor. But I work one week. Juan earn ten +dollar—"</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what to do," interjected Ned. "Start all over +again. You begin work to-day; Juan, and we'll pay you ten dollars +for every week from now on. You haven't worked for us before +to-day, you know."</p> + +<p>The lads laughed heartily, but Juan merely showed his teeth, +protesting that he had earned ten dollars.</p> + +<p>"Here," said Tad, thrusting a five dollar bill at him. "You +take this. It's all we owe you. If you see any of your friends, +you ask them how much we owe you. They'll tell you the Professor +is right."</p> + +<p>Juan took the money greedily, still protesting that they owed +him ten dollars, because he had worked a week. Mounting his +burro, he rode away; at once falling into the marvelous speed +that he had shown them on the first day out.</p> + +<p>The lads shouted with laughter as they saw burro and rider +disappear among the foothills, both running for all they were +worth, Juan uttering his shrill "yi-yi's," as he pedaled the +ground.</p> + +<p>That was the last they saw of the Mexican guide that day. The +rest of the day was employed in games, trick riding, rope +throwing and the like. Stacy found some horned frogs, which were +of considerable interest to the boys. Chunky made the discovery +that the frogs liked to have their backs scratched with a stick, +and the frogs of the foothills probably never spent such a happy +day in all their lives as Chunky and his stick provided for them +that afternoon.</p> + +<p>Late in the day, it dawned upon the boys that Juan was still +absent. They consulted with the Professor about this, upon his +return from a collecting trip along the foot of the mountains. +But the Professor was sure Juan would be in in time for +supper.</p> + +<p>Such was not the case, however. After the meal had been +finished Tad announced his intention of riding off in the +direction Juan had gone, to see if the guide could not be +found.</p> + +<p>"I'll go with you," announced Stacy.</p> + +<p>"All right; come along," said Tad, tightening his saddle +girths. "We'll have a fine gallop."</p> + +<p>"Be careful that you do not get lost, boys," warned the +Professor.</p> + +<p>"Can't get lost. All we have to do is to follow the foothills. +We shall probably find Juan and his burro sound asleep on an +ant-hill somewhere. He's positively the laziest human being I +ever set eyes on."</p> + +<p>"Better take along five dollars to bait him with," suggested +Ned.</p> + +<p>"I've got my stick," said Stacy. "I'll tickle the back of the +burro and its rider, just as I did the frogs."</p> + +<p>"You try that on the burro and he'll kick you into the middle +of next week," warned Walter.</p> + +<p>"Yes," laughed Tad. "Did you see him kick when Juan tossed a +tomato can against his heels this morning ? Kicked the can clear +over a tree and out of sight."</p> + +<p>"He'd make a good batter for the Chillicothe baseball team," +suggested Chunky. "He'd be the only real batter in the nine. They +could turn him loose on the umpire when they didn't need him on +the diamond. Wouldn't it be funny to see some umpires kicked over +the high board fence?"</p> + +<p>"Come along if you are going with me."</p> + +<p>Stacy swung into his saddle, and, galloping off, caught up +with Tad, who was in a hurry to get back to camp before dark.</p> + +<p>"Keep your eyes to the right, Chunky, and I'll look on the +left. If you see anything that looks like a lazy Mexican and a +lazy burro, just call out."</p> + +<p>"I'll run over them, that's what I'll do," declared the fat +boy. "Hello, there's a fellow on horseback."</p> + +<p>"I see him."</p> + +<p>The lads changed their course a little so as to head off the +solitary horseman, who was loping along in something of a +hurry.</p> + +<p>"Howdy," greeted the lad.</p> + +<p>"Evening, stranger. Where you hail from and where to?"</p> + +<p>"We're in camp back here. I'm looking for our guide, a Mexican +named Juan. He went away this morning and we haven't seen him +since."</p> + +<p>"And you won't so long as his money holds out," laughed the +horseman.</p> + +<p>"Then, you've seen him? Will you tell me where I may find +him?"</p> + +<p>"Sure thing, boy, but I reckon you'd better not be going any +further?"</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"He's over yonder, gambling with some renegade Apaches."</p> + +<p>"Apaches!" exclaimed the lads in one voice. "Those must be the +same fellows we saw up in the range. But how do you suppose he +knew they were over there?"</p> + +<p>"He? Those Greasers know everything except what they ought to +know—especially if there's any games of chance going +on."</p> + +<p>"Will you please tell me how we can reach the place? We want +to make a very early start in the morning, and I don't like to +take a chance of his not getting back in time."</p> + +<p>"If ye're bound to go, keep right along the edge of the +foothills. You can't miss the place. Better keep away if you +don't want to be getting into a mix-up. There's going to be +lively doings over there pretty soon," warned the stranger.</p> + +<p>"How do you mean? I've seen Indians before. Guess they won't +hurt us if they let Juan pow-wow with them."</p> + +<p>"This is different, young man. They're going to hold a fire +dance to-night—"</p> + +<p>"A fire dance?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"I thought they weren't allowed to do that any more?"</p> + +<p>"They ain't, but they will. There's a bunch of Sabobas from +over the line. They're the original fire eaters. They come over +here kind of secret like. Then there's Pueblos, 'Paches, and bad +ones from every tribe within a hundred miles of here. Been making +smoke signals from the mountains for more'n a week +past—"</p> + +<p>"I saw that yesterday and thought it was intended as a +signal."</p> + +<p>"Right."</p> + +<p>"But you don't think there will be any danger in just going +after our guide, do you?"</p> + +<p>"Boy, they'll be letting blood before morning, even if the +Government doesn't drop down on the picnic and clean out the +whole bunch of them. There is sure to be trouble before +morning."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said Tad, touching his pony;</p> + +<p>"Going on?" questioned the horseman.</p> + +<p>"Yes; I'm going to fetch Juan," replied Tad, touching spurs to +his pony and galloping away, followed by Stacy Brown.</p> + +<p>The horseman sat his saddle watching the receding forms of the +two Pony Rider Boys until they disappeared behind a butte in the +foothills.</p> + +<p>"Well, if those kids ain't got the sand!" he muttered.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER V</h3> + +<h4>A DARING ACT</h4> + +<p>"If you don't want to go with me you may go back, Chunky. +Perhaps one would not be as likely to get into trouble as two. +You can find your way, can't you?"</p> + +<p>"I go back? Think I'm a tenderfoot? Huh! Guess I ain't afraid +of any cheap Wild West Indians. I'm going with you, Tad."</p> + +<p>"Very well; but see to it that you keep in the background. You +have a habit of getting into trouble on the slightest +provocation."</p> + +<p>"So do you," retorted Stacy.</p> + +<p>The ponies had been urged to their best pace by this time. +Twilight had fallen and darkness would settle over them in a very +short time now, though a new moon hovered pale and weak in the +blue sky above. Tad knew this, so he did not worry about the +return trip.</p> + +<p>"We should be sighting the place pretty soon," he +muttered.</p> + +<p>"I see a light," announced Stacy.</p> + +<p>"Where?"</p> + +<p>"To the right. Over that low butte there."</p> + +<p>"Yes; that's so. I see it now. You have sharp eyes," laughed +Tad.</p> + +<p>"I can see when there's anything to see."</p> + +<p>"And eat when there's food to be had," added Tad.</p> + +<p>"Think those are the Indians that wanted to shoot us, Tad?" he +asked, with a trace of apprehension in his voice.</p> + +<p>Tad glanced at his companion keenly;</p> + +<p>"Getting cold feet, Chunky?"</p> + +<p>"No!" roared the fat boy.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon," grinned Tad. "I didn't mean to insult +you."</p> + +<p>"Better not. Look out that you don't get chilblains on your +own feet. May need a hot mustard bath yourself before you get +through."</p> + +<p>They rounded the butte. A full quarter of a mile ahead of them +flickered a large fire, with several smaller blazes twinkling +here and there about it. Shadowy figures were observed moving +back and forth, some with rapid movements, others in slow, +methodical steps.</p> + +<p>"There must be a lot of them, Tad."</p> + +<p>"Looks that way. I wonder where we shall find the guide."</p> + +<p>Both boys fell silent for a time, and as they drew nearer to +the scene pulled their ponies down to a walk. Tad concluded to +make a detour half way round the camp in order to get a clump of +bushes that he had observed between them and the redskins. From +that point of vantage he would be able to get a closer view, and +perhaps locate the man for whom he was looking.</p> + +<p>Riding in, they were soon swallowed up in the shadows.</p> + +<p>"Hold my pony a moment," directed Tad, slipping to the +ground.</p> + +<p>"Where are you going?"</p> + +<p>"Nowhere, just this minute. I'm going to look around."</p> + +<p>The lad peered through the bushes until, uttering a low +exclamation, he turned to his companion.</p> + +<p>"I see him. He's over on the other side—"</p> + +<p>"Who? Juan?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Now I want you to remain right here. Don't move away. +I'll tie my pony so he won't give you any trouble. Sit perfectly +quiet, and if any Indians come along don't bother them. I'm going +around the outside, so I don't have to pass through the crowd, +though they seem too busy to notice anyone."</p> + +<p>Tad slipped away in the shadows until he came to a spot +opposite where he had caught a glimpse of the lazy Mexican.</p> + +<p>He discovered Juan in the center of a circle of dusky Indians +who were squatting on the ground. Some of the braves were clothed +in nondescript garments, while others were attired in gaudy +blankets. These were the gamblers.</p> + +<p>At that moment their efforts were concentrated on winning from +Juan the wages of his first week's work with the Pony Rider Boys. +A blanket had been spread over the ground, and on this they were +wagering small amounts on the throw of the dice, a flickering +camp-fire near by dimly lighting up the blanket and making the +reading of the dice a difficult matter for any but the keenest of +eyes. The sing-song calls of the players added to the weirdness +of the scene.</p> + +<p>Tad waited long enough to observe that the guide lost nearly +every time, the stolid-faced red men raking in his coins with +painful regularity.</p> + +<p>"It's a wonder he has a cent left. But they're not playing for +very large amounts, as near as I can tell."</p> + +<p>Each time the Mexican lost he would utter a shrill "si, si," +then lured by the hope that Dame Fortune would favor him, reached +greedily for the next throw.</p> + +<p>"It's time for me to do something," muttered Tad.</p> + +<p>Stepping boldly from his cover, he walked up to the edge of +the circle.</p> + +<p>"Juan!" he called sharply.</p> + +<p>"Si," answered the Mexican, without looking up.</p> + +<p>"Juan!"</p> + +<p>This time the word was uttered in a more commanding voice.</p> + +<p>"You come with me!"</p> + +<p>The guide, oblivious to all beyond the terrible fascination of +the game he was playing, gave no heed to Tad Butler's stern +command. Three times did Tad call to him, but without result. One +of the red men cast an angry glance in the Tad's direction, and +then returned to his play.</p> + +<p>Without an instant's hesitation, Tad sprang over into the +center of the circle, and grasping Juan by an ear, jerked him to +his feet.</p> + +<p>Red hands fell to belts and dark faces scowled menacingly at +the intruder.</p> + +<p>"You come with me, Juan!"</p> + +<p>Juan sought to jerk away, but under the strong pull on his +ear, he did not find it advisable to force himself from his +captor's grip.</p> + +<p>"You ought to be ashamed of yourself. You're lucky if +Professor Zepplin doesn't give you another dose of hot drops for +this. I suppose these Indians sat down to rob you," growled +Tad.</p> + +<p>"No, no, no," protested Juan.</p> + +<p>By this time the Indian gamblers had leaped to their feet, an +ugly light in their eyes that boded ill for the Pony Rider Boy +who had interrupted them in the process of fleecing the +Mexican.</p> + +<p>With one accord they barred the way in a solid human wall. Tad +found himself hemmed in on all sides. It had been easy to gain an +entrance to the circle, but getting out of it was another +matter.</p> + +<p>"This man belongs to me," he said with as much courage in his +tone as he was able to command. "You will please step aside and +let us go. You're breaking the law. If you offer any resistance +I'll have the government officers after you in short order."</p> + +<p>He could not have said a worse thing under the circumstances. +At first they took him for a spy, possibly a Government spy. Now +they were sure of it, for had not the lad told them so +himself?</p> + +<p>With a growl, one who appeared to be the most important +personage in the group drew his sheath knife and sprang straight +at the slender figure of Tad Butler.</p> + +<p>Tad acted without an instant's hesitation.</p> + +<p>Stepping aside quickly; he cleverly avoided the knife-thrust. +At the same instant, while the Indian was off his balance, not +yet having recovered from the lunge, the Pony Rider Boy's fist +and the Indian's jaw met in sudden collision.</p> + +<p>The impact of the blow might have been heard more than a rod +away.</p> + +<p>The red man's blanket dropped from his shoulders; he staggered +backward, made a supreme effort to pull himself together, then +dropped in a heap at the feet of the boy who had felled him.</p> + +<p>Without waiting for the astonished red gamblers to recover +their wits, Tad grasped an arm of the Mexican and sprang away +into the bushes.</p> + +<p>He had done a serious thing, even though in self-protection. +He had knocked down an Apache brave with his fist. The sting of +that blow would rest upon the savage jaw until the insult was +wiped out by the victim himself.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER VI</h3> + +<h4>THE FIRE DANCE OF THE RED MEN</h4> + +<p>The Indians made a sudden move to pursue the lad who had done +so daring a thing. One of their number restrained them, pointing +to the fallen brave, as much as to say, "Revenge is for +<i>him!</i>"</p> + +<p>With a shrug of their shoulders the Indians sank down and +resumed their game as stoically as before. They gave no further +heed to the unconscious Apache, who still lay just outside the +circle where he had been knocked out by Tad's blow.</p> + +<p>"Hurry! Hurry!" commanded the lad, fairly dragging his +companion along. "They'll be after us in a minute."</p> + +<p>Yet before the minute had elapsed Tad had halted suddenly, his +wondering eyes fixed upon the scene that was being enacted before +him.</p> + +<p>About a pit of red hot coals, naked save for the breech clouts +they wore, swayed the bodies of half-a-dozen powerful braves.</p> + +<p>They were the fire dancers and Tad was gazing upon a scene +that probably never will he seen again in this country—the +last of the fire dances—a secret dance of which it was to +be supposed the Government agents knew nothing.</p> + +<p>Back and forth waved the copper-colored line, right up to the +edge of the pit of glowing coals, uttering a weird chant, which +was taken up by others who were not in the dance.</p> + +<p>The voices of the chanters grew louder, their excitement waxed +higher, as the thrill of song and dance pulsed through their +veins.</p> + +<p>All at once, Tad was horrified to see one of the dancers leap +into the air, uttering a mighty shriek. While still clear of the +ground the dancer's body turned, then he dove head first into the +bed of hot coals. He was out in an instant.</p> + +<p>The chant rose higher as the remaining dancers followed the +leader into the burning pit and out of it. So quickly did they +move that they seemed not to feel the heat, and from Tad's point +of vantage, he was sure that none was burned in the +slightest.</p> + +<p>Juan tried to pull away. But Tad held him in a firm grip.</p> + +<p>Now that the dancers had passed through the fire unscathed, +others followed them, some no more than touching the live coals, +then bounding out on the other side of the pit; others remaining +long enough to roll swiftly across the glowing bed.</p> + +<p>Excitement was rapidly waxing higher and higher. The red men +were in a dangerous mood. It boded ill for the paleface who +sought to interfere with their carnival at this moment.</p> + +<p>"Come!" whispered Tad in a low, tense voice. "We've got to get +out of this mighty quick! Chunky's probably half scared to death, +too."</p> + +<p>Tad did not go far. He had scarcely taken half a dozen steps +when a frenzied yell, a series of shrill shrieks sounded in the +air. The sounds seemed to come from all directions at once.</p> + +<p>"What's that?"</p> + +<p>"Me not know."</p> + +<p>"Somebody's running a pony. I hear it coming. It's headed +right for that bunch of crazy savages. Probably an Indian gone +mad."</p> + +<p>It was not an Indian who was the cause of this new +disturbance, as the lad discovered almost immediately +afterward.</p> + +<p>"Yip, yip! Y-e-o-w! W-o-w!"</p> + +<p>The yells were uttered in the shrill voice of Stacy Brown.</p> + +<p>"It's Chunky!" groaned Tad. "Here's trouble in earnest!"</p> + +<p>They never knew just how it happened, and Chunky could not +tell them, but in all probability the excitement had been too +much for the fat boy!</p> + +<p>He had moved closer when the dancing began, and the fever of +it got into his veins until his excitement had reached a pitch +beyond his control.</p> + +<p>With a series of howls and yells, the fat boy drove the rowels +of the spurs deep into his pony's aides.</p> + +<p>The animal dashed forward at a break-neck pace.</p> + +<p>Stacy headed straight for the glowing pit, yelling with every +leap of the pony.</p> + +<p>Tad gazed spellbound. He seemed powerless to move. He had been +deeply affected by the scenes he had seen; but this was +different. The lad held his breath.</p> + +<p>Reaching the edge of the pit, Stacy's pony rose in the air, +clearing the bed of coals in a long, curving leap.</p> + +<p>Two red men had just risen from their fiery bath. The hind +hoofs of the pony caught and bowled them over.</p> + +<p>"Run to the camp and get help! Take my pony! Ride for your +life! Don't lose a second!" gasped Tad, giving the lazy Mexican a +shove that sent him stumbling until he had measured his length +upon the ground.</p> + +<p>Juan picked himself up slowly; and, crawling away into the +bushes, lay down to rest or hide.</p> + +<p>Stacy's pony landed fairly in the center of a bunch of +half-clothed savages; some of whom went down under the pony when +it landed on them so unexpectedly.</p> + +<p>The next instant the fat boy had been jerked from the animal's +back, to which he was clinging desperately.</p> + +<p>With a yell the redskins hurled him toward the fire. But the +force of the throw had not been quite strong enough. Stacy landed +on the edge of the pit, rolling half into it, the upper part of +his body being on the ground to which he was hanging, yelling +lustily. His shod feet were in the fire, however, but as yet he +did not realize that his clothes were burning.</p> + +<p>Tad Butler sprang quickly from his hiding place.</p> + +<p>"Crawl out!" he roared. "You'll be burned alive!"</p> + +<p>"I—I can't. I fell in," piped Stacy, all his bravery +gone now.</p> + +<p>Tad leaped across the intervening space and bounded to the +side of his companion.</p> + +<p>"Ouch! I'm on fire!" shrieked Stacy.</p> + +<p>Tad grabbed and hauled him from his dangerous position. One of +Tad's feet slipped in while he was doing so. By this time the +clothes of both lads had begun to smoulder.</p> + +<p>"Run for it! Better be burned than scalped!" shouted Tad.</p> + +<p>Holding to Chunky's arm the Pony Rider Boy started to run. He +was tripped by a moccasined foot before they had gone ten feet. +Both boys fell headlong. Ere they could rise half a dozen mad +savages were upon them.</p> + +<p>The lads were jerked roughly to their feet, Chunky shivering, +Tad pale but resolute. There was nothing that he could say or do +to repair the damage that his companion had done.</p> + +<p>One whom the lad took to be a chief, from his head-dress and +commanding appearance, pushed his way into the crowd about the +two boys, hurling the red men aside with reckless sweeps of his +powerful arms.</p> + +<p>"Ugh!" he grunted, folding his arms and gazing sternly at the +two prisoners.</p> + +<p>"Who you?"</p> + +<p>Tad explained as best he could.</p> + +<p>"Why you do this?"</p> + +<p>"My friend here got excited," Tad declared.</p> + +<p>"Huh! Lie!"</p> + +<p>Tad's face burned. He could scarcely resist the impulse to +resent the imputation that the savage had cast upon him. He +conquered the inclination with an effort.</p> + +<p>"Sir, we had no wish to interfere with you. We came here to +get one of our men who had come here to gamble. If you will +release us we will return to our camp and give you no further +trouble. I promise you that."</p> + +<p>"T-h-h-h-at's so," chattered Chunky.</p> + +<p>"Keep still," whispered Tad. "You'll get us into more +trouble."</p> + +<p>The chief appeared to be debating the question in his own +mind, when one of the men, whom Tad recognized as a member of the +gambling circle, whispered something to the chief.</p> + +<p>The chief's eyes blazed. Uttering a succession of gutteral +sounds, he gave some quick directions to the red men near +him.</p> + +<p>"He makes a noise like a litter of pigs," muttered Chunky.</p> + +<p>Acting upon the chief's direction two braves grabbed the lads, +and hurried them away, Tad meanwhile watching for an opportunity +to break away. Had he been alone, he felt sure he could do so +safely. But he would not leave his companion, of course.</p> + +<p>The Apaches took the boys a short distance from the camp, +planked them down roughly with their backs to a rock.</p> + +<p>"Now, I wonder what next?" muttered Tad.</p> + +<p>While one of the braves stood guard over them, the second +trotted back to the camp, returning after a few minutes with a +third savage who carried a rifle.</p> + +<p>The boys were sure then that they were to be shot.</p> + +<p>"Huh! You run, brave shoot um!" warned one of the first pair, +after which parting injunction the two captors strode away, +leaving their companion to guard the boys.</p> + +<p>For a few moments the Indian walked up and down in front of +them, keeping his eyes fixed on the lads. Tad noted that he +walked rather unsteadily. Finally, the guard sat down facing +them, some ten feet away.</p> + +<p>"Well, you've certainly gone and done it this time, Chunky," +said Tad in a low voice. "What on earth made you do a crazy thing +like that?"</p> + +<p>"I—I don't know."</p> + +<p>"Well, it's too late for regrets. All we can do will be to +make the best of our situation and watch for an opportunity to +get away."</p> + +<p>For several minutes the boys sat gazing at the stolid figure +before them. Tad's mind was working, though his body was not.</p> + +<p>"Make believe you're going to sleep, but don't overdo it," +whispered Tad.</p> + +<p>This was something that Stacy could do, and he did it with +such naturalness that Tad could not repress a smile.</p> + +<p>"That Indian is dazed from his excitement, and if we make him +think we're asleep he's likely to relax his vigilance," mused +Tad, as the two boys gradually leaned closer together, soon to +all appearances being wrapped in sleep. Little by little the +Indian's head nodded.</p> + +<p>Finally he toppled over to one side, the rifle lying across +his feet.</p> + +<p>Tad and Chunky remained motionless.</p> + +<p>The Indian snored.</p> + +<p>The boys waited. Soon the snores became regular. The moment +for action had arrived.</p> + +<p>Tad pinched Chunky.</p> + +<p>"Huh! Wat'cher want?"</p> + +<p>The fat boy had in reality been asleep.</p> + +<p>"For goodness sake, keep quiet!" begged Tad in a whisper. +"Don't you know there's an Indian with a gun guarding us? He's +asleep. Come, but be quiet if you value your life at all. Anyway; +remember that I want to save mine."</p> + +<p>Stacy was wide awake now. Together the lads crawled cautiously +away, every nerve on the alert. Over by the pit of live coals the +uproar was, if any thing, louder than before.</p> + +<p>The boys gave that part of the camp a wide berth.</p> + +<p>"Now get up and run!" commanded Tad. "Raise your feet off the +ground, so that you won't fall over every pebble you come +to."</p> + +<p>Tad and Chunky clasped hands and scurried through the bushes, +making as little noise as possible, and rapidly putting +considerable distance between them and the sleeping red man who +had been set to watch them.</p> + +<p>"Having lots of fun, ain't we, Tad?"</p> + +<p>"Fun! You're lucky if you get off with a whole +scalp—"</p> + +<p>"Wow!" exclaimed Stacy.</p> + +<p>The lads brought up suddenly.</p> + +<p>At first they were not sure what had disturbed them, that is, +Tad was not. This time Stacy had seen more clearly than his +companion.</p> + +<p>"Ugh!" grunted a voice right in front of them, and there +before their amazed eyes stood an Indian. To their imaginations, +he was magnified until he appeared nearly as tall as the moonlit +mountains in the background.</p> + +<p>For one hesitating instant the lads stood staring at the +figure looming over them.</p> + +<p>With an angry growl the red man bounded toward them. He had +recognized the boys and was determined that they should not +escape him.</p> + +<p>It was Stacy Brown's wits that saved the situation this time. +As the Indian came at them the fat boy dived between the savage's +naked legs, uttering a short, sharp yelp, for all the world just +like that of a small dog attempting to frighten off a bigger +antagonist.</p> + +<p>There could be only one result following Chunky's unexpected +tactics. Mr. Redskin flattened himself on the ground prone upon +his face. Somehow the fellow was slightly stunned by the fall, +not having had time to save himself from a violent bump on the +head.</p> + +<p>"Run for it, Chunky! He'll be after us in a second."</p> + +<p>The lads made a lively sprint for the open. In a moment, +observing that they were not being followed, they halted, still +in the shadows of the bushes. All at once Tad stumbled over an +object in the dark. At first he thought it was another Indian, +and both boys were about to run again, when the voice of the +prostrate man caused them to laugh instead.</p> + +<p>"Si, si, señor," muttered the fellow.</p> + +<p>"Juan? It's Juan! Get up! You here yet?"</p> + +<p>They pulled the lazy guide to his feet, starting off with him, +when all at once Tad happened to think that one of the ponies was +back there somewhere among the Indians.</p> + +<p>"You stay here, and don't make a fool of yourself this time!" +commanded Tad.</p> + +<p>"Where are you going?"</p> + +<p>"After your pony. You hang on to Juan. I'll hold you +responsible for him, Chunky."</p> + +<p>"Guess I can take care of a lazy Mexican if I can floor a +redskin," answered Stacy proudly.</p> + +<p>But Tad was off. He had not heard the last remark of his +companion. In picking his way carefully around the camp to where +he had seen a lot of ponies tethered, Tad found a Navajo blanket. +He quickly possessed himself of it, throwing it over his head, +wrapping himself in its folds.</p> + +<p>He was now in plain sight of the wild antics of the dancers, +who, still mad with the excitement of the hour, were performing +all manner of weird movements. For a moment, the lad squatted +down to watch them. He had been there but a short time when a +voice at his side startled him, and Tad was about to take a fresh +sprint when he realized that it was not the voice of a +savage.</p> + +<p>"Young man, you'd better light out of here while you've got +the chance," said the stranger.</p> + +<p>Turning sharply, Tad discovered a man, who, like himself, was +wrapped in a gaudy blanket. He was unable to see the man's face, +which was hidden under the Navajo.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" demanded the lad sharply.</p> + +<p>"I'm an Indian agent. I only got wind of this proposed fire +dance late this afternoon. These men will all be punished unless +they return to their reservations peaceably. If they do, they +will be let go with a warning."</p> + +<p>"Do they know you're here?"</p> + +<p>"They? Not much," laughed the agent.</p> + +<p>"But supposing they ask you a question?"</p> + +<p>"I can talk all the different tribal languages represented +here. You'd better go now. Where are you from?"</p> + +<p>Tad explained briefly.</p> + +<p>"Well, you have had a narrow escape tonight. If they catch you +again they'll make short work of you."</p> + +<p>"They won't catch me. Thank you and good-bye."</p> + +<p>"Don't go that way. Strike straight back; then you will have +an open course."</p> + +<p>"I'm going after my companion's pony. I think I know where to +find it," answered Tad, wrapping the blanket about himself and +stealing across an open moonlit space without attracting +attention.</p> + +<p>The Indian agent watched him curiously for a moment; then he +rose and followed quickly after Tad.</p> + +<p>"That boy is either a fool—which I don't think—or +else he doesn't know the meaning of the word 'fear.'"</p> + +<p>Tad did not find Stacy's pony where he had expected. Indian +ponies were tethered all about, singly and in groups, while here +and there one was left to graze where it would.</p> + +<p>"What sort of a looking pony is yours?" questioned the agent, +coming up to him.</p> + +<p>"A roan."</p> + +<p>"Then I think I know where he is. He was not like the horses +in this vicinity, which attracted my attention to him."</p> + +<p>The agent led the way, in a roundabout course, to the south +side of the camp, where they began looking over the animals. +Occasionally a redskin would pass them, but no one gave either +the slightest heed.</p> + +<p>"Here he is," whispered Tad."</p> + +<p>"Lead him off. Don't mount just yet."</p> + +<p>Tad did as the agent had suggested. But all at once something +happened. Tad's blanket had dropped from his shoulders, revealing +him in his true colors. An Indian uttered a yell. Tad sprang into +his saddle and put spurs to the pony. In a moment more than a +dozen redskins had mounted and started yelling after him, +believing he was stealing a pony.</p> + +<p>Tad headed away to the south to give his companions a chance +to get out of the way, and the savages came in full cry after +him.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER VII</h3> + +<h4>FLEEING FROM THE ENEMY</h4> + +<p>A shrill cry was wafted to the boy.</p> + +<p>After a few moments Tad realized that they were no longer on +his trail. He knew the cry had been a signal, warning them to +halt. What he did not know, however, was that the Indian agent +had been responsible for the signal; that he in all probability +had saved the boy's life.</p> + +<p>The lad, after satisfying himself that the Indians had +abandoned the chase, at once circled about, coming back to the +point where he had left Chunky and the Mexican. They were both +there waiting for him.</p> + +<p>"What was all that row?" demanded the fat boy. "We were having +a little horse race, that's all," grinned Tad grimly; "Hurry +along, now."</p> + +<p>They reached their own camp in safety an hour later. The two +boys had much to relate, and as the narration proceeded, +Professor Zepplin shook his head disapprovingly.</p> + +<p>"Young gentlemen, much as I have enjoyed this summer's outing, +it's a wonder I haven't had nervous prostration long before this. +It'll be a load off my mind if I get you all back in Chillicothe +without anything serious happening to you."</p> + +<p>"I think," suggested Tad, "that we had better strike camp at +once and move on. The moon is shining brightly, and Juan ought to +have no trouble in leading the way."</p> + +<p>"Yes; that will be an excellent idea. You think they may give +as further trouble?" questioned the Professor.</p> + +<p>"They may before morning. They're getting more ugly every +minute."</p> + +<p>"Everything worth while seems to happen when I am not around," +protested Ned.</p> + +<p>"Good thing you weren't along," replied Stacy. "You'd been +scared stiff. It was no place for tenderfeet."</p> + +<p>"You—you call me a tenderfoot?" snapped Ned, starting +for him.</p> + +<p>"Stop quarreling, you two!" commanded Tad. "We've had all the +fighting we want for one night. Get busy and help strike this +camp. Guess none of this outfit could truthfully be called a +tenderfoot. We've all had our share of hard knocks, and we'll +have enough to look back to and think about when we get home and +have time to go over our experiences together this winter."</p> + +<p>The thought, that at any minute the half-crazed savages might +sweep down on them hastened the preparations for departure. The +Pony Rider Boys never struck camp more quickly than they did in +the soft southern moonlight that night.</p> + +<p>All at once Juan set up a wail.</p> + +<p>"What is it—what's the trouble now?" demanded Tad.</p> + +<p>"My burro. I go for him."</p> + +<p>"You'll do nothing of the sort. You'll walk, or ride a pack +animal," answered Stacy. "You don't deserve to have a burro."</p> + +<p>"Here's his old burro now," called Walter, as a shambling +object, much the worse for wear, came stumbling sleepily into +camp.</p> + +<p>The boys set up a shout that was quickly checked by Tad.</p> + +<p>"If the burro can find the way what do you think an Indian +could do, fellows?"</p> + +<p>"That's right," agreed Professor Zepplin. "We had better keep +quiet—"</p> + +<p>"And hit the trail as fast as possible," added Tad. "Daylight +must find us a long ways from here."</p> + +<p>"And ride all night—is that what you mean?" complained +Stacy.</p> + +<p>"Yes; it'll give you an appetite for breakfast."</p> + +<p>"I've got one already."</p> + +<p>"That goes without saying," agreed Ned.</p> + +<p>"Come, come, Juan!" urged Tad, observing that the guide was +doing nothing more in the way of work than rubbing the nose of +his prodigal burro. "Aren't you going to help us?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; what do you think we're paying you good American dollars +for?" demanded Ned.</p> + +<p>"I think some of the Professor's hot drops would be good for +what ails him," observed Stacy Brown. "I'll get the Professor to +give him a dose right now."</p> + +<p>"No, no, no! Juan no want fire drops."</p> + +<p>"All right; get busy, then."</p> + +<p>He did. Not since the last dose of the Professor's medicine +had he shown such activity. Very soon after that the camp had +been struck and the party was ready to take up its journey.</p> + +<p>Tad took a last look about, to make sure that nothing had been +left.</p> + +<p>"I think I'll put out the fire," he said, tossing the bridle +reins to Stacy, while he ran over to the dying camp-fire, whose +embers he kicked apart, stamping them out one by one. "No use +leaving a trail like that for any prowling redskin."</p> + +<p>They were quickly under way after that, Juan leading the way +without the least hesitancy. He and the burro worked together +like a piece of automatic machinery.</p> + +<p>"He might better walk and lead the burro," said Stacy, who had +been observing their peculiar method of locomotion. "Should think +it would be easier."</p> + +<p>The moon was dropping slowly westward, and the party was using +it for a guide, keeping the silver ball sharply to their right. +Juan on the other hand had hitched his lazy chariot to a +star.</p> + +<p>By this star he was laying his course to the southward. The +Pony Rider Boys enjoyed their moonlight trip immensely; and a +gentle breeze from the desert drifting over them relieved the +scorching heat of the late afternoon and early evening.</p> + +<p>"Guess the Indians are not going to bother us," said Walter, +riding up to Tad just before daylight.</p> + +<p>"Probably not. They will be in too much trouble with the +Government, after last night's performances, to give much thought +to chasing us. And besides, I don't see why they should wish to +do so. Had they been very anxious to be revenged on us, most +likely they would not have allowed us to get away as they +did."</p> + +<p>"Was it very terrible, Tad?" asked Walter Perkins.</p> + +<p>"What, the dance, or what happened afterwards?" laughed the +lad.</p> + +<p>"Both?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm free to confess that neither was exactly pleasant. +When they caught Chunky I thought it was all up with us. Hello. +There's Mr. Daylight."</p> + +<p>Glancing to the left the boys saw the sky turning to gray. A +buzzard screamed overhead, laying its course for the mountains +where it was journeying in search of food.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" demanded Stacy, awakening from a doze in his +saddle.</p> + +<p>"Friend of yours with an appetite," grinned Ned.</p> + +<p>"I thought it sounded like breakfast call," muttered Stacy, +relapsing into sleep again, his head drooping forward until, a +few minutes later, he was lying over the saddle pommel with arms +thrown loosely about the pony's neck</p> + +<p>Ned, observing the lad's position, suddenly conceived a +mischievous plan. Unnoticed by the others, he permitted his own +pony to fall back until he was a short distance behind Stacy. The +others were a little way ahead.</p> + +<p>Ned rode slowly alongside his companion, as he passed, +bringing the rowel of his spur sharply against the withers of +Chunky's mount.</p> + +<p>The effect was instantaneous.</p> + +<p>The fat boy's mount, itself half asleep, suddenly humped its +back, and with bunching feet leaped clear of the ground.</p> + +<p>"Hello, what's the matter back there?" called Ned, who by this +time was a full rod in advance of his companion.</p> + +<p>Stacy did not answer. He was at that moment turning an +undignified somersault in the air, his pony standing meekly, +awaiting the next act in the little drama.</p> + +<p>The fat boy landed on the plain in a heap.</p> + +<p>"Are you hurt, Chunky?" cried Tad anxiously, slipping from his +saddle and running to his companion.</p> + +<p>"I—I dunno, I—I fell off, didn't I?"</p> + +<p>"You're off, at least," grinned Ned. "What was the +matter?"</p> + +<p>"I—I dunno; do you?"</p> + +<p>"How should I know? If you will go to sleep an a bucking +broncho, you must expect things to happen."</p> + +<p>Stacy, by this time, had scrambled to his feet; after which, +he began a careful inventory of himself to make sure that he was +all there. He grinned sheepishly.</p> + +<p>Satisfying himself on this point, Stacy shrugged his shoulders +and walked over to his pony with a suggestion of a limp.</p> + +<p>"Now that we have halted we might as well make camp for a few +hours, get breakfast and take a nap," suggested the +Professor.</p> + +<p>The boys welcomed this proposition gratefully, for they were +beginning to feel the effects of their long night ride, added to +which, two of them had had a series of trying experiences before +starting out.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, Stacy Brown had been examining his pony with +more than usual care.</p> + +<p>Tad observed his action, and wondered at it. A moment later, +the fat boy having moved away; Tad thought he would take a look +at the animal. He was curious to know what Stacy had in mind.</p> + +<p>"So that's it, is it?" muttered Tad.</p> + +<p>He found the mark of a spur on the pony's withers. While it +had not punctured the skin, the spur had raked the coat, showing +that the rowel had been applied with considerable force.</p> + +<p>Tad, with a covert glance about, saw Ned Rector watching +him.</p> + +<p>"You're the guilty one, eh?" he demanded, walking up to +Ned.</p> + +<p>"S-h-h-h," cautioned Ned. "He'll be redheaded if he knows I am +to blame for his coming a cropper."</p> + +<p>"Chunky's not so slow as you might think. But that wasn't a +nice thing to do. It's all right to play tricks, but I hope you +won't be so cruel as to use a spur on a dumb animal, the way you +did, even if he is an ill-tempered broncho. You might have broken +Chunky's neck, too."</p> + +<p>Ned's face flushed.</p> + +<p>"It was a mean trick, I'll admit. Didn't strike me so at the +time. Shall I ask Chunky's pardon?"</p> + +<p>"Do as you think best. I should, were I in your place."</p> + +<p>"Then, I will after breakfast."</p> + +<p>Ned got busy at once, assisting to cook the morning meal, +while Juan led the ponies out to a patch of grass and staked them +down. While the Pony Rider cook was thus engaged, he felt a tug +at his coat sleeve.</p> + +<p>Turning sharply, Ned found Stacy at his side. Stacy's face was +flushed and his eyes were snapping.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Chunky?"</p> + +<p>"Come over here, I want to talk with you."</p> + +<p>They stepped off a few paces out of hearing of the others, Tad +smiling to himself as he observed Stacy's act.</p> + +<p>"Well, what's the matter, Chunky?"</p> + +<p>"I can lick you, Ned Rector!"</p> + +<p>"Wha—what?"</p> + +<p>"Said I could lick you. Didn't say I was going to, understand. +Just said I could—"</p> + +<p>"Like to see you try it."</p> + +<p>"All right; it's a go."</p> + +<p>Ere Ned could recover from his surprise, Stacy Brown had +launched himself upon his companion. One of Stacy's arms went +about Ned's neck, one foot kicked a leg from under Ned, and the +two lads went down in the dust together.</p> + +<p>It had happened in a twinkling.</p> + +<p>"Here, here! What's going on over there?" shouted the +Professor, starting on a run, while the other lads were +laughing.</p> + +<p>Chunky was sitting on the chest of his fallen adversary, Ned +struggling desperately to throw the lad off.</p> + +<p>"Cock-a-doodle-doo!" crowed Chunky, in imitation of a rooster, +flapping his hands on his thighs, in great good humor with +himself.</p> + +<p>Professor Zepplin grabbed him by the collar, jerking Stacy +Brown from the fallen Pony Rider Boy.</p> + +<p>Ned scrambled to his feet, and, with a sheepish grin on his +face, proceeded to brush the dust from his clothes.</p> + +<p>"Downed you, did he?" questioned Tad.</p> + +<p>"It wasn't fair. I didn't know he was going to try."</p> + +<p>"Neither did the Russians when the Japs sailed into them at +Port Arthur," laughed Walter. "And they got what was coming to +them."</p> + +<p>"So did I. Chunky, I deserve more than you gave me. If you +want to, beat me up some more."</p> + +<p>"Now, isn't that sweet of him?" chortled Stacy. "I fell off my +pony, then I fell on you, and we'll call it quits, eh, Ned?"</p> + +<p>Ned put out a hand, which Stacy grasped with mock +enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>"We sure will."</p> + +<p>"I'd like to know what this is all about?" questioned Walter. +"Something's been going on."</p> + +<p>"I made his pony throw him over," admitted Ned.</p> + +<p>Stacy nodded with emphasis.</p> + +<p>"He found it out and jumped on me."</p> + +<p>"I'll turn you both over my knee if you try to repeat these +performances," warned the Professor.</p> + +<p>Linking arms, Stacy and Ned started for the breakfast table, +humming,</p> + +<p>"For he's a jolly good fellow,"</p> + +<p>and a moment later all four of the lads were standing about +the breakfast table, singing the chorus at the top of their +voices.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER VIII</h3> + +<h4>ASLEEP ON THE SLEEPY GRASS</h4> + +<p>The slanting rays of the sun got into the eyes of the Pony +Rider Boys. Four arms were thrown over as many pairs of eyes to +shut out the blinding light.</p> + +<p>"Ho-ho-hum!" yawned Chunky.</p> + +<p>Cocking an impish eye at his companions, he observed that each +had fallen into a deep sleep again.</p> + +<p>The fat boy cautiously gathered up a handful of dry sand and +hurled it into the air. A shower of it sprinkled over them, into +their eyes and half-opened mouths.</p> + +<p>Three pairs of eyes were opened, then closed again.</p> + +<p>Encouraged by his success, Stacy chuckled softly to himself, +then dumped another handful of sand over his companions.</p> + +<p>But he was not prepared for what followed.</p> + +<p>Three muscular boys hurled themselves upon him. Instantly the +peaceful scene was changed into a pandemonium of yells. Down came +the tent poles, the canvas rising and falling as if imbued with +sudden life.</p> + +<p>Professor Zepplin, startled by the racket, roused himself and +sprang from his own tent. Observing the erratic actions of the +tent in which the boys had been sleeping, he instantly concluded +that something serious had happened.</p> + +<p>"Boys! boys!" he cried, running to the spot, frantically +hauling away the canvas. "What has happened? What has +happened?"</p> + +<p>They were too busy to answer him. When finally he had +uncovered what lay below, he found his charges literally tied up +in a knot, rolling and tumbling, with Stacy Brown lying flat on +his back, each of his three companions vigorously rubbing +handfuls of sand over his face, down his neck and in the hair of +his head.</p> + +<p>"I think I'll take a hand in this myself," smiled the +Professor. He ran to his tent, returning quickly. In his hands he +carried two pails of water.</p> + +<p>Unluckily for the boys, they had failed to observe what he was +doing. Nor did they understand that they were in danger until the +contents of the two pails had been dashed over them.</p> + +<p>There were yells in earnest this time. The water turned the +dirt into mud at once, and their faces were "sights." Stacy's +face had been protected, in a measure, by the other boys who were +bending over him rubbing in the sand.</p> + +<p>The unexpected bath put a sudden end to their sport, and they +staggered out shouting for vengeance. They did not even know who +had been the cause of their undoing.</p> + +<p>The Professor, as he walked away smiling, had handed the pails +to the grinning Juan with instructions to refill them.</p> + +<p>The unfortunate Juan, bearing the pails away, was the first +person to catch the eyes of the lads, as they rubbed the sticky +mud out of them.</p> + +<p>With a howl they projected themselves upon him. Juan's grin +changed instantly to an expression of great concern. He went down +under their charge, with four boys, instead of three, on top of +him.</p> + +<p>"Duck him!" shouted some one.</p> + +<p>"Yes! Douse him in the spring!" chorused the boys.</p> + +<p>Juan cried out for the Professor, but his appeals were in +vain.</p> + +<p>Shouting in high glee the lads bore him to the spring from +which they got their water. They plumped him in, not any too +gently, again and again.</p> + +<p>"Now roll him in the sand," suggested Ned.</p> + +<p>They did so.</p> + +<p>The wet clothing and body made the sand stick to him until the +lazy Mexican was scarcely recognizable.</p> + +<p>At this point Professor Zepplin took a hand. He came bounding +to the scene and began throwing the boys roughly from their +unhappy victim. Perhaps be was not greatly disturbed over the +shaking up the guide had sustained, but of course he confided +nothing of this to the boys.</p> + +<p>"You ought to be ashamed of yourselves—for four of you +to pitch on to one weak Mexican! I'm surprised, young +gentlemen."</p> + +<p>"But—but—he ducked us," protested Ned.</p> + +<p>"He did nothing of the sort."</p> + +<p>"What—didn't duck us? Guess I know water when I feel +it," objected Walter.</p> + +<p>"You were ducked, all right, but it is I, not Juan, who am +responsible for that."</p> + +<p>"You?" questioned the lads all at once.</p> + +<p>The Professor nodded, a broad grin on his face.</p> + +<p>"But he had the pails."</p> + +<p>"I gave them to him, after pouring the water over you. That's +what is known as circumstantial evidence, young gentlemen. Let it +be a lesson to you to be careful how you convict anyone on that +kind of evidence."</p> + +<p>"Fellows," glowed Chunky, "we've made a mistake. Let's make it +right by ducking the Professor."</p> + +<p>The boys looked over Professor Zepplin critically.</p> + +<p>"I guess we'd better defer that job till we grow some more," +they decided, with a laugh.</p> + +<p>The next fifteen minutes were fully occupied in cleaning up +and putting on their clothes. They were all thoroughly awake now, +with cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling after their violent +exercise. The guide had rather sullenly washed off the wet dust +that clung to his face and hands.</p> + +<p>"Never mind the clothes, Juan," advised Ned. "It'll brush off +as soon as it gets dry. We'll take up a contribution to buy you a +clothes brush. Ever see one?"</p> + +<p>Juan grinned.</p> + +<p>"You promise not to gamble the money away if we give it to +you?"</p> + +<p>"Si."</p> + +<p>"Shell out, fellows. Ten cents apiece. That ought to salve his +injured feelings."</p> + +<p>Ned passed the hat, all contributing.</p> + +<p>"That makes forty cents. Here, Professor, you haven't put in +your ten yet. It'll take just fifty cents to paste up Juan's +injuries."</p> + +<p>"That reminds me of a fellow I heard about once," announced +Stacy.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to tell a story?" questioned Ned.</p> + +<p>"If you will keep still long enough," replied Stacy.</p> + +<p>"Then me for the bunch grass. It's like going to a funeral to +hear Chunky try to tell a story."</p> + +<p>"Let him tell it," shouted the lads.</p> + +<p>"Go on, Chunky. Never mind Ned. He'll laugh when he gets back +to Chillicothe," jibed Walter.</p> + +<p>"I heard of a fellow once—"</p> + +<p>"Yes; you told us that before," jeered Ned.</p> + +<p>"Not the one we ducked in the spring, was it?" grinned +Tad.</p> + +<p>"Who's telling this story?" demanded Stacy belligerently.</p> + +<p>"You are, I guess. I won't interrupt again."</p> + +<p>"Well, did I say this fellow was a boy?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Well, he was—he's grown up now. He rushed into a drug +store—"</p> + +<p>"Was anything chasing him?" asked Ned innocently.</p> + +<p>Stacy gave no heed to the interruption.</p> + +<p>"And he said to the man in the store, 'Please, sir, some +liniment and some cement?'"</p> + +<p>"'What?' asked the clerk all in a muddle. You see, he'd never +had a prescription like that to fill before. It made him tired, +'cause he thought the kid was making fun of him."</p> + +<p>"'What—what's the trouble? What do you want liniment and +cement for?'</p> + +<p>"'Cause,' said the boy to the pill man, ''cause mom hit pop on +the head with a plate.'"</p> + +<p>For a moment there was silence, then the boys roared. But Ned +never smiled.</p> + +<p>"Laugh, laugh! Why don't you laugh?" urged Walter.</p> + +<p>"Laugh? Huh! I laughed myself almost sick over that a long +time ago. Read it in an almanac when I was in short +trousers."</p> + +<p>"The ponies! The ponies!" cried Juan, rushing up to them, +waving his arms, then running his fingers through his long black +hair until it stood up like the quills of a porcupine.</p> + +<p>"What!" queried the Pony Rider Boys in sudden alarm. "What's +the matter with the ponies?"</p> + +<p>Juan pointed to the place where the stock had been tethered +after they arrived at the camp.</p> + +<p>There was not an animal to be seen anywhere on the plain.</p> + +<p>"Gone!" gasped the lads, with sinking hearts.</p> + +<p>"No, no, no. There!" stammered the guide.</p> + +<p>With one accord the boys ran at top speed to the spot +indicated by Juan.</p> + +<p>There, stretched out in the long grass lay bronchos and +burros.</p> + +<p>"They're dead, the ponies are dead, every one of them!" cried +the lads aghast.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER IX</h3> + +<h4>THE MIDNIGHT ALARM</h4> + +<p>"What's this, what's this?" demanded the Professor, striding +up.</p> + +<p>"Look! Look! The ponies are dead!" exclaimed Ned +excitedly.</p> + +<p>"What do you suppose could have happened to them?" stammered +Walter.</p> + +<p>"Is it possible? What's the meaning of this, guide?"</p> + +<p>Juan shrugged his shoulders and showed his white teeth.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Tad had hurried to his own pony, and was down +on his knees examining it. Placing his hands on the animal's +side, he remained in that position for an instant, then sprang +up.</p> + +<p>"They're not dead, fellows! They're alive!"</p> + +<p>"Asleep," grumbled Ned disgustedly.</p> + +<p>"But there's something the matter with them. Something has +happened to the stock," added Tad.</p> + +<p>"Only a false alarm," nodded Stacy.</p> + +<p>"Think so? Try to wake your pony up," advised Tad.</p> + +<p>Stacy had already hurried to his own broncho, and now began +tugging at the bridle rein, with sundry pokes in the animal's +ribs.</p> + +<p>"I can't. He's in a trance," wailed Stacy, considerably +startled.</p> + +<p>That expression came nearer to describing the condition of the +stock than any other words could have done.</p> + +<p>"Guide, what do you know about this?" questioned the +Professor. "Has some one been tampering with our animals?"</p> + +<p>Juan shrugged his shoulders with an air of indifference.</p> + +<p>"No bother bronchs."</p> + +<p>"Then will you please tell us what is the matter with +them?"</p> + +<p>"<i>Sleepy grass!</i>"</p> + +<p>"Sleepy grass?" chorused the lads.</p> + +<p>"Of course they're asleep all right," added Ned. "But whoever +heard of sleepy grass?"</p> + +<p>"He means they're sleeping on the grass," Stacy informed +them.</p> + +<p>"Ah! I begin to understand," nodded the Professor. "I think I +know what the trouble is now. The guide is no doubt right."</p> + +<p>The boys gathered around him, all curiosity.</p> + +<p>"Tell us about it, Professor. We are very much mystified?" +said the Pony Riders.</p> + +<p>"A long time ago I remember to have read, somewhere, of a +certain grass in this region that possessed peculiar narcotic +properties—"</p> + +<p>"What's narcotic?" interrupted Stacy.</p> + +<p>"Something that makes you go to sleep when you can't," +explained Tad Butler, rather ambiguously.</p> + +<p>"When eaten by horses or cattle it is said to put them into +deep sleep. The Rockefeller Institute, I believe, is already +making an analytical test of the grass."</p> + +<p>"Please talk so I can understand it," begged Stacy.</p> + +<p>"Yes; those words make my head ache," scowled Ned. "Even the +guide is making up faces in his effort to understand."</p> + +<p>"He does understand. He understands only too well. For many +years this grass has been known. Cows turned out for the day +would fail to return at night—"</p> + +<p>"To be milked," interjected Stacy.</p> + +<p>"And an investigation would disclose them sleeping in some +region, where the sleepy grass grew</p> + +<p>And the fat boy hummed:</p> + +<p>"Down where the sleepy grass is growing."</p> + +<p>"Travelers who have tied out their horses in patches of the +grass for the night have been unable to continue their journey +until the animals recovered from their strange sleep. Thus the +properties of the grass became known."</p> + +<p>"Indians use 'em to tame bad bronchos," the guide informed +them.</p> + +<p>"Just so."</p> + +<p>"But, when will they wake up?" questioned Tad.</p> + +<p>"Mebby sun-up to-morrow," answered Juan, glancing up at the +sky.</p> + +<p>"What, sleep twenty-four hours?" demanded Ned.</p> + +<p>"Si."</p> + +<p>"Preposterous."</p> + +<p>"Then, then, we've got to remain here all the rest of the +afternoon and night—is that it?" demanded Tad.</p> + +<p>"It looks that way."</p> + +<p>"And you knew about this stuff, Juan?" questioned Tad.</p> + +<p>"Si."</p> + +<p>"Well, you're a nice sort of a guide, I must say."</p> + +<p>"You ought to be put off the reservation," threatened Stacy, +shaking a menacing fist in front of the white teeth.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, Tad had gone over to the animals again, and, +taking them in turn, sought to stir them up. He found he could +not do so. The ponies' heads would drop to the ground after he +had lifted and let go of them, just as if the animals were +dead.</p> + +<p>"Gives you a creepy feeling, doesn't it?" shivered Walter.</p> + +<p>"I should say it does," answered Ned.</p> + +<p>"Well, what is it, Chunky?" asked Tad, who observed that Stacy +had something on his mind that he was trying to formulate into +words.</p> + +<p>"I've got an idea, fellows," he exploded.</p> + +<p>"Hold on to it, then. You may never get another," jeered +Ned.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Master Stacy?" asked the Professor.</p> + +<p>"Then—then—then—that's what Juan and his +burro have been eating all the time. I knew there was something +the matter with them."</p> + +<p>A loud laugh greeted the fat boy's suggestion.</p> + +<p>"Guess he's about right, at that," grinned Tad.</p> + +<p>"A brilliant thought," agreed the Professor. "Boys, I must +have some of that grass. I shall make some experiments with +it."</p> + +<p>"Experiment on Chunky," they shouted.</p> + +<p>"No; he sleeps quite well enough as it is," smiled the +Professor.</p> + +<p>"I want some of it too—no, not to eat," corrected the +fat boy. "I'll feed it to my aunt's cat when I get back; then he +won't be running away from home every night."</p> + +<p>"Better unload the rest of the equipment, boys," advised the +Professor. "If we must remain here all night we might as well +make the best of it."</p> + +<p>Without their ponies, the lads spent rather a restless +afternoon. They had not fully realized before how much a part of +them their horses had become until they were suddenly deprived of +them.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, the bronchos slept on undisturbed.</p> + +<p>"I've got another idea," shouted Stacy.</p> + +<p>"Keep it to yourself," growled Ned. "Your ideas, like your +jokes, graduated a long time ago."</p> + +<p>"Is there sleepy grass in the Catskill Mountains!" persisted +Stacy.</p> + +<p>"We don't know, and we don't—"</p> + +<p>"I know there is, and that's what put Rip Van Winkle to sleep +for twenty years," shouted the fat boy in high glee. "See, I know +more than—"</p> + +<p>"Yes; you're the original boy wonder. We'll take that for +granted," nodded Ned Rector.</p> + +<p>Tad, however, was not inclined to look upon their enforced +delay with anything like amusement. To him it had its serious +side. He had not forgotten that they had been fleeing from the +Indians. When he got an opportunity to do so, without his +companions overhearing, he approached the Professor.</p> + +<p>"I think it would be a good plan for us to have a guard over +our camp to-night."</p> + +<p>"On account of?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Very well; I think myself that it would be a prudent move. +Have Juan sit up, then."</p> + +<p>"No, he's a sleepy bead. Suppose we boys take turns?"</p> + +<p>"Very well; arrange it to suit yourselves. I presume we ought +to do something of the sort every night. It might have saved us +some trouble on our Ozark journey had we been that prudent. +Arrange it to suit you. I'll take my turn</p> + +<p>"No; we can do it, Professor. You go to bed as usual. We'll +draw lots to see who takes the different watches. With the four +of us we'll have to take only two hours apiece. That won't be bad +at all."</p> + +<p>The other boys, after the plan had been explained to them, +entered into it enthusiastically. Walter was to take the first +trick, Ned the next, Chunky the third and Tad the fourth.</p> + +<p>And they were to take their guns out with them. The Professor +agreed to this, now that they had become more familiar with +firearms. As a matter of fact, all the boys had developed into +excellent marksmen, though Tad was recognized as the best shot of +the party.</p> + +<p>Professor Zepplin, during the afternoon, gave each of them a +lesson in revolver shooting, using for the purpose, his heavy +army revolver. They did pretty well with this weapon, but, of +course, were not nearly as expert with it as with the rifle.</p> + +<p>Evening came and the stock was still sleeping soundly. There +was nothing the boys could do but let them sleep, though the fact +of all the ponies and burros lying about as if dead began to make +the Pony Riders nervous. Night came, and with it semi-darkness, +the moon being overcast with a veil of fleecy white clouds, which +cast a grayish film over the landscape. The lads joked each other +about having the "creeps," but none would admit the charge.</p> + +<p>Walter, with rifle slung over his right shoulder, went out on +the first watch with instructions to go at least two hundred +yards from camp and keep walking around the camp in a circle. +This would protect them from surprises on all sides. Ned decided +not to retire until he had taken his guard trick, in view of the +fact that he was to go on at eleven o'clock. But Stacy, proposing +to get all the sleep he was entitled to, turned in early. The +rest did not disturb him. The boys were unusually quiet that +evening, perhaps feeling that the responsibility of the safety of +the camp rested wholly upon their youthful shoulders.</p> + +<p>Ned came in at one o'clock, after having taken his turn, +unslung his rifle, drew the cartridges then put them back in the +magazine again.</p> + +<p>"I might need them before morning," he told himself.</p> + +<p>Chunky being sound asleep, Ned grabbed him by a foot giving +him a violent pull.</p> + +<p>"Wat'cher want? Get out!" growled the fat boy sleepily.</p> + +<p>"Get up and take your watch!" commanded Ned.</p> + +<p>"Who's afraid of Indians?" mumbled Stacy.</p> + +<p>This time Ned took the lad by the collar, jerked him to his +feet and shook him until Stacy yelled "Ouch!" so loudly as to +awaken the entire camp.</p> + +<p>It took some time, however, to get Stacy himself awake +sufficiently to make him understand that he had a duty to +perform. Finally, however, he shouldered his rifle, after +surreptitiously helping himself to a sandwich from the cook tent. +Then be marched off, munching the bread and meat.</p> + +<p>"See here," snapped Ned, running after him. "You're not +measuring off your distance. Come back and pace it off."</p> + +<p>"How many?"</p> + +<p>"Two hundred yards. Stretch your fat legs as far as they'll +go, then you'll have a yard, more or less."</p> + +<p>Stacy started all over again, forgot the count, came back, +then tried it again. Even at that he was not sure whether he had +gone one hundred yards or five.</p> + +<p>He was awake enough, now, to observe his surroundings. The +cool breezes of the night were tossing the leaves of the +cottonwoods near the water course to the west of them, while here +and there in the foliage might be heard the exultant notes of a +mocking bird.</p> + +<p>Stacy shivered.</p> + +<p>"Guess it's going to freeze to-night," he decided, beginning +his steady tramp about the camp of the Pony Rider Boys.</p> + +<p>Muttering to himself, as was his habit when alone, Stacy kept +on until finding himself opposite the ponies, he decided to go +over and look at them. All were asleep. Not one had awakened +since going down under the powerful influence of the "sleepy +grass."</p> + +<p>"I'd like to eat some of that stuff myself, right now," Chunky +decided out loud. "I'd have a good excuse for going to sleep +then. Now I can't without getting jumped on by the fellows. +Wonder what time it is—only half-past one. Must be +something the matter with my watch. I know I've been out more'n +two hours."</p> + +<p>This trip he circled out further from the camp, growing a +little more confident because nothing had happened to disturb +him.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the camp slept in peace—that is, the +lads did until nearly time for the change of guard. Then the +whole party was aroused with the sudden, startling conviction +that something serious had happened.</p> + +<p>All at once the crack of a rifle sounded on the still night +air. It was followed by another shot, and another, until four +distinct reports had rolled across the plains.</p> + +<p>In wild disorder the Pony Rider Boys tumbled from their cots, +and, grasping their weapons, leaped from the tents.</p> + +<p>"What's the row?" inquired the Professor.</p> + +<p>"Wow! Wow! Wow! Yeow!" shrieked a shrill voice to the +northward.</p> + +<p>"It's Chunky. He's giving the alarm! We're attacked!" cried +the lads.</p> + +<p>Bang ! Bang!</p> + +<p>They saw the flash of the fat boy's weapon before the report +reached their ears.</p> + +<p>A moment later the other boys caught sight of Stacy dashing +into camp, hatless, waving his rifle and yelling as if bereft of +his senses.</p> + +<p>"What is it? What is it?" cried the boys with one voice.</p> + +<p>"Indians! Indians! The prairie's full of them!"</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER X</h3> + +<h4>MEETING THE ATTACK</h4> + +<p>Instantly the camp was thrown into confusion. The lads ran +here and there, not knowing what to do.</p> + +<p>"Get behind the ponies! That's the only cover we can find +here. Run for it!"</p> + +<p>And run they did, the Professor outdistancing all the rest in +his attempt to secrete himself where the enemy's weapons would +not be likely to reach him.</p> + +<p>In a moment more, the camp of the Pony Rider Boys was +deserted, and behind each sleeping pony lay a boy, with rifle +barrel poked over the animal's back, ready to shoot at the first +sign of the redskins. Stacy, in his excitement, had forgotten +that not a cartridge was left in his magazine, and the others +were too fully occupied to remember to tell him.</p> + +<p>For all of half an hour did the party lie protected. The boys +began to grow restive. Tad's suspicions were being slowly +aroused.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to do a little scouting," he told them, slipping +from behind the pony and skulking along back of the tents. The +moon was shining brightly now. He could see a long distance. Not +a human being was in sight.</p> + +<p>"I thought so," he muttered, retracing his steps. "See here, +Stacy Brown, what did you see—what did you shoot at?" he +demanded sternly.</p> + +<p>"I—I shot the chute—I—I mean I chuted the +shot—I mean—"</p> + +<p>"Say, what do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"I—I mean—say, leggo my neck, will you?" roared +Chunky.</p> + +<p>"Fellows, he doesn't know what he means."</p> + +<p>"Guess he's been feeding on crazy grass out on the prairie," +was Ned's conclusion.</p> + +<p>"There isn't an Indian anywhere around here. I know it. They +would have been after us long before this, if there had +been."</p> + +<p>One by one the boys came from their hiding places, the lazy +Mexican last. Disapproving eyes were turned on Stacy.</p> + +<p>"Chunky, you come along and show us where you were when you +shot—did you shoot at an Indian?" asked Tad.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and I—I—I shot him."</p> + +<p>"Show us. We're all from Chillicothe," demanded Ned.</p> + +<p>Stacy, with a show of importance, led the way, keeping a wary +eye out for the enemy. It was noticed, however, that each of the +lads held his rifle ready for business in case there should be an +enemy about.</p> + +<p>"There! I was standing right over there—I guess."</p> + +<p>"You guess! Don't you know?" questioned the Professor.</p> + +<p>"Yes; that's the place."</p> + +<p>The lad walked over to the identical spot from which he had +first fired his rifle.</p> + +<p>"He was over there and I shot at him, so," said Stacy, +leveling the weapon. "Ye-ow! There he is, now!" shrieked the +boy.</p> + +<p>Every weapon flashed up to a level with the eyes.</p> + +<p>"There is something over there on the ground," decided the +Professor.</p> + +<p>"Put down your guns so you don't shoot me," said Tad. "I'm +going to find out what it is."</p> + +<p>Keeping his own weapon held at "ready," the lad walked boldly +over to where a heap of some sort lay on the plain. It surely had +not been there during the afternoon—Tad knew that.</p> + +<p>He reached it, stooped, peered, then uttered a yell.</p> + +<p>"What is it" they cried, hurrying up.</p> + +<p>"You've done it now, Chunky Brown. You certainly have gone and +done it."</p> + +<p>"What—what is it?" cried the others in alarm.</p> + +<p>"You've shot the lazy Mexican's burro. That's your Indian, +Stacy Brown."</p> + +<p>Juan, who had followed them out on the plain, uttered a wail +and threw himself upon the body of his prostrate burro. The +animal, it seemed, had recovered consciousness during the night, +and in a half-dazed condition had wandered out on the plain. +Stacy, while crouching down on the ground, had seen the head and +long ears of the burro. He thought the ears were part of the head +dress of a savage and let fly a volley of bullets at it.</p> + +<p>"He—he isn't dead," shouted the fat boy. "See, I just +pinked him in the ears."</p> + +<p>And, surely enough, an examination revealed a hole through +each ear. The holes were so close to the animal's head that it +was reasonable to suppose the shot had stunned him, being already +in a weakened condition from the sleepy grass.</p> + +<p>The boys set to work to rouse the burro, which they succeeded +in doing in a short time. Juan, with arm around the lazy beast's +neck, led it back to camp, petting and soothing it with a +chattering that they could not understand.</p> + +<p>There was no more sleep in camp that night, though the boys +turned in at the Professor's suggestion. Every little while, +laughter would sound in one of the tents, as the others fell to +discussing Stacy's Indian attack.</p> + +<p>The next morning they were overjoyed to find that the ponies +had awakened and were trying to get up.</p> + +<p>"Lead them out of that grass, fellows," shouted Tad, the +moment he saw the ponies were coming around. "We don't want them +to make another meal of that stuff"</p> + +<p>"Nor take another of Chunky's Rip Van Winkle sleeps," added +Ned.</p> + +<p>Never having had a like experience, none of the lads knew what +to do with their mounts after getting them sufficiently awake to +lead them to a place of safety. They appealed to Juan for advice, +but the lazy Mexican appeared to know even less than they.</p> + +<p>Tad, after studying the question a few moments, decided to +give them water, though sparingly. This they appeared to relish +and braced up quite a little. But the boy would not allow them to +graze until nearly noon, when each one took his pony out, making +sure that there was none of the sleepy grass around. The animals +were then permitted to graze.</p> + +<p>About the middle of the afternoon Tad decided that all were +fit to continue the journey, and that it would be safe to travel +until sunset. Everyone was glad to get away from the spot where +they had had such unpleasant experiences, and the boys set off, +moving slowly, the stock not yet being in the best of +condition.</p> + +<p>Late in the afternoon, when they had about decided to make +camp, one of the boys espied an object, something like a quarter +of a mile away, that looked like the roof of a house.</p> + +<p>Ned said it couldn't be that, as it appeared to be resting on +the ground. They asked Juan if he knew what it was, and for a +wonder he did. He said it was a dug-out—a place where a man +lived.</p> + +<p>"Is he a hermit?" asked Stacy apprehensively, at which there +was a laugh. Stacy had not forgotten his experiences in the cave +of the hermit of the Nevada Desert.</p> + +<p>For the next hour, the lads were too busy, pitching tents and +unloading the pack animals, to give further thought to the +dug-out or its occupant; but when, after they had prepared their +evening meal, they saw some one approaching on horseback, they +were instantly curious again.</p> + +<p>The newcomer proved to be the owner of the dug-out. He was a +tall, square-jawed man, with a short, cropped iron-gray beard and +small blue, twinkling eyes.</p> + +<p>"Will you join us and have some supper?" asked Tad politely, +walking out to greet the stranger.</p> + +<p>"Thank you; I will, young man," smiled the stranger.</p> + +<p>Tad introduced himself and companions.</p> + +<p>"You probably have heard my name before, young men. It is Kris +Kringle; I'm living out here for my health and doing a little +ranching on the side."</p> + +<p>Stacy looked his amazement.</p> + +<p>"Is—is he Santa Claus?" he whispered, tugging at Tad's +coat sleeve.</p> + +<p>"No, young man. I am not related to the gentleman you refer +to," grinned Mr. Kringle.</p> + +<p>There was a general laugh at Stacy's expense.</p> + +<p>After supper, the visitor invited all hands to ride over to +his dug-out and spend the evening with him. The boys accepted +gladly, never having seen the inside of a dug-out, and not +knowing what one looked like. Professor Zepplin had taken a +sudden liking to the man with the Christmas name, and soon the +two were engaged in earnest conversation.</p> + +<p>The distance being so short, Tad decided that they had better +walk, leaving the ponies in charge of Juan so they might get a +full night's rest. Then all hands set out for the dug-out.</p> + +<p>A short flight of steps led down into the place, the roof of +which was raised just far enough above the ground to permit of +two narrow windows on each side and at the rear end.</p> + +<p>The room in which they found themselves, proved to be a +combination kitchen and dining room. Its neatness and orderliness +impressed them at once.</p> + +<p>"And here," said Kris Kringle, "is what I call my den," +throwing open a door leading into a rear room and lighting a +hanging oil lamp.</p> + +<p>The Pony Rider Boys uttered an exclamation of surprised +delight.</p> + +<p>On a hardwood floor lay a profusion of brightly colored Navajo +rugs, the walls being hung with others of exquisite workmanship +and coloring, interspersed with weapons and trophies of the +chase, while in other parts of the room were rare specimens of +pottery from ancient adobe houses of the Pueblos.</p> + +<p>At the far end of the room was a great fire-place. Book cases, +home-made, stood about the room, full of books. The Professor +realized, at once, that they were in the home of a student and a +collector.</p> + +<p>"This is indeed an oasis in the desert," he glowed. "I shall +be loath to leave here."</p> + +<p>"Then don't," smiled Mr. Kringle. "I'm sure I am glad enough +to have company. Seldom ever see anyone here, except now and then +a roving band of Indians."</p> + +<p>"Indians!" exclaimed Tad. "Do you have any trouble with +them?"</p> + +<p>"Well, they know better than to bother with me much. We have +had an occasional argument," said their host, his jaws setting +almost stubbornly for the instant. "Most of the tribes in the +state are peaceful, though the Apaches are as bad as ever. They +behave themselves because they have to, not because they wish to +do so."</p> + +<p>"I saw their fire dance the other night," began Tad.</p> + +<p>"What?" demanded Mr. Kringle.</p> + +<p>"Fire dance."</p> + +<p>"Tell me about it?"</p> + +<p>Tad did so, the host listening with grave face until the +recital was ended.</p> + +<p>He shook his head disapprovingly.</p> + +<p>"And this—this Indian that you knocked down—was he +an Apache?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. I think so, though. He had on a peculiar head +dress</p> + +<p>"That was one of them," interrupted Mr. Kringle, with +emphasis. "And I'll wager you haven't heard the last of him yet. +That's an insult which the Apache brave will harbor under his +copper skin forever. He'll wait for years, but he'll get even if +he can."</p> + +<p>The faces of the Pony Rider Boys were grave.</p> + +<p>"Have you a reliable guide?"</p> + +<p>"Far from it," answered the Professor. "If I knew where I +could get another, I'd pack him off without ceremony.</p> + +<p>Kris Kringle was silent for a moment.</p> + +<p>"I need a little change of scene," he smiled. "How would you +like to have me take the trail with you for a week or so?"</p> + +<p>"Would you?" glowed the Professor, half rising from his +chair.</p> + +<p>"I think I might."</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" cried the Pony Riders enthusiastically. "That will +be fine."</p> + +<p>"Of course, you understand that I expect no pay. I am going +because I happen to take a notion to do so. Perhaps I'll be able +to serve you at the same time."</p> + +<p>The Professor grasped Mr. Kringle by the hand impulsively.</p> + +<p>"I'll send that lazy Juan on his way this very +night—"</p> + +<p>"Let me do it," interposed Stacy, with flushing face. "I'll do +it right, Professor. But I'll put on my pair of heavy boots +first, so it'll hurt him more."</p> + +<p>The boys shouted with laughter, while the new guide's eyes +twinkled merrily.</p> + +<p>"I think, perhaps, the young man might do it even more +effectively than you or I," he said. "Have you weapons, +Professor?"</p> + +<p>"Rifles."</p> + +<p>"That's good. We may need them."</p> + +<p>"Then you think?"</p> + +<p>"One can never tell."</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER XI</h3> + +<h4>RIDING WITH KRIS KRINGLE</h4> + +<p>A slender ribbon of dust unrolling across the plain far to the +northward marked the receding trail of Juan and his lazy burro. +They had given him a week's extra pay and sent him on his +way.</p> + +<p>The burro was making for home, aided by the busy feet of its +master, while Stacy Brown, shading his eyes with one hand, was +watching the progress of the guide, whom he had just sent +adrift.</p> + +<p>"Well, he's gone," grinned Stacy, turning to his companions, +who were busy striking camp.</p> + +<p>"And a good riddance," nodded Tad.</p> + +<p>"He'll probably join the Indians and tell them where we are," +suggested Walter.</p> + +<p>"I hadn't thought of that," replied Tad. "Still, if they wish +to find us they know how without Juan's telling them."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"They can follow a trail with their eyes shut," said Ned.</p> + +<p>"That's right. They do not need to be told," muttered Tad.</p> + +<p>Everything being in readiness, the boys started with their +outfit for the dug-out, where they were to be joined by Kris +Kringle. They felt a real relief to know that they were to have +with them a strong man on whom they were sure they could rely to +do the right thing under all circumstances. Tad, however, +believed that Mr. Kringle had decided to join them, fearing they +would be attacked by the Apaches and come to serious harm. Yet he +hardly thought the redskins would dare to follow them, after the +latter had once gotten over the frenzy of their fire dance. By +that time the Indian agents would have rounded them all up on the +reservations, where the Indians would be able to do no more harm +for a while.</p> + +<p>After picking up the new guide the start was made. The party +had water in plenty in the water-bags, so that no effort was made +to pick up a water hole when they made camp late in the +afternoon. The guide had brought in his pack a tough old sage +hen, at which the lads were inclined to jeer when he announced +his intention of cooking it for their supper.</p> + +<p>"You'll change your mind when you taste it, young gentlemen. +It depends upon the cooking entirely. A sage hen may be a +delicious morsel, or it may not," answered Mr. Kringle, with a +grin.</p> + +<p>They were encamped near a succession of low-lying buttes, and +to while away the time until the supper hour, the boys strolled +away singly to stretch their legs on the plain after the long +day's ride in the hot sun.</p> + +<p>When they returned an hour or so later, Stacy, they observed, +was swinging a curious forked stick that he had picked up +somewhere a few moments ago.</p> + +<p>"What you got there?" questioned Ned.</p> + +<p>"Don't know. Picked it up on the plain. Such a funny looking +thing, that I brought it along."</p> + +<p>"Let me see it," asked Mr. Kringle.</p> + +<p>Stacy handed it to him.</p> + +<p>"This," said the guide, turning the stick over in his hand, +"is a divining rod."</p> + +<p>"Divining rod?" demanded Stacy, pressing forward.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Never heard of it. Is it good to eat?"</p> + +<p>"Looks to me like a wish bone," interjected Ned. "Do you eat +wish bones, Chunky?"</p> + +<p>"Might, if I were hungry enough."</p> + +<p>"A divining rod is used to locate springs. Some users of it +have been very successful. I couldn't find a lake with it, even +if I fell in first."</p> + +<p>"Indeed," marveled the Professor. "I have heard of the +remarkable work of divining rods. What Rind of wood is it?"</p> + +<p>"This is hazel wood. Oak, elm, ash or privet also are used, +but hazel is preferred in this country."</p> + +<p>"Then—then we won't have to go dry any more—I can +find water with this when I'm dry?" questioned Stacy.</p> + +<p>"You might; then again you might not."</p> + +<p>"Better take it away from him," suggested Ned. "He might find +a spring. If he did he'd be sure to fall in and drown."</p> + +<p>The stick, which was shaped like the letter Y, was an object +of great interest to the Pony Rider Boys. One by one they took it +out on the plain, in an effort to locate some water. The guide +instructed them to hold the Y with the bottom up, one prong in +each hand and to walk slowly.</p> + +<p>But, try as they would, they were able to get no results.</p> + +<p>"The thing's a fraud!" exclaimed Ned disgustedly, throwing the +divining rod away.</p> + +<p>Stacy picked it up.</p> + +<p>"I know why it doesn't work," he said.</p> + +<p>"Why?" demanded the other boys.</p> + +<p>"'Cause—'cause there isn't any water to make it work," +he replied wisely.</p> + +<p>The boys groaned.</p> + +<p>Shortly after returning to camp, they found the fat boy +standing over a pail of water holding the stick above it.</p> + +<p>He was talking to the stick confidentially, urging it to "do +something," to the intense amusement of the whole outfit.</p> + +<p>"Now, where's your theory?" questioned the Professor.</p> + +<p>"Why, it doesn't have to work, does it? Don't we know there's +water here? If we didn't the stick would tell us, maybe. Take my +word for it, this outfit won't have to go dry after this. Stacy +Brown and his magic wand will find all the water needed," +continued the fat boy proudly.</p> + +<p>"Your logic is good, at any rate, even if the rod doesn't work +at command," laughed the Professor.</p> + +<p>Supper was a jolly affair, for everyone was in high spirits. +The sage hen, contrary to general expectation, was found to be +delicious. Chunky begged for the wish bone and got it. He said +he'd use it for a divining rod when he wanted to find a little +spring.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Kringle, I am commissioned by the fellows to ask you a +question," announced Tad, after the meal had been in progress for +a time.</p> + +<p>"Ask it," smiled the guide.</p> + +<p>"We thought we'd like to call you Santa Claus, seeing you've +brought us so much cheer. Then again, it's your name you know. +Kris Kringle is Santa Claus."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, call me what you please, young men."</p> + +<p>From that moment on, Kris Kringle was Santa Claus to the Pony +Rider Boys.</p> + +<p>They had now come to a rolling country, with here and there +high buttes, followed by large areas of bottom lands which were +covered with rank growths of bunch grass. Traveling was more +difficult than it had been, and water more scarce.</p> + +<p>It was on the second day out, after they had been skirmishing +for water in every direction, that the lads heard the familiar +yell from Chunky.</p> + +<p>"There goes the trouble maker," cried Ned. "He's at it +again."</p> + +<p>The guide bounded up, starting on a run for the spot where +Chunky's wail had been heard. The others were not far behind.</p> + +<p>They saw the red, perspiring face of the fat boy above a clump +of grass, his yells for help continuing, unabated.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" shouted the guide.</p> + +<p>"I've got it, Santa Claus! I've got it!"</p> + +<p>"Got what?" roared the Professor.</p> + +<p>"The stick!—I mean it's got me. Help! Help!"</p> + +<p>Stacy was wrestling about as if engaged in combat with some +enemy. They could not imagine what had gone wrong—what had +caused his sudden cries of alarm.</p> + +<p>"It's the divining rod!" called the guide.</p> + +<p>"He's found water!" shouted the boys.</p> + +<p>"I've got it! I've got it! Come help me hold it. The thing's +jerking my arms off."</p> + +<p>To the amazement of the Pony Rider Boys, the forked stick in +the hands of the fat boy was performing some strange antics. +Breathing hard, he would force it up until it was nearly upright, +when all at once the point of the triangle would suddenly swerve +downward, bending the rod almost to the breaking point.</p> + +<p>"See it? See it?"</p> + +<p>"Most remarkable," breathed Professor Zepplin.</p> + +<p>"Yes, there can be no doubt about it," nodded the guide.</p> + +<p>"He's bluffing," disagreed Ned.</p> + +<p>"Doesn't look to me as if he were," returned Tad.</p> + +<p>"Take hold with me here, if you don't believe me," cried +Stacy. "No, not on the stick, take hold of my wrists."</p> + +<p>Ned promptly accepted the invitation.</p> + +<p>Instantly the tug of the divining rod was felt by the new +hands.</p> + +<p>Ned let go quickly.</p> + +<p>"Ugh! The thing gives me the creeps."</p> + +<p>"Let me try it, Master Stacy," said Professor Zepplin.</p> + +<p>"I can't let go of it," wailed Chunky.</p> + +<p>"Step off a piece," directed the guide.</p> + +<p>Stacy did so, whereupon the divining rod immediately ceased +its peculiar actions.</p> + +<p>The Professor took hold of it, but the rod refused to work for +him.</p> + +<p>"Let Santa Claus try it," suggested Ned.</p> + +<p>The guide did so, but with no more success than the Professor +had had.</p> + +<p>"I told you it wouldn't work for me," Mr. Kringle grinned. +"Here, Master Tad, you try it."</p> + +<p>Tad, with the rod grasped firmly in his hands, walked back and +forth three times without result. On the fourth attempt, however, +the stick suddenly bent nearly double.</p> + +<p>All were amazed.</p> + +<p>"Why were we unable to get results, Mr. Kringle?" questioned +the Professor.</p> + +<p>"According to some French writers as much depends upon the man +as on the divining rod. Where one succeeds another fails +absolutely. Supposing the others take a try?"</p> + +<p>Walter and Ned did so, but neither could get the rod to move +for him.</p> + +<p>"I guess Chunky is the champion water-finder," laughed +Ned.</p> + +<p>"Would it not be a good idea to find out whether or not there +<i>is</i> water here?" asked the Professor.</p> + +<p>"Yes," agreed the guide. "It may be so far down that we cannot +reach it, however. You know in some parts of this region they are +locating water with the rod and sinking artesian wells."</p> + +<p>"Why—why didn't we think to bring some down with us?" +demanded Chunky. "Can't we get any in some of the towns down +here?"</p> + +<p>"Some what?" questioned the guide.</p> + +<p>"Artesian wells."</p> + +<p>A roar greeted the fat boy's question.</p> + +<p>"Bring down a load of artesian wells!" jeered Ned.</p> + +<p>"An artesian well, my boy, is nothing more than a hole in the +ground," the guide informed him, much to Chunky's chagrin.</p> + +<p>The spot where the divining rod had so suddenly gotten busy +was about midway of an old water course, covered with a thick +growth of bunch grass.</p> + +<p>"Get some tools, boys," directed the Professor.</p> + +<p>Tad ran back to camp, which lay some distance to the east of +where they were gathered. Searching out a pick and two shovels, +he leaped on his pony, dashing back to the arroyo.</p> + +<p>"That was quickly done," smiled Santa Claus. "Are all of you +lads as quick on an errand as that?"</p> + +<p>"Only Chunky," answered Ned solemnly.</p> + +<p>The guide began to dig, in which effort he was joined by Stacy +Brown, who, with a shovel, caved in about as much dirt as he +threw out.</p> + +<p>"Here, give me that shovel," commanded Ned. "You'll fill up +the bole before we get it dug."</p> + +<p>Tad, having tethered his pony, took the extra shovel and went +to work.</p> + +<p>"Guess it's a false alarm," decided Ned, after they were up to +their shoulders in the hole.</p> + +<p>"Don't be too sure. The ground is quite damp here. Try your +rod, young man."</p> + +<p>"Chunky held the divining rod over the excavation, whereupon +it drew down with even greater force than before.</p> + +<p>"Dig," directed the guide.</p> + +<p>They did so with a will.</p> + +<p>"Here's water!" shouted Kris Kringle.</p> + +<p>They crowded about the hole, amazement written on every +face.</p> + +<p>A fresh, cool stream bubbled up into the hole, causing those +in the pit to scramble out hastily.</p> + +<p>"Some of you boys run back to camp and fetch pails and +water-bags," directed the guide.</p> + +<p>"I'll go. I've got the pony here," spoke up Tad.</p> + +<p>"No; I want you to do something else for me."</p> + +<p>"We'll all go," offered Walter. The three lads started on a +run, Chunky holding his precious divining rod tightly clasped in +both hands.</p> + +<p>"What is it you wish?" questioned Tad.</p> + +<p>"I wish you would ride over toward that small butte and cut a +load of brush. Want to rip-rap the outer edge of this water hole, +so the bank will not cave in and undo all our work! Have you a +hatchet?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, in my saddlebags."</p> + +<p>"Good. Hurry, please."</p> + +<p>Tad leaped into the saddle, and putting spurs to his broncho, +tore through the high bunch grass, above which only his head was +now observable. In a short time he was back with the green stuff +piled high on the saddle in front of him, with a large bundle +tied to the cantle of the saddle behind.</p> + +<p>Unloading this, Butler started back at a gallop for more. When +there was work to be done, Tad Butler was happy. Activity to him +was a tonic that spurred him on to ever greater efforts.</p> + +<p>This time he found himself obliged to climb higher up the +butte in order to get branches of available size. These he cut +and threw down. After having procured what he thought would be +all he could carry the lad scrambled down, and, dropping on his +knees began tying them into bundles. The heat was sweltering, and +occasionally be paused to wipe away the perspiration.</p> + +<p>"I smell smoke," sniffed Tad. "I wonder where it comes +from?"</p> + +<p>The odor grew stronger, but so interested was he in his labor +that he did not at once understand the significance of his +discovery.</p> + +<p>"W-h-o-o-e-e!"</p> + +<p>It was a long-drawn, warning shout.</p> + +<p>"It's a signal!" exclaimed the lad, straightening up. "I +wonder what's the matter?"</p> + +<p>As he looked toward the camp a great wall of flame seemed to +leap from the ground between him and his companions. There it +poised for one brief instant, then, with a roar swooped down into +the tall bunch grass, rushing roaring and crackling toward +him.</p> + +<p>For an instant he stood unbelieving, then the truth dawned +upon him.</p> + +<p>"The prairie's on fire!" cried Tad.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER XII</h3> + +<h4>THE DASH FOR LIFE</h4> + +<p>The shouts of the Pony Rider Boys and of the guide were +swallowed up in the roar of the flames."</p> + +<p>"They'll be burned alive!" whispered the lad.</p> + +<p>Then, all at once he realized that he himself was in dire +peril.</p> + +<p>"I'll have to go the other way and be quick about it at that," +he decided, making a dash for the pony, that already was +whinnying with fear and tugging at its tether.</p> + +<p>Tad did not wait to untie the stake rope. With a sweep of his +knife he severed it and vaulted into the saddle.</p> + +<p>Whirling the animal about he headed to the west. To his alarm +he suddenly discovered that the prairie fire was rapidly +encircling him, the flames running around the outer edge of the +bottoms with express train speed, threatening to head him off and +envelop him. Had it not been for the long grass, which, tangling +the feet of the pony, made full speed impossible, the race with +the flames would have been an easy one to win. As it was, Tad +knew that the chances were against him.</p> + +<p>But the dire peril in which he found himself did not daunt the +Pony Rider Boy. Perhaps his face had grown a shade paler +underneath the tan, but that was all. His senses were on the +alert, his lips met in a firm pressure and the hand gripped the +bridle rein a little more firmly, perhaps, than usual.</p> + +<p>Uttering a shrill cry to inform his companions that be was +alive to his peril, and at the same time to encourage the +broncho, Tad dug in the rowels of his spurs.</p> + +<p>The frightened pony cleared the ground with all four feet, +uttering a squeal, and launching itself at the rapidly narrowing +clear space ahead of him; and urged to greater and greater +endeavor at every leap by the short, sharp "yips" of his +rider.</p> + +<p>For all the concern that showed in his face, Tad Butler might +have been running a horse race for a prize rather than fleeing +for his life.</p> + +<p>"If I make it I'm lucky,"—commented Tad grimly. He found +himself wondering, at the same time, how the fire had started. He +knew that the flames first showed themselves midway between where +he was at work and the place where his companions were engaged at +the water hole.</p> + +<p>He could not understand it. Fire was necessary to use to start +fire, and he knew that none of them had been foolish enough even +to light a match in the dry bunch grass of the prairie.</p> + +<p>The flames were reaching mountain high by this time, great +clouds of smoke rolling in on the breeze and nearly suffocating +him.</p> + +<p>At times Tad was unable to see the opening ahead of him. When, +however, the smoke lifted, giving him a momentary view, he saw +that the gap was rapidly closing.</p> + +<p>All at once his attention was drawn from the closing gap.</p> + +<p>"Yeow ! Yeow! Yeow! Y-e-o-w!"</p> + +<p>A series of shrill, blood curdling yells from out the pall of +smoke and flame at the rear, bombarded his ears.</p> + +<p>At first he thought it was Indians; then the improbability of +this being the case came to him.</p> + +<p>"Yeow! Yeow! Yeow!" persisted the voice behind, and it was +coming nearer every second.</p> + +<p>Tad slackened the speed of his pony ever so little, despite +the peril of his position.</p> + +<p>"There's somebody in there behind me, and, he'll never get out +alive if he loses his way."</p> + +<p>The moment this thought occurred to him, Tad began to yell at +the top of his voice.</p> + +<p>Suddenly from out the thick veil of smoke burst a pony with a +mighty snort, coming on in bounds, each one of which cleared many +feet of ground. On the pony's back was Stacy Brown, hatless, +coatless, his hair standing up in the breeze, his face as red as +if it had come in actual contact with the flames.</p> + +<p>"Yeow!" he roared, as his pony shot past Tad as if the +latter's mount were standing still. Where Stacy had come from, +how he had passed through that wall of flame, Tad had not the +slightest idea.</p> + +<p>As a matter of fact the explanation was simple enough. The +guide had sent Chunky out to assist Tad in bringing in the +rip-rapping material. Stacy had made a detour from the camp, +having gotten just inside the danger zone when the fire broke +out. Guided by the butte where he knew his companion must be, +Stacy headed for that point. There he came upon Tad's trail, and +began yelling to attract his attention. He had heard Tad's +answering cry, and this inspired the fat boy to renewed +efforts.</p> + +<p>Stacy, now that he had passed Tad, slowed up ever so little. +He had passed his companion so swiftly that he was unable to +determine whether or not Tad were in distress.</p> + +<p>The latter came up, overhauling Stacy in a few moments. Both +ponies were steaming from the terrific gruelling they were giving +themselves.</p> + +<p>"What you doing here?" exploded Tad.</p> + +<p>"Same thing you are."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Trying to save myself from being burned alive—"</p> + +<p>"Don't slow up! Don't slow up!" shouted Tad. "Keep going!"</p> + +<p>"I am. Wat's matter with you?"</p> + +<p>"I don't see what you had to come tumbling into this mess +for," objected Tad.</p> + +<p>"Didn't tumble in. Rode in. Came to help you—"</p> + +<p>"Precious lot of help you'll be to me. Lucky if we're not both +burned with our boots on. See! The flame's narrowing in on us. +More steam, Chunky! More steam!" urged Tad.</p> + +<p>"Can't. Blow up the boiler if I do," Stacy could not be other +than humorous, even under their present trying situation.</p> + +<p>"That's better than burning out your fires, and it's quicker +too—"</p> + +<p>All at once, Chunky uttered a terrible howl. His pony had +stepped into a hole and gone down floundering in the long grass, +Chunky himself having been hurled over the animal's head, landing +several feet in advance.</p> + +<p>"Help! Help!"</p> + +<p>The rest was lost as the fat boy's face plowed the earth +filling mouth, eyes and nostrils.</p> + +<p>Tad did not lose his presence of mind, though events had been +following each other in such quick succession.</p> + +<p>Changing the reins to his right hand and bunching them there, +he grasped the pommel of the saddle, driving his own pony +straight at the kicking, floundering Chunky.</p> + +<p>The pony swerved ever so little, Tad's body swept down, and +when it rose, his fingers were fastened in the shirt collar of +his companion, with Chunky yelling and choking, as he was being +dragged over the ground at almost a killing pace.</p> + +<p>Tad had no time to do more than hold on to his friend. He +dared not stop to lift him to the saddle just then. The flames +were roaring behind them and on either side, leaving a long, +narrow lane ahead, through which lay their only hope of +safety.</p> + +<p>"Buck up! Buck up, Chunky!" shouted Tad, himself taking a +fresh brace in the stirrups, for the weight of the fat boy's +dragging body was slowly pulling Tad from the saddle.</p> + +<p>Stacy was howling like an Indian, not from fear, but from +anger at the rough usage to which he was being subjected. He did +not stop to think that it was the only way his life might be +saved—nor that his own pony lay back there in the bunch +grass amid the flame and smoke.</p> + +<p>Tad knew it.</p> + +<p>Now, by a mighty effort Tad righted himself again, and, +leaning forward, threw one arm about the pony's neck, trusting to +the animal to follow the outward trail to safety of its own +accord.</p> + +<p>Tad felt a sudden jolt that nearly caused him to slide from +his pony on the side opposite Chunky. At the same time, the +strain on the lad's arm was suddenly released.</p> + +<p>Tad was up on his saddle like a flash. His right hand held the +fat boy's shirt, while a series of howls to the rear told him +where the owner of the shirt lay.</p> + +<p>Tad groaned. Pulling his pony fairly back on its haunches, he +dashed back where Stacy lay kicking, entangling himself deeper +and deeper in the bunch grass.</p> + +<p>Had Tad not had presence of mind they both might have perished +right there. He was off like a flash. With supreme strength, he +grasped the body of his fallen companion, raising him into the +saddle.</p> + +<p>"Hold on!" he shouted. "Don't you dare fall off!"</p> + +<p>Stacy clung like a monkey to a pony in a circus race.</p> + +<p>"Y-i-i-p!" trilled Tad. He had no time to mount. Already he +could feel the hot breath of the flames on his cheek.</p> + +<p>The broncho was off with a bound.</p> + +<p>"Tad! Tad!" cried Chunky in sudden alarm, now realizing that +he was alone. "Whe—where are you?"</p> + +<p>"H-h-h-h-e-r-e!"</p> + +<p>"W-w-where?"</p> + +<p>"H-h-h-holding to the b-r-r-oncho's t-tail."</p> + +<p>"Wow!" howled Stacy, as, turning in the saddle, he discovered +his companion being fairly jerked through the air, holding fast +to the pony's tail, the lad's feet hardly touching the ground at +all. The broncho, that ordinarily would have resented such +treatment, too fully occupied in saving his own life from the +flames, gave no heed to the weight he was dragging, and it is +doubtful if he even realized there was any additional weight +there.</p> + +<p>With a final, desperate leap, the broncho shot out ahead of +the narrowing lane. Like the jaws of some great monster, the two +lapping lines of fire closed in behind them, roaring as if with +deadly rage.</p> + +<p>The pony dashed out into a broad, open water course, whose +dry, glistening sands would prove an effectual barrier to the +prairie fire.</p> + +<p>Tad, though everything was swimming before his eyes, realized +quickly that they were now well out of danger.</p> + +<p>"St-t-t-top him. I c-c-c-an't let go if you d-d-don't."</p> + +<p>"Whoa! Whoa! Don't you know enough to quit when you're +through?" chided Chunky, tugging at the reins. The broncho +carried them some distance before the lad was able to pull him +down. Finally he did so.</p> + +<p>"Leggo!" he shouted, at the same time whirling the pony +sharply about, fairly "cracking the whip" with Tad Butler.</p> + +<p>Chunky's clever foresight probably saved Tad Butler's life, +for, instantly the pony found itself free, it began bucking and +kicking in a circle, kicking a ring all round the compass before +it finally decided to settle down on all fours. Finishing, it +meekly lowered its nose to the ground and now, as docile as a, +kitten after having supped on warm milk, began dozing, the steam +rising in a cloud from its sides.</p> + +<p>"Well, of all the fool fools, you're the champion fool!" +growled Stacy, slipping from the saddle and surveying the broncho +with disapproving eyes. "Hah! I guess we'd been done to a turn by +this if it hadn't been for you, just the same. Hello, Tad!"</p> + +<p>Tad had doubled up in a heap where the tail of the broncho had +flung him. He was well-nigh spent, but he smiled back at his +companion, who stood on a slight rise of ground, almost a heroic +figure.</p> + +<p>Chunky's shirt was entirely missing, his skin red from the +heat, ridged with scratches where he had come in violent contact +with cactus plants, his hair tousled and gray with dust.</p> + +<p>"Well you are a sight," grinned Tad.</p> + +<p>"You wouldn't take a prize at a baby show yourself," retorted +Stacy, spicily.</p> + +<p>Tad's clothes were torn, and his limbs were black and blue all +the way down where the hoofs of the broncho had raked them again +and again.</p> + +<p>"My arms feel a foot longer than they did. What are you +looking at?"</p> + +<p>Stacy's eyes grew large and luminous as he gazed off over the +plains.</p> + +<p>"Look! Look, Tad!" he whispered.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER XIII</h3> + +<h4>FOLLOWING A HOT TRAIL</h4> + +<p>"Fire! Fire!" cried Professor Zepplin, leaping up from where +he had been leaning over, watching the water bubbling in the +bottom of the excavation they had made.</p> + +<p>The guide had been hanging over the hole, dipping water to +Ned, who was turning it into the water-bags.</p> + +<p>"Where, where?" demanded Mr. Kringle explosively. He also +sprang to his feet. "It's a prairie fire!"</p> + +<p>"The boys are caught. They'll perish!" exclaimed Professor +Zepplin, with blanching face. "Go to them, go to them, Mr. +Kringle!" he begged.</p> + +<p>"No living thing could get through that wall of fire, +Professor," announced the guide impressively. "We'll shout and +perhaps, if alive, they'll bear us."</p> + +<p>They did so, with the result already known.</p> + +<p>"Which direction did Master Stacy take?" Mr. Kringle +asked.</p> + +<p>"I saw him riding down that way," replied Walter, pointing +excitedly.</p> + +<p>"Then, perhaps he is safe outside of the fire zone. Some of +you hurry back to the camp, The stock may take fright and +stampede. No, we'll all go. The wind may shift at any moment, and +while I do not think the flames could reach the camp, all our +animals might be suffocated, even if they did not succeed in +getting away."</p> + +<p>"But you're not going to desert Tad and Chunky, are you?" +demanded Walter indignantly.</p> + +<p>"Certainly not. What can we do here? We must get the ponies +first; then we'll hurry to them. I'm afraid they've been caught," +answered the guide.</p> + +<p>"If there's any way of escape you may depend upon it that +Master Tad has discovered that way," answered the Professor. "He +is a resourceful boy, and—"</p> + +<p>But the rest were already dashing madly toward the camp and +Professor Zepplin began to do so with all speed to catch up with +them. The hot breath of the prairie fire had brought the color to +his blanched cheeks.</p> + +<p>"How—how do you think the fire started?" stammered the +Professor, when he at last came up with the guide.</p> + +<p>"It was set afire," answered Kris Kringle grimly.</p> + +<p>"Set!" shouted the Professor and the two boys all in one +breath.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"By whom?"</p> + +<p>"That remains to be seen."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean that one of the boys was imprudent enough to +build a fire in that grass? Surely they would not have been so +foolish as to do a thing like that."</p> + +<p>"As I said, that remains to be seen. The first thing to be +done is to get to them as quickly as possible, though I don't +know that we can do any good. They're either out of it, by this +time, or else they're not," added Mr. Kringle suggestively. +"Professor, I wish you and one of the boys would get out your +rifles, mount your ponies and watch the camp, while two of us go +in search of the lost ones."</p> + +<p>"Watch the camp?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"For what reason?"</p> + +<p>"Merely as a precaution."</p> + +<p>"I'll attend to that. I want all of you to get after Tad and +Stacy. We don't care about the camp particularly, when compared +with two human lives."</p> + +<p>The smoke was rolling over them in such dense clouds that the +camp was wholly obscured from view until they were upon it.</p> + +<p>"Quick! Get the horses before they break away!" commanded the +guide.</p> + +<p>"I can't find them!" shouted Ned, who had bounded on ahead and +disappeared in the great suffocating cloud.</p> + +<p>Walter was only a few steps behind him, both boys groping, +blinking and coughing as the smoke got into eyes and lungs.</p> + +<p>"Lie down when it gets stronger than you can stand. There's +always a current of fresh air near the ground," called the +guide.</p> + +<p>Both lads adopted his suggestion instantly, and they were none +too soon, for already they were getting dizzy. After a few long +breaths, they were up, groping about once more in search of the +stock.</p> + +<p>"Over to you right," called the Professor.</p> + +<p>"We've been there. They're not there at all," answered +Ned.</p> + +<p>By this time the guide had dived into the cloud.</p> + +<p>"The stock has gone," they heard him shoat.</p> + +<p>"Have they stampeded?" roared the Professor.</p> + +<p>"I don't know. I'll find out in a minute."</p> + +<p>"Queer that this smoke blows two ways at once," said +Walter.</p> + +<p>"There is a slight breeze blowing this way," explained Ned. +"Not enough, however, to turn the fire back. It has got too good +a start."</p> + +<p>Suddenly a weird "c-o-o-e-e" sounded to the right of them.</p> + +<p>"What's that?"</p> + +<p>"It's the guide, Walt. He's trying to call the boys, to see if +they are alive," explained Ned.</p> + +<p>"I don't think so. That cry is for some other purpose. I'm +going over where he is to find out what it does mean. Come +on."</p> + +<p>Together the lads ran as fast as they could in the direction +from which the guide's voice had come.</p> + +<p>They found him with hands shaped into a megaphone, uttering +his shrill cries. He made no answer to their questions as to what +he was trying to do.</p> + +<p>All at once off in the cloud they heard rapid hoofbeats. The +boys glanced at each other in surprise.</p> + +<p>"It's the ponies returning," breathed Walter Perkins.</p> + +<p>Ned shook his head.</p> + +<p>The cries now took on a more insistent tone, and a moment +later two ponies came whinnying into the camp, snorting with +fear. Kris Kringle spoke to them sharply, whereupon they came +trotting up to him with every evidence of pleasure.</p> + +<p>The lads were amazed.</p> + +<p>"Can you boys shoot a rope?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," they answered together.</p> + +<p>"Which one is the better at it?"</p> + +<p>"Ned is more expert than I am."</p> + +<p>"Take one of my ponies. We've got to go after the stock. Rope +and bring them in as fast as possible. It's getting late, and it +will be dark before we know it. There's not more than two hours +of daylight left."</p> + +<p>"I can take my pony and help," began Walter.</p> + +<p>"You haven't any pony. They're all gone."</p> + +<p>Ned and the guide dashed from the camp at break-neck speed. +Emerging from the dust cloud they saw some of the stock far off +on the plain.</p> + +<p>"There they are!" cried Ned</p> + +<p>"Thank goodness, they're all together. And they are not +running. We've got them bunched."</p> + +<p>"Were they afraid of the smoke? What made them break +away?"</p> + +<p>"They didn't break away."</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"Their tethers were cut and they were sent adrift," answered +the guide grimly;</p> + +<p>Ned was speechless with surprise.</p> + +<p>Some of the ponies, objecting to being roped, ran away, +necessitating a lively chase. Kris Kringle worked with the +precision of an automatic gun and with proportionate speed. In +half an hour they had roped all the ponies, and, with the burros +trailing along behind, started back to camp as rapidly as +possible.</p> + +<p>A heavy pall of smoke still hung over the camp and all the +surrounding country.</p> + +<p>Once more they staked down the ponies and pack animals, and +urging vigilance on the part of Professor Zepplin, Ned and the +guide dashed away at full gallop in search of the two missing +lads.</p> + +<p>"Are we going through the fire?" questioned Ned +apprehensively.</p> + +<p>"We're going to try it. The worst of it must have passed +before this, but we may have to turn back or turn out for spots. +It's the shortest way, and the only course to follow if we want +to know what has become of them."</p> + +<p>Spreading out a little they continued on their way, the ponies +snorting, threatening to whirl about and race back into the open +plain. The ground was like a furnace and the grass smouldered +beneath them, heating their feet and singeing their fetlocks.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Ned's pony reared into the air, bucked and hurled its +rider far over into the smouldering bunch grass.</p> + +<p>Ned uttered a yell of warning as he felt himself going.</p> + +<p>The guide wheeled like a flash. Ned's mount had whirled and +was away like a shot. But the guide was after him with even +greater speed. The chase came to an abrupt ending some few rods +farther on, when Kris Kringle's lariat squirmed out, bringing the +fleeing pony to the ground with its nose in the hot dust.</p> + +<p>Without dismounting, the guide turned his own mount, and +fairly dragging the unwilling pony behind him, pounded back to +the place where Ned had been unhorsed.</p> + +<p>"Grab him!" commanded the guide to Ned, who had quickly +scrambled to his feet. "What was it that he saw?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. Guess he made up his mind to go back."</p> + +<p>"No; he saw something. Hang on to him and cover the ground all +about you till you find it."</p> + +<p>"Wha—what do you—"</p> + +<p>"Never mind. Look!"</p> + +<p>"Here! Here it is!" cried Ned aghast.</p> + +<p>The guide was at his side instantly.</p> + +<p>"It's a pony," gasped the Pony Rider boy.</p> + +<p>Kris Kringle was off his own mount instantly, and bidding Ned +hold the animal, he made a brief examination of the fallen horse, +after which he darted here and there, unheeding the fact that the +still burning grass was blistering his feet through the heavy +soles of his boots.</p> + +<p>For several rods Kringle ran along the faint trail that Tad +and Stacy had left, or rather, that the fire had left after +passing over it.</p> + +<p>"They beat their way out here. We may find them later. Come +on!"</p> + +<p>Again Ned and the guide dashed away, both keeping their gaze +on the smoking prairie about them. The smoke now was almost more +than they could bear.</p> + +<p>"Do—do you think they are alive?" asked Ned +unsteadily.</p> + +<p>"So far. If they are not, it's not their fault. The Professor +is right. Those boys have pluck enough to pull them through, but +sometimes pluck alone will not do it. A prairie fire is no +respecter of pluck."</p> + +<p>They burst out into an open space. There were no signs of +either of the missing boys.</p> + +<p>"Something has happened to them. We must have missed them," +announced the guide.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER XIV</h3> + +<h4>AGAINST BIG ODDS</h4> + +<p>"What is it, Chunky?"</p> + +<p>"There!"</p> + +<p>Tad jerked his companion flat on the ground, flattening +himself beside Stacy at the same instant.</p> + +<p>What had caused their sudden alarm was the sight of two +Indians, sitting on their ponies without saddles, some distance +out on the open plain. The redskins were wrapped in their +brightly colored blankets, which enveloped them from head to +knees. Even the hands were invisible beneath the folds of the +blankets.</p> + +<p>"D-d-do you think they saw us, Tad?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. It's safe to say they did. Indian eyes don't +miss very much. You ought to know that, by this time. I wish we +could make that pony lie down."</p> + +<p>"Why don't you?"</p> + +<p>"He's too afraid of the ground—thinks it's still hot, +and I don't blame him. The fire has singed him pretty well as it +is.</p> + +<p>The Indians sat their mounts as motionless as statues, the +ponies headed directly toward where the two lads were lying.</p> + +<p>"I'll bet they're got guns under those blankets," decided Tad. +"You can't trust an Indian even while you are looking at +him."</p> + +<p>"Anybody'd think you'd been hunting Indians all your life," +growled Stacy.</p> + +<p>"They've been hunting me mostly," grinned Tad.</p> + +<p>"And usually caught you," added Chunky.</p> + +<p>"I don't like this lying here as if we were scared of +them."</p> + +<p>"But, what else can we do, Tad?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know."</p> + +<p>"Neither do I. Wish I had a shirt. I'll spoil my complexion +clear down to my waist. Resides, I'm not fit to be seen."</p> + +<p>"You're lucky to be alive," growled Tad. "I'm going to get out +of this."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"Listen, and you'll know. I'm going to get on the pony; then, +as soon as I'm in the saddle, you jump up behind me and we'll +start back to camp."</p> + +<p>"Not—not through that fire?" protested Stacy.</p> + +<p>"No; I don't dare try it. I'm afraid we'd get lost in the +smoke and perhaps get burned as well. We'll ride out some +distance, then turn to the left and try to go around the burned +district."</p> + +<p>"What if the Indians chase us?"</p> + +<p>"I don't believe they will. They'll hardly dare do that. And, +besides, these may be friendly Indians."</p> + +<p>"Huh!" grunted Stacy. "They look it."</p> + +<p>Tad got up boldly, and without even looking toward the silent +red men, began fussing about his saddle, cinching the girths, and +straightening the saddle. His last act before mounting was to see +that the coils of his lariat were in order.</p> + +<p>"All right," announced the lad, vaulting into the saddle.</p> + +<p>Stacy scrambled up behind him without loss of time, and they +rode out into the open, the fat boy peering apprehensively over +his companion's shoulder.</p> + +<p>"You keep watch of them, Chunky, but don't let them see you +doing it. I won't look at them at all. We don't want them to +think we're afraid."</p> + +<p>Stacy fidgeted.</p> + +<p>"You bet I'll watch 'em. Wish I had my rifle."</p> + +<p>"I don't."</p> + +<p>"Huh!"</p> + +<p>"You have distinguished yourself quite enough with that rifle +as it is. We don't want any more of your fancy shooting."</p> + +<p>"There they go," warned Stacy.</p> + +<p>"I see them." Tad had been cautiously observing the horsemen +out of the corners of his eyes. "Moving in the same direction we +are. I don't like the looks of it. Still, if they don't get any +nearer we may be thankful."</p> + +<p>The pony carrying the boys was walking easily, and the mounts +of the Indians were doing the same.</p> + +<p>"Jog a little," suggested Stacy.</p> + +<p>"That's a good idea. It will tell us quickly whether they are +trying to keep up with us."</p> + +<p>He touched the pony lightly with his spurs. The little animal +switched its tail, for its sides were tender, and started +off.</p> + +<p>"There they go, Tad! Jogging the same gait as ours!"</p> + +<p>Tad's face took on the stubborn look it always wore when he +had determined upon a certain course of action.</p> + +<p>"I'll beat them yet, even if there are only two of them. I +wish there weren't two of us on this nag."</p> + +<p>"I'll get off and walk," suggested. Stacy.</p> + +<p>"You'll do nothing of the sort. That would be a nice thing to +do, wouldn't it? They'd round you up quicker'n they could a lame +burro."</p> + +<p>"Say, Tad."</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"I've got an idea."</p> + +<p>"What is it?"</p> + +<p>"You know that sage hen we had?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, what's that got to do with our present predicament?"</p> + +<p>"I was wondering why there aren't any sage roosters?"</p> + +<p>"You'll be a sage rooster, with your head off, first thing you +know," snapped Tad in disgust. "Can't you be serious for a +minute? Don't you see we are in a fix?"</p> + +<p>"Uh-huh!"</p> + +<p>"There, that fellow is trying to head us off."</p> + +<p>One of the Indians had shot away from his companion, running +obliquely toward the point to which Tad was headed.</p> + +<p>The red man had gotten quite a start before the boys caught +the significance of his manoeuvre.</p> + +<p>Tad dug in the spurs.</p> + +<p>At that instant the fat boy's hands had been removed from Tad, +to whose body they had been clinging.</p> + +<p>The pony leaped forward, and Stacy slid over its rump, hitting +the ground with a jolt that jarred him.</p> + +<p>"Wow!" howled Stacy.</p> + +<p>Tad, instantly divining what had happened, pulled up sharply; +wheeled and raced back to where his companion was still +complaining loudly and rubbing his body.</p> + +<p>"Get up!" roared Tad, leaning over and grasping Stacy by the +hair of his head.</p> + +<p>The fat boy was jerked sharply to his feet.</p> + +<p>"Quick! Quick, climb up here!"</p> + +<p>With the help of his companion, the lad scrambled up behind +Tad again, muttering and rubbing himself.</p> + +<p>By this time the leading horseman had wholly outdistanced +them, and his pony was now loping along easily, while the second +Indian appeared to be riding directly toward them, at right +angles to the direction in which they were traveling.</p> + +<p>All at once the two Indians began riding about the boys in a +circle, uttering short little "yips," intended to terrify the +lads, but not loud enough to be heard any great distance +away.</p> + +<p>"Hang on! We're going to ride for keeps now!" warned Tad.</p> + +<p>The fat boy threw both arms about his companion's waist as the +pony let out into a swift run. At first Tad thought he had gotten +safely out of the circle, only to discover that they had headed +him again.</p> + +<p>The circle was narrowing, and the Indians were gradually +drawing in on them.</p> + +<p>Stacy's eyes were growing larger every minute, perhaps more +from astonishment than from fear. Then, too, he could not but +admire the riding of their pursuers. Even the blankets of the +Indians appeared not to be disturbed in the least by their rapid +riding, the horsemen sitting a little sideways on the ponies' +backs, the reins bunched loosely in their left bands.</p> + +<p>"They've got us, Tad."</p> + +<p>"They shan't get us!" retorted Tad stubbornly. "If they don't +use their guns—and I don't believe they will—we'll +beat them yet."</p> + +<p>If Stacy was doubtful he did not say so.</p> + +<p>"If they get close to us, you be ready to let go of me when I +give the word," cautioned Tad.</p> + +<p>"What for? What you going to do?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know yet. That depends upon circumstances. I'm not +going to let them have it all their own way while I've got a pony +under me. We may get help any minute, too, so the longer we can +put off a clash the better it will be for us."</p> + +<p>"Who you mean—Santa Claus?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"They're closing in now," said Stacy.</p> + +<p>"Take your hands away from my waist."</p> + +<p>"But I'll fall off, Tad."</p> + +<p>"Slip one hand through under my belt and take hold of the +cantle with the other. Sit as low as you can so as not to get in +my way."</p> + +<p>Stacy obeyed his companion's directions without further +comment, but he was all curiosity to know what was going to +happen next.</p> + +<p>The Indians were drawing nearer every second now. The boys +could see the expressions on their evil faces, intensified by the +streaks of yellow and red paint.</p> + +<p>"They look as though they'd stuck their heads in a paint +pail," was Chunky's muttered comment.</p> + +<p>The blankets fell away from the racing savages, flapped on the +rumps of the bobbing ponies for a few seconds and then slipped to +the ground.</p> + +<p>A rifle was reposing in each man's holster, as Tad observed +instantly. He was thankful to note that the guns were not in the +hands of the Indians.</p> + +<p>The lad's right hand had dropped carelessly to the saddle +horn, the fingers cautiously gathering in the coils of the lariat +that hung there. The red men did not appear to have observed his +act.</p> + +<p>"Lie low!" commanded Tad, scarcely above a whisper.</p> + +<p>Stacy settled down slowly so as not to attract attention.</p> + +<p>One horseman shot directly across Tad's course, striking the +lad's pony full in the face as he did so, and causing the animal +to brace himself so suddenly as to nearly unseat both boys.</p> + +<p>Tad's rope was in the air in a twinkling.</p> + +<p>A warning shout from the second Indian, who was just to the +rear of them, came too late. The rope shot true to its mark and +the first savage, with back half-turned, had failed to observe it +coming.</p> + +<p>The great loop dropped over his head. The pony braced itself +and Tad took a quick turn of the rope about the pommel of his +saddle.</p> + +<p>The result was instantaneous. The Indian was catapulted from +his saddle with arms pinioned to his aide.</p> + +<p>"Ye-ow!" howled Chunky; unable to restrain his enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>Tad did not even hear him.</p> + +<p>"Look out! Here comes the other one!" warned the fat boy.</p> + +<p>But Tad was too busily engaged in keeping the line taut about +the roped Indian. The fellow was struggling on the ground, +fighting to free himself, while the boy with the rope was +manoeuvring his pony in a series of lightning-like movements that +made the fat boy's head swim.</p> + +<p>"Take care of him, Chunky!! I can't," gasped Tad.</p> + +<p>Stacy's eyes took on a belligerent expression as the second +savage bore down upon them, with knees gripped tightly against +the side of his pony, half raising himself above the animal's +back, reins dropped on the pony's neck. The Indian was guiding +his mount by the pressure of legs and knees alone.</p> + +<p>The angry redskin was making futile attempts to get into a +position where he might grab the active Tad. He did not seem to +take into account the cringing figure behind the boy who had +roped the other Indian.</p> + +<p>All at once, at the opportune moment, his pony forging ahead, +the Indian's hand shot out. The red, bony fingers were closing +upon Tad Butler's right shoulder, when all at once something +happened.</p> + +<p>The cringing fat boy rose. The right hand that had been +clinging to the cantle was launched out. His body, thrown forward +at the same time, lent the blow added force.</p> + +<p>Chunky's fist came into violent contact with the Indian's jaw. +Mr. Redman disappeared from the back of his pony so quickly that, +for a second, Stacy could scarcely believe his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Y-e-o-w! W-o-w!" howled the fat boy. "Beat it for the tall +grass, Tad!"</p> + +<p>A quick glance behind him, revealed the true state of affairs +to Tad Butler. He dug in the spurs, clinging to the lariat for a +few feet, then suddenly releasing it, as the pony leaped away +under the stinging pressure of the spurs.</p> + +<p>"Duck! Duck! They're going to shoot!" shouted Tad.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER XV</h3> + +<h4>HIT BY A DRY STORM</h4> + +<p>"There it goes! Lower, Chunky!"</p> + +<p>A rifle had crashed somewhere to the left of them.</p> + +<p>Stacy's curiosity getting the better of him, he had twisted +his body around, and was peering back; but he was bobbing up and +down so fast that he found it difficult to fix his eyes on any +one point long enough to distinguish what that object was.</p> + +<p>"Look! Look!" he cried, when in a long rise of the pony his +eyes had caught something definite.</p> + +<p>The roped Indian was running for his pony, which he caught, +leaping to its back and dashing away madly.</p> + +<p>"Hold up! Hold up! There's something doing," shouted the fat, +boy.</p> + +<p>Tad swerved a little, turning to his left. Rifles were +banging, and the dust was spurting up under the feet of the +savage's racing pony.</p> + +<p>By this time, the second Indian had recovered from the blow +that Stacy had landed on his jaw, and he too was in his saddle in +a twinkling, tearing madly cross the plain.</p> + +<p>Stacy Brown uttered a series of wild whoops and yells. He knew +their assailants were running and that some one was shooting at +the Indians, but who it was the fat boy could only guess.</p> + +<p>Two ponies suddenly dashed out from the low-lying smoke cloud. +One of their riders was swinging his sombrero and cheering; the +other was firing his rifle after the fleeing savages.</p> + +<p>"Hooray, it's Santa Claus," howled Stacy, fairly beside +himself with excitement. Even Tad caught something of his +companion's spirit of enthusiasm. He swung his hand and started +galloping toward the two horsemen.</p> + +<p>"Shoot 'em! Kill 'em!" howled Chunky.</p> + +<p>But Santa Claus merely shook his head, and after refilling the +magazine of his rifle slipped it into the holster.</p> + +<p>"It would only make trouble and probably cause an uprising if +I did. They know I could have winged them both had I wanted to," +he grinned. "Well, you boys are a sight."</p> + +<p>"I—I lost my shirt," interjected Stacy.</p> + +<p>"And I suppose you fell in," chuckled Ned.</p> + +<p>"No; I fell off."</p> + +<p>"We're lucky to be alive," laughed Tad.</p> + +<p>"You are that. I see now that Professor Zepplin was right when +he said you could take care of yourself. Never saw anything quite +so slick as the way you roped that redskin—"</p> + +<p>"And—and I punched the other one," glowed Chunky.</p> + +<p>"Did you see us?" questioned Tad.</p> + +<p>"Yes, we saw the whole proceeding. But you were so mixed up +that we couldn't fire without danger of hitting one of you boys. +Wonder what those Apaches think struck them," laughed the guide. +"How did you get through the fire?"</p> + +<p>Tad explained briefly; at the same time accounting for the +loss of Stacy's shirt.</p> + +<p>"I bet that the fellow with the canary-wing face has a sore +jaw," bubbled Stacy.</p> + +<p>"No doubt of it, Master Stacy. I didn't suppose you had such a +punch as that. You're a good Indian fighter."</p> + +<p>"Always was," answered the fat boy, swelling with +importance.</p> + +<p>"Come, we'll have to hurry back It will be dark before we +reach camp, as it is, and the Professor will be worrying about +you."</p> + +<p>They turned about, and, heading across the burned area, +started for camp. Fitful blazes were springing up here and there, +but all danger had, by this time, passed, though the smoke still +hung heavy and the odor of burned vegetation smote the nostrils +unpleasantly.</p> + +<p>Stacy sniffed the air suspiciously.</p> + +<p>"Tastes like a drug store fire I smelled once in Chillicothe," +he averred.</p> + +<p>"I haven't made up my mind, yet, how that fire started, Mr. +Kringle," wondered Tad.</p> + +<p>"I have," replied the guide tersely.</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"It was set afire!"</p> + +<p>"By whom?"</p> + +<p>"By one of those savages, or by somebody who was with them. +They must have been watching you all the time. Did you recognize +either of them as the fellow you knocked down the other +might?"</p> + +<p>"No; I don't think I would know the Indian. The light was too +uncertain at the fire dance, and then again, all Indians look +alike to me."</p> + +<p>"It was a narrow escape."</p> + +<p>"Do you think they'll come back again?" questioned Ned.</p> + +<p>"I doubt it. They won't if they recognized me. They know me. +They've done business with me before."</p> + +<p>Professor Zepplin and Walter were overjoyed when at last the +party rode into camp and they learned that both boys were safe. +The lads were obliged to go all over their experiences again for +the benefit of the Professor and Walter.</p> + +<p>"It's getting worse and worse," decided the Professor +helplessly. "I don't know where all this is going to end. I +thought when we got a new guide—but what's the use? Do you +think we had better start to-night, Mr. Kringle?"</p> + +<p>"No. There is no necessity."</p> + +<p>"What am I going to do for a pony?" asked Chunky.</p> + +<p>"You can ride one of mine. I always take two when on a long +journey," replied the guide.</p> + +<p>Chunky's first act after reaching camp, was to provide himself +with a shirt. After donning it, he announced that he had an +appetite and wanted to know when they were going to have +supper.</p> + +<p>"Why, you had supper hours ago," scoffed Ned. "Want another +one already?"</p> + +<p>"That wasn't supper, that was four o'clock tea. Indian +fighters must have real food."</p> + +<p>"Stop teasing. We'll give the 'ittle baby his milk," returned +Ned.</p> + +<p>That night, Kris Kringle remained on guard himself. He would +not trust the guardianship of the camp to any of the boys, for he +fully expected that they would receive a visit from one or more +of the Indians, though he did not tell the others so. But nothing +occurred to disturb the camp, and the boys, despite their trying +experiences, slept soundly, awakening in the morning fresh and +active, ready and anxious for any further adventures.</p> + +<p>The party set out shortly after sunrise, and traveled all day +across the uneven plains, across short mountain ranges, through +deep gorges and rugged foothills.</p> + +<p>Crossing an open space the guide espied a bottle glistening in +the sunlight.</p> + +<p>"There's a bottle," pointed the guide. "Want it?"</p> + +<p>Stacy glanced at it indifferently;</p> + +<p>"What do I want of a bottle?"</p> + +<p>"Then I'll take it," decided the guide, dismounting and +stowing the abandoned piece of glass in his saddle bags.</p> + +<p>"Bottles are good for only two things."</p> + +<p>"And what are they, Master Stacy?" questioned the +Professor.</p> + +<p>"To keep things in and to shoot at," replied the fat boy +wisely.</p> + +<p>Everybody laughed at that.</p> + +<p>"I guess that embodies everything you can say about bottles," +smiled the Professor. "Your logic, at times, young man, is +unassailable."</p> + +<p>Chunky nodded. He had a faint idea of what Professor Zepplin +meant.</p> + +<p>Late that afternoon the travelers came upon a shack in the +foothills, where an old rancher, a hermit, lived when not tending +his little flock of sheep, most of which, Kris Kringle said, the +old man had stolen from droves that came up over the trail going +north.</p> + +<p>He was an interesting old character, this hermit, and the boys +decided that they would like to make camp and have him take +supper with them. This the Professor and the guide readily agreed +to, for everyone was hot and dusty and the bronchos were nervous +and ill-natured.</p> + +<p>The boys found the old rancher talkative enough on all +subjects save himself. When Chunky asked him where he came from, +and what for, the old man's face flushed angrily.</p> + +<p>At the first opportunity the guide took the fat boy aside for +some fatherly advice.</p> + +<p>"In this country it isn't good policy to be too curious about +a man's family affairs. He's likely to resent it in a way you +won't like. Most fellows out here have reasons for being out of +the world, beyond what's apparent on the surface."</p> + +<p>Chunky heeded the advice and asked no more personal questions +for the next hour, though he did forget himself before the +evening was ended.</p> + +<p>"You seem to be having pretty dry weather down here," said the +Professor, by way of starting the old man to talking.</p> + +<p>"Yep. Haven't had any rain in this belt fer the last two +years."</p> + +<p>"Two years!" exclaimed the boys.</p> + +<p>"Yep. Had a few light dews, but that's all," replied the +hermit.</p> + +<p>"Looks to me as if you were going to get some to-night," +announced Tad.</p> + +<p>"Reckon not."</p> + +<p>"Then I'm no judge of weather."</p> + +<p>Even as Tad spoke there was a low muttering of thunder, and +the far lightning flashed pale and green, and rose on the long +horizon to the southwest.</p> + +<p>Kris Kringle heard the far away growl. Springing up, he began +staking down the tents.</p> + +<p>"That's a good idea. We lost our whole outfit on our last +trip. Think they'll stand a blow?"</p> + +<p>"I guess they will when I get through with them. Have we any +more stakes in camp?"</p> + +<p>"There should be some in the kit."</p> + +<p>Tad searched until he found several more stakes, and with +these and the emergency ropes, they made the tents secure.</p> + +<p>By the time they had done so, the heavens had grown black and +menacing. They could see the storm sweeping down on them. It was +a magnificent sight, and the lads were so lost in observing its +grandeur that they forgot to feel any alarm.</p> + +<p>A cloud of dust accompanied the advance guard of the +storm.</p> + +<p>"Reckon there ain't any rain in them clouds," commented the +old man. "There's plenty of the other thing, though."</p> + +<p>"What's the other thing?" questioned Chunky.</p> + +<p>"Lightning."</p> + +<p>Even as he spoke a bolt descended right in the center of the +camp, tearing a hole in the earth and hurling a cloud of dirt and +dust many feet up into the air.</p> + +<p>The force of the explosion knocked some of the party flat.</p> + +<p>Chunky picked himself up and carefully brushed his clothes; +then, solemnly walked out and sat down on the spot where the +lightning had struck.</p> + +<p>"Here, here! What are you doing out there?" demanded the +guide.</p> + +<p>"Sitting on the lightning."</p> + +<p>"You come in here! And quick, at that!"</p> + +<p>"Huh! Guess I know what I'm doing. Lightning never strikes +twice in the same place. I'm—"</p> + +<p>By this time Kris Kringle had the fat boy by the collar, +hustling him to the protection of one of the tents.</p> + +<p>No sooner had they reached it than a crash that seemed as if +it had split the earth wide open descended upon them. Balls of +fire shot off in every direction. One went right through the tent +where they were huddled, hurling the Pony Rider Boys in a +heap.</p> + +<p>They scrambled up calling to each other nervously.</p> + +<p>The shock had extinguished the lantern that hung in the tent. +The guide relighted it, and, stepping outside to see what had +happened, pointed to the place where Chunky had been sitting but +a few minutes before.</p> + +<p>The bolt had struck in the identical spot where the previous +one had landed.</p> + +<p>"Now, young man, there's an object lesson for you," Mr. +Kringle said, with a grim smile.</p> + +<p>"And there's another!" replied Chunky, pointing to the outside +of the tent.</p> + +<p>There lay the old rancher, whose absence they had not noted. +He had been in the tent with them when they last saw him and how +he had gotten out there none knew. The rancher had been stripped +of every vestige of clothing by the freaky lightning.</p> + +<p>"He's dead," crooned Stacy solemnly.</p> + +<p>"Get water, quick! He's been struck by lightning!" commanded +the guide, making systematic efforts to bring the old man back to +consciousness.</p> + +<p>Stacy ran for the water-bags.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid it is useless, Mr. Kringle," warned, the +Professor, failing to find a pulse. The boys were standing about +fanning the victim, having one by one dumped the contents of +their canteens in his face.</p> + +<p>Stacy returned with a water-bag after a little.</p> + +<p>"I—I—I've got an idea," he exploded, as with eyes +wide open he attempted to tell them something.</p> + +<p>"Keep still. We've got something else to do besides listening +to your foolishness," chided Ned.</p> + +<p>"Chunky, we're trying to save this man's life. Give me that +bag," commanded Tad.</p> + +<p>The two older men were working desperately on the patient. +Stacy stood around, fidgeting a little, but making no further +attempt to enlighten them as to what his new idea was.</p> + +<p>After a time the rancher began to show signs of recovering. He +gasped a few times then opened his eyes.</p> + +<p>"What kicked me?" he asked, with a half-grin.</p> + +<p>They could all afford to laugh now, and they did. The rancher +refused their offer of clothes, saying he had another suit in his +shack.</p> + +<p>"That's twice the stuff has knocked me out. Next time it'll +git me for keeps," he said.</p> + +<p>"Does it strike here very often?" questioned the +Professor.</p> + +<p>"Allus."</p> + +<p>"Then, there must be some mineral substance in the soil."</p> + +<p>"No, ain't nothing like that. Jest contrariness that's all. +Hit my shack once, and 'cause 'twas raining, bored holes in the +roof so the place got all wet inside."</p> + +<p>"But it isn't raining now. Doesn't it usually rain when you +have a thunder storm here?" asked the Professor.</p> + +<p>"No. Ain't had no rain in nigh onto two year," the hermit +reiterated.</p> + +<p>"You'd better go and put on some clothes," suggested Kris +Kringle.</p> + +<p>"Guess that's right."</p> + +<p>The old man seemed to have forgotten his condition. The others +had wrapped a blanket around him, which seemed to satisfy his +demand for clothes. Gathering up the blanket he strolled +leisurely toward his cabin, undisturbed by his recent +experience.</p> + +<p>"Nothing like getting used to it," chuckled Stacy.</p> + +<p>"Hello, now we'll hear what your new idea is, Chunky?" jeered +Ned.</p> + +<p>"Yes, what is it?" urged Tad.</p> + +<p>"Nothing much."</p> + +<p>"Never is," cut in Walter Perkins, a little maliciously.</p> + +<p>"I—I got an idea the ponies tried to kick holes in the +lightning."</p> + +<p>Everybody laughed loudly. They could well afford to laugh, now +that the danger had passed.</p> + +<p>"What makes you think that?" asked the guide, eyeing him +sharply.</p> + +<p>"'Cause they're dead!"</p> + +<p>"What!" shouted the boys.</p> + +<p>All hands dashed from the tent, Stacy regarding them with +soulful eyes, after which he surreptitiously slipped a biscuit +into his pocket and strolled out after them.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER XVI</h3> + +<h4>CHUNKY'S NEW IDEA</h4> + +<p>Three of the ponies, they found, had been knocked down and so +severely shocked that they were only just beginning to regain +consciousness.</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you tell us?" demanded Ned, turning on Stacy +savagely.</p> + +<p>"You wouldn't let me. Maybe next time I've got an idea, you'll +stop and listen."</p> + +<p>Kris Kringle's face wore a broad grin.</p> + +<p>"Master Stacy is right. He tried hard enough to tell us," he +said.</p> + +<p>Chunky was humming blithely as the party set out next morning. +He was pretty well satisfied with himself, for had he not been +through a prairie fire, knocked a savage Apache off his horse, +saved himself and his companions, besides having just escaped +from being struck by lightning? Stacy swelled out his chest and +held his chin a little bit higher than usual.</p> + +<p>"Chunky's got a swelled head," said Ned, nodding in the +direction of the fat boy.</p> + +<p>"Swelled chest, you mean," laughed Walter. "Nobody has a +better right. Chunky isn't half as big a fool as he'd have +everybody believe. When we think we are having lots of fun with +him he's really having sport with us. And those Indians— +say, Ned, do you think they will bother us any more?"</p> + +<p>"Ask Chunky," retorted Ned. "He's the oracle of the +party."</p> + +<p>"I will," answered Walter, motioning for Stacy to join them, +which the latter did leisurely. "We want to know if you think +we've seen the last of the Apaches? Will they bother us any +more?"</p> + +<p>The fat boy consulted the sky thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"I think there's some of them around now," he replied.</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>Stacy nodded wisely.</p> + +<p>"Santa Claus ought to have shot them."</p> + +<p>"Why, you cold-blooded savage!" scoffed Ned. "The idea!"</p> + +<p>"You'll see. I'd have done it, myself, if I'd had my gun," +declared Stacy bravely.</p> + +<p>"Good thing for you that your gun was in camp, instead of in +your holster."</p> + +<p>"Yes; I'd have lost the gun when the pony went down. Poor +pony! Say, Walt," he murmured, leaning over toward his +companion.</p> + +<p>"Well, out with it!"</p> + +<p>"This pony of Santa Claus's can jump further than a +kangaroo."</p> + +<p>"Ever see a kangaroo jump?" sneered Ned.</p> + +<p>"No; but I've seen you try to. I'll show you, Walt, when we +get a chance to go out and have a contest."</p> + +<p>"That would be good sport, wouldn't it, Ned?"</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"A jumping contest!"</p> + +<p>"If we didn't break our necks."</p> + +<p>"Can't break a Pony Rider Boy's neck. They're too tough," +laughed Walter, to which sentiment, Stacy Brown agreed with a +series of emphatic nods.</p> + +<p>"Say, Tad," called Walter, "what do you say to our jumping our +ponies some time to-day?"</p> + +<p>Tad grinned appreciatively.</p> + +<p>"If the stock isn't too tired when we make camp, I think it +would be great fun. We haven't had any real jumping contests in a +long time."</p> + +<p>"Wish we had our stallions here, Tad."</p> + +<p>"They're better off at home, Chunky. Altogether too valuable +horses for this kind of work. I'll speak to the guide."</p> + +<p>"Well, what is it, young man?" smiled Kris Kringle.</p> + +<p>"If you can find a level place for our camp we want to have a +contest this afternoon. Professor, will you join us?"</p> + +<p>"What kind of a contest?"</p> + +<p>"Jumping."</p> + +<p>"No, thank you."</p> + +<p>"We will camp in the foothills of the Black range. You will +find plenty of level ground there for your purpose," said the +guide.</p> + +<p>In order that they might have more time for their games, an +early halt was called. The first work was to pitch the camp, the +ponies being allowed to graze and rest in the meantime, after +which the lads started out on a broad, open plain for their +sport.</p> + +<p>Their shouts of merriment drifted back to the camp where Kris +Kringle and Professor Zepplin were setting things to rights and +preparing an early supper, the sun still being some hours +high.</p> + +<p>"That's a great bunch of boys, Professor."</p> + +<p>"Great for getting into difficulties."</p> + +<p>"And for getting out of them."</p> + +<p>"I'll put them against any other four lads in the world for +hunting out trouble," laughed the Professor.</p> + +<p>The result of the afternoon's sport was a total of several +spills and numerous black and blue spots on the bodies of the +Pony Rider Boys. Stacy Brown on Kris Kringle's pony, carried off +the honors, having taken a higher jump than did any of his +companions. Then Stacy did it again, after the others had +tried—and failed to equal the record.</p> + +<p>The games being finished, Tad and Walter rode off to get a +closer view of some peculiar rock formations that they had +discovered in the high distance, while Ned and Chunky started +slowly for the camp.</p> + +<p>The table had been set out in front of the tents when the fat +boy and his companion came in sight of the camp.</p> + +<p>"Whew! but I'm hungry!" announced Stacy Brown.</p> + +<p>"But you didn't think of it until you saw the table set, did +you?"</p> + +<p>"It wasn't the table, it was the shaking up I got back there +that made me feel full of emptiness."</p> + +<p>"Huh!"</p> + +<p>"I've got an idea, Ned."</p> + +<p>"For goodness' sake, keep it to yourself, then. When you have +an idea it spells trouble for everybody else around you."</p> + +<p>"Bet you I can."</p> + +<p>"Can what?" snorted Ned.</p> + +<p>"Bet you I can jump the dinner table and you can't."</p> + +<p>"Bet you can't."</p> + +<p>"Bet I can, and without even knocking a fly off the milk +pitcher."</p> + +<p>"Go on, you! You try it first, and, if you don't make it, you +lose. I don't have to try it if I don't want to," agreed Ned, +with rare prudence.</p> + +<p>Chunky was fairly hugging himself with glee, but he took good +care that Ned Rector did not observe his satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"If you don't you're a tenderfoot," taunted Stacy.</p> + +<p>"I'll show you who's the tenderfoot. You go ahead and bolt the +dinner, table and all, if you dare. Now, then!"</p> + +<p>Stacy gathered up his reins. There was mischief in his eyes, +which were fixed on the table, neatly set for the evening +meal.</p> + +<p>"You start right after me. They'll be surprised to see a +procession of ponies going over the table, won't they?"</p> + +<p>"Somebody'll be surprised. May not be the Professor and Santa +Claus, though," growled Ned.</p> + +<p>Stacy had his own ideas on this question, but he did not +confide them to his companion.</p> + +<p>The fat boy clucked to his pony, and the little animal started +off. As they moved along, Stacy used the persuasive spurs +resulting in a sudden burst of speed.</p> + +<p>"Come on!" he shouted.</p> + +<p>He heard Ned's pony pursuing him.</p> + +<p>"Hi-yi-yi-y-e-o-w!" howled the shrill voice of the fat +boy.</p> + +<p>Professor Zepplin and Kris Kringle were sitting at opposite +ends of the table, with elbows leaning on it, engaged in earnest +conversation. There had been so much yelling out on the plain +ever since the boys left camp that the older men gave no heed to +this new shout—did not even turn their eyes in the +direction whence Stacy Brown and his pony were sweeping down on +them at break-neck speed.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the two men started back with a sudden exclamation, +as a shadow fell athwart the table and a dark form hurled itself +through the air, while a shrill, "w-h-o-o-p-e-e!" sounded right +over their heads.</p> + +<p>The fat boy cleared the table without so much as disturbing +the fly to which he had referred when making the arrangement.</p> + +<p>Kris Kringle's face wore an expansive grin as he discovered +the cause of the interruption. But, Professor Zepplin's face +reflected no such emotion. He was angry. He started to rise, when +a second shadow fell across the table.</p> + +<p>Ned Rector, not to be outdone by his fat little friend, pursed +his lips tightly, driving his broncho at the dinner table and +pressing in the spurs so hard, that the pony grunted with +anger.</p> + +<p>Up went the broncho in a graceful curving leap.</p> + +<p>But the pony or its rider had not calculated the distance +properly. Both rear hoofs went through the table, whisking it off +the ground from before the astonished eyes of Professor Zepplin +and Kris Kringle.</p> + +<p>Both men drew back so violently that they toppled over +backwards.</p> + +<p>'Mid the crashing of dishes and the sound of breaking wood, +the dinner table shot up into the air, while the pony ploughed +the ground with its nose.</p> + +<p>Ned Rector struck the ground some distance farther on; he slid +on his face for several feet skinning his nose, and filling +mouth, eyes and nose with dirt.</p> + +<p>Then dishes and pieces of table began to rain down on them in +a perfect shower. A can of condensed milk emptied itself on the +head of Professor Zepplin, while a hot biscuit lodged inside the +collar of Santa Claus's shirt.</p> + +<p>"Wow! Oh, wow!" howled the fat boy, falling off his pony in +the excess of his merriment and rolling on the ground.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER XVII</h3> + +<h4>IN THE HOME OF THE CAVE DWELLERS</h4> + +<p>Ned Rector sat up just in time to meet the wreck of the +descending table. Down he went again with Stacy's howls ringing +in his ears.</p> + +<p>A firm hand jerked Rector free of the debris as Kris Kringle +laughing heartily hauled Ned to his feet. At the same moment +Professor Zepplin had laid more violent hands on the fat boy, +whom he shook until Stacy's howls lost much of their mirth. About +this time Tad and Walter rode in, having hurried along upon +hearing the disturbance in camp.</p> + +<p>"Stacy Brown, are you responsible for this?" demanded the +Professor sternly.</p> + +<p>"I'm more to blame than he is," interposed Ned.</p> + +<p>"No, I—I had an idea," chuckled Stacy, threatening to +break out into another howl of mirth.</p> + +<p>"Next time you have one, then, you will be good enough to let +me know. We will tie you up until the impulse to make trouble has +passed."</p> + +<p>Tad and Walter could not resist a shout of laughter. Kris +Kringle was not slow to follow the example set by them, and all +at once Professor Zepplin forgot his dignity, sitting right down +amid the wreck and laughing immoderately.</p> + +<p>Ned washed his face, and when, upon facing them, he exhibited +a peeled nose and a black eye, the merriment was renewed +again.</p> + +<p>Supper was a success, in spite of the fact that many of their +dishes were utterly ruined, as well as some of the provisions. +But the lads gathered up the pieces and made the best of a bad +job. Fortunately they carried another folding table that they had +had made for their trip, and this was soon spread and a fresh +meal prepared.</p> + +<p>"Well, have you two been getting into difficulties also?" +questioned the Professor, after they sat down to supper.</p> + +<p>"No; we've been exploring, Walter and I," answered Tad.</p> + +<p>"Exploring?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. We discovered something that I should like to know more +about."</p> + +<p>"What is that?" asked Kris Kringle, looking up +interestedly.</p> + +<p>"We were over yonder, close to the mountains, which are +straight up and down, and half way to the top, we saw three or +four queerly-shaped rocks that looked like houses or huts. Did +you ever see them, Mr. Kringle?"</p> + +<p>"No; but I think I know what you mean. They must be some of +the cave dwellings of the ancient Pueblos, or perhaps as far back +as the Toltecs. They built their homes in caves on the steep +rocks for better protection against their enemies."</p> + +<p>"And nobody ever discovered these before?" questioned. Walter. +"How queer!"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps these dwellings, if such they are, have been seen by +many a traveler, none of whom had interest enough in the matter +to investigate. Then again, they may have been fully explored. +There's not much in this part of the country that prospectors +have not looked over."</p> + +<p>"May we explore these caves, Professor?" asked Tad.</p> + +<p>"Please let us?" urged Walter.</p> + +<p>"I see no objection if Mr. Kringle will be responsible for +you. I rather think I'll look into them myself. I'll confess the +idea interests me. Are they easy to get at?"</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid not," answered Tad.</p> + +<p>"Santa Claus will show us the way," interrupted Stacy +enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>He was frowned down by the Professor.</p> + +<p>"Why not start now?" urged Tad.</p> + +<p>The guide consulted the sun.</p> + +<p>"We might. It lacks all of three hours to dark."</p> + +<p>There was much enthusiasm in camp. The idea that they were to +visit some unexplored caves, dwellings of an ancient people, +filled the lads with pleasant expectancy.</p> + +<p>Before starting, Mr. Kringle sorted out some strong manila +rope and several tent stakes all of which he did up into two +bundles. Then he filled the magazine of his rifle, throwing this +over his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"What's that for?" questioned Ned.</p> + +<p>"The gun?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Can't tell what we may run into in a cave, you know."</p> + +<p>After a final look at the camp all hands set out for the place +indicated by Tad. It was only a short distance, so they decided +to walk.</p> + +<p>Reaching the base of the mountain they gazed up.</p> + +<p>"Yes, those are cave dwellings," declared Kris Kringle. "And +they are still closed. Probably they haven't been opened in two +hundred years."</p> + +<p>"I'd hate to live there and have to go home in a dark night," +mused Chunky.</p> + +<p>"Yes, how did they get to their houses?" wondered the other +boys.</p> + +<p>"The question is, how are we going to get near enough to +explore them? How shall we get up there, Mr. Guide?" asked the +Professor.</p> + +<p>"We'll find a way. We shall have to climb the mountain, +first."</p> + +<p>All hands began clambering up the rocks. To do so they were +obliged to follow along the base of the mountain for some +distance before they found a place that they could climb.</p> + +<p>Reaching the top, the guide examined their surroundings +carefully.</p> + +<p>"See those little projections of rock slanting down toward the +shelf?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Well, in the old days they probably felled a tree so it would +fall on them. The occupants of the cave probably cut steps in the +tree trunk over which to travel up and down. The tree has rotted +away many years since."</p> + +<p>"And we can't get down, then?"</p> + +<p>"We'll find a way, Master Walter. I thought I should be able +to make a rope ladder that would work, but I see it is not +practicable."</p> + +<p>"How shall we do it?"</p> + +<p>"Try the old way, I guess, Master Tad."</p> + +<p>"What's that?"</p> + +<p>"The tree."</p> + +<p>"But there are no trees near here?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, there are, a few rods back. We are all strong and I +guess we shall be able to make a pretty fair pair of steps."</p> + +<p>Kris Kringle had brought an axe with him. With this he cut +some long, straight poles which, he explained, were intended for +pike poles such as woodsmen use to roll logs. This done, he began +industriously chopping at the tree after deciding upon the exact +position in which he desired it to fall.</p> + +<p>"It won't reach," declared Chunky, who, with hands in pockets, +legs spread wide apart, stood looking up at the flaring top of +the great tree.</p> + +<p>The guide stopped chopping long enough to squint at the fat +boy.</p> + +<p>"It'll reach you all right, if you stay where you are," he +said, then resumed his vigorous blows.</p> + +<p>Stacy promptly took the hint and moved a safe distance +away.</p> + +<p>"Get from under!" shouted the guide finally. One more blow +would send the tree crashing downward.</p> + +<p>All hands scrambled for safety. One powerful blow from the +axe, and with a crashing and rending, the great tree began its +descent. When it struck the onlookers fully expected to see it +broken into many pieces, but the bushy top, hitting the rocks +first, broke the blow, and the body of the tree settled down +gently without even breaking its bark.</p> + +<p>"Fine! Hurrah!" shouted the boys.</p> + +<p>"It won't reach to the edge. Going to pull it over?" +questioned Stacy.</p> + +<p>"Not exactly, but we're going to get it there. Perhaps we +shall not have it in place in time to explore the caves to-night, +but we shall be ready to do so early in the morning. It took our +friends longer to do this job, two hundred years or more ago, +than it will take us. We have better tools to work with."</p> + +<p>"And better bosses," suggested Stacy.</p> + +<p>Some little time was consumed in chopping the tree loose from +its stump, after which the guide worked the pike poles under the +trunk at intervals near the base. The others watched these +operations with interest.</p> + +<p>"Now here is where you young gentlemen will have a chance to +show how strong you are. Each one grab a pike pole," Kringle +directed.</p> + +<p>"Shan't I go hold the top down?" asked Stacy.</p> + +<p>"You just grab a pike pole and get busy!" laughed Mr. +Kringle.</p> + +<p>"Can't get out of work quite so easy as you thought," scoffed +Ned. "This is where we make you earn your supper."</p> + +<p>"I don't have to earn it. Had it already."</p> + +<p>"There are other meals coming," smiled the Professor.</p> + +<p>"Now, heo—he!"</p> + +<p>All raised on the pike poles at the same time with the result +that the tree was forced down the gentle incline several feet. +This was repeated again and again, the boys pausing to cheer +after every lift.</p> + +<p>The tree being now perilously near the edge of the cliff Kris +Kringle called a halt. Next he fastened a rope around the top and +another around the base, taking a turn around a rock with each. +One boy was placed on each rope, the others at the pike poles, +while the guide stood at the edge giving directions.</p> + +<p>The tree trunk gently slipped over under his guidance and a +few minutes later rested on the projecting rocks, that were just +high enough to hold it in place.</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't take much to send it over, but I guess it will be +perfectly safe," he mused.</p> + +<p>"May we go down now?" cried the boys.</p> + +<p>"No; I'll make some steps first."</p> + +<p>He did so with the axe, chopping out scoop-shaped places for +steps, until finally he had reached the rock in front of the cave +dwellings.</p> + +<p>The tree lay at an easy slope, its bushy top partly resting on +the ledge, the latter being some eight feet deep by ten feet +wide.</p> + +<p>Running up the log Mr. Kringle made another rope fast at the +top, throwing the free end over.</p> + +<p>"Hold on to the rope while you are going down and you'll be in +no danger of falling," he warned.</p> + +<p>The boys scrambled down the tree like so many squirrels, the +Professor following somewhat more cautiously.</p> + +<p>The explorers found themselves not more than twenty feet from +the ground.</p> + +<p>"Not much of a door yard. Where's the garden?" wondered Stacy, +looking about him curiously.</p> + +<p>The entrance to the cave dwelling was blocked by a huge +boulder, that completely filled the opening. How it had been +gotten there none could say. The only possible explanation was +that the boulder had been found on the shelf and applied to the +purpose of protecting the cave dwellers' home.</p> + +<p>"Now we're here, we can't get in," grumbled Ned.</p> + +<p>"Nothing is impossible," answered Kris Kringle.</p> + +<p>"Except one thing."</p> + +<p>"What's that, Master Ned?"</p> + +<p>"To hammer the least little bit of sense into the head of my +friend, Chunky Brown."</p> + +<p>"You don't have to, that's why," retorted Stacy quickly. "It +has all the sense it'll hold, now."</p> + +<p>"I guess that will be about all for you, Ned," laughed Walter. +"At least, Chunky didn't foul the dinner table when he jumped +it."</p> + +<p>The guide, in the meantime, was experimenting with the +boulder, inserting a pike pole here and there in an effort to +move the big stone. It remained in place as solidly as if it had +grown there.</p> + +<p>"There's some trick about the thing, I know, but what it is +gets me. Better stand back, all of you, in case it comes out all +of a sudden," Mr. Kringle warned them.</p> + +<p>All at once the boulder did come out, and it kept on +coming.</p> + +<p>"Look out!" bellowed the guide.</p> + +<p>"Low bridge!" howled Stacy, hopping to one side and crouching +against the rocks.</p> + +<p>The guide had sprung nimbly to one side as well. The big rock +had popped out like a pea from a pod. Instead of stopping, +however, it continued to roll on toward the edge.</p> + +<p>"Hug the rocks! She's going down!" shouted the guide.</p> + +<p>Go down it did, with a crash that seemed to shake the +mountain. Rolling to the edge of the shelf, it had toppled over, +taking a large strip of shelving rock with it.</p> + +<p>"Wow!" howled Chunky;</p> + +<p>The other boys uttered no sound, though their faces were a +little more pale than usual.</p> + +<p>Kris Kringle stepped to the edge, peering over.</p> + +<p>"No one will get that up here again, right away," he said.</p> + +<p>"The cave, the cave!" shouted Walter.</p> + +<p>Everyone turned, gazing half in awe at the dark opening that +the removal of the stone had revealed—an opening that had +been closed for probably more than two centuries.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER XVIII</h3> + +<h4>FACING THE ENEMY'S GUNS</h4> + +<p>"Do we go in?" asked the Professor.</p> + +<p>"Wait, I'll get some light inside first," answered the prudent +guide. "Can't tell whether we shall want to go in or not."</p> + +<p>He built up a small fire within, then called to the others +that they might enter. They crowded in hastily, finding +themselves in a fairly large chamber, at the far end of which was +a sort of natural alcove in the rocks.</p> + +<p>The remnants of a fire still lay at one side, where the last +meal of the ancient dweller had probably been cooked. Several +crude looking utensils lay about, together with a number of +pieces of ancient pottery.</p> + +<p>"This is, indeed, a rare find!" exclaimed the Professor, +carrying the precious jars out into the light for closer +examination.</p> + +<p>Chunky, about that time, pounced upon an object which proved +to be a copper hatchet.</p> + +<p>"Hurray for George Washington!" he shouted, brandishing the +crude tool. "The man who never told—"</p> + +<p>"We've heard that before," objected Ned. "Give us something +new, Chunky, if you've <i>got</i> to talk."</p> + +<p>The Professor came in, searching for other curios just as +Stacy went out to examine his "little axe," as he was pleased to +call it. He tried the edge of it on the ledge to find out if the +stone would dull it, but it did not.</p> + +<p>"I'll use that to cut nails and wire with when I get back +home," decided the boy. "Guess I'll chop my name in the side of +the mountain here." Stacy proceeded to do so, the others being +too much engrossed in their explorations to know or care what he +was about. He succeeded very well, both in making letters on the +wall and in putting several nicks in the edge of his new-found +hatchet.</p> + +<p>He was thus engaged when all at once something struck the axe +hurling it from his hand. At the same instant a rifle crashed off +somewhere below and to the southeast of him.</p> + +<p>"Ouch!" exclaimed the fat boy holding his hand. "Wonder who +did that?" His mind had not coupled the shot with the blow on the +hatchet.</p> + +<p>Bang!</p> + +<p>A bullet flattened itself close to his head, against the +rock.</p> + +<p>With a howl, the lad threw himself down on the ledge.</p> + +<p>At that instant Kris Kringle sprang to the opening of the +cave.</p> + +<p>"What does this mean?" he snapped.</p> + +<p>"I don't know. Somebody knocked the axe out of my hand then +shot at me."</p> + +<p>The guide discovered the trouble right there. A bullet snipped +his hat from his head; and, striking the ceiling of the +cave-home, dropped to the floor with a dull clatter.</p> + +<p>Kris Kringle ducked with amazing quickness. Crawling back into +the cave, he reached for his own rifle and then sought the +opening, taking good care not to expose himself to the fire of +the unseen enemy.</p> + +<p>Stacy, on his part, had lost no time in getting to a place of +safety inside, though he was prudent enough to crawl instead of +getting up and walking in."</p> + +<p>"What does this mean? It can't be possible that anyone is +deliberately shooting at us?" questioned Professor Zepplin in +undisguised amazement.</p> + +<p>"If you doubt it step outside," suggested Kris Kringle. +"Master Stacy and myself know what they tried to do, don't we, +lad?"</p> + +<p>"We do."</p> + +<p>The fat boy again swelled with importance.</p> + +<p>"Look out you don't swell up so big you'll break your +harness," warned Ned.</p> + +<p>"Better break it than have it shot off," mumbled Stacy.</p> + +<p>"Who can it be?"</p> + +<p>"I can't say, Professor."</p> + +<p>"It's our friends from the fire dance," was Tad's expressed +conviction.</p> + +<p>"Told you they'd be here," nodded Chunky. "Why don't you shoot +at them?"</p> + +<p>"Going to, in a minute. Got to find out where they are +first."</p> + +<p>Now the lads were excited in earnest. Some one was shooting at +them, and the guide was going to fire back. This was more than +they had expected when they visited the home of the +cave-dweller.</p> + +<p>"Let me take a crack at 'em," begged Chunky. "I owe 'em +one."</p> + +<p>"Master Stacy, you will do nothing of the sort," reproved the +Professor sternly. "The idea!"</p> + +<p>"No; if there's any shooting to be done I'll do it," announced +Kris Kringle.</p> + +<p>"And Santa Claus isn't shooting with any toy gun, this time," +chuckled Chunky.</p> + +<p>"Can you see the camp, to know if anyone is there?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but only part of it, Professor. I wish you would all get +over into the right hand corner there and lie flat on the floor. +I'm going to try to draw their fire so that I can locate them. +Can't afford to waste ammunition until we are reasonably sure +where our mark is."</p> + +<p>The others quickly got into the position indicated.</p> + +<p>Placing his hat on one of the pike poles, Kringle slowly +pushed it outside.</p> + +<p>There was no result, The ruse failed to draw the enemy's +fire.</p> + +<p>"Oh, they've gone. We're a lot of babies," jeered Ned, jumping +up and starting for the opening.</p> + +<p>Kris Kringle gave him a push with the butt of the rifle.</p> + +<p>"Want, to get shot full of holes? Wait! I'll show you."</p> + +<p>The guide sprang up, showing himself out on the ledge for one +brief instant then throwing himself flat.</p> + +<p>A sharp "ping" against the rocks, followed by a heavy report, +told the story. The guide had been not a second too soon in +getting out of harm's way, for the bullet would have gone right +through him had be remained standing.</p> + +<p>Quick as a flash Kringle's rifle leaped to his shoulder, and +he fired. He had taken quick aim at a puff of smoke off toward +the camp.</p> + +<p>Not content with one shot he raked the bushes all about where +the puff of smoke had been seen, emptying the magazine of the +rifle in a few seconds.</p> + +<p>Stacy Brown was fairly dancing with glee.</p> + +<p>"Did you hit anything?" asked the boys breathlessly.</p> + +<p>"Of course, I hit something; but whether I winged an Indian or +not, I don't know. If I did, he probably is not seriously +wounded. You'll hear a redskin yell when he's hit bad."</p> + +<p>"That one I punched didn't. He was hit hard," volunteered +Stacy.</p> + +<p>"He didn't have time," grinned Tad. "You were too quick for +him."</p> + +<p>"Look out! There comes a volley!" warned Mr. Kringle.</p> + +<p>The boys, led by the Professor tumbled into the corner in a +heap, while the lead pattered in through the opening, rattling +with great force like a handful of pebbles.</p> + +<p>"They're getting in a hurry," averred the Professor.</p> + +<p>"It's growing dark. They want to finish us before then, so we +can't play any tricks on them after that. But, if they only knew +it, and they probably do, they've got us beautifully trapped. One +man below and another at the other end of our tree would be able +to keep us here till the springs run dry. If there's only two of +them there, as I suspect is the case, they may not want to +separate. We'll see, the minute it gets dark enough so that we +can move about without being observed."</p> + +<p>Some of the sage brush that Kris Kringle had brought down to +light up the cave lay outside on the ledge. Using one of the +poles, he cautiously raked the stuff inside, heaping it up not +far from the entrance.</p> + +<p>"What you doing that for?" questioned Stacy, unable to conceal +his curiosity.</p> + +<p>"You'll see, by-and-by, when we get ready to do something +else. You don't think I'm going to stay here all night, do +you?"</p> + +<p>There was no further firing on either side, though Mr. Kringle +showed himself boldly several times.</p> + +<p>Finally Tad tried it, and was greeted with a shot the instant +he appeared in the opening.</p> + +<p>"Must be me they're after," he suggested, with a forced grin, +falling flat on the ledge, and wriggling back into the cave.</p> + +<p>The twilight was upon them now. The guide had been able to see +the flash of the rifle below him, and had taken a quick shot at +it when the enemy attempted to wing Tad Butler. Kringle had no +means of knowing whether his shot had been effective or not.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to try something else in a few minutes, now," the +guide told the Professor and the boys, "and I hope you all will +do just as I tell you."</p> + +<p>"You may depend upon our doing exactly that," answered the +Professor.</p> + +<p>"I am going to crawl out of here. The rest of you remain here +until I call to you to come out, no matter if it is until +morning. After I have been gone about ten minutes, light a match +and toss it into the heap of sage there, but watch out that you +don't get into the light. Throw the match. You're liable to be +shot if you show yourselves."</p> + +<p>"Why should we make a fire and thus make targets of +ourselves?" protested Ned.</p> + +<p>"That is to cover Mr. Kringle's retreat," Tad informed +them.</p> + +<p>"Exactly. Master Tad, you may come along with me if you +wish."</p> + +<p>Tad jumped at the offer.</p> + +<p>"But not a sound. Ask me no questions. Follow a rod or so +behind me, and walk low down all the time. If you make a mistake +it may result seriously for you and your friends. And, another +thing."</p> + +<p>"Yes?"</p> + +<p>"Should there be any shooting, throw yourself on the ground. +You will not be as likely to be hit there."</p> + +<p>"I'll obey orders, sir."</p> + +<p>"I know it."</p> + +<p>"When do we start?"</p> + +<p>"I guess we can do so now, as safely as at any time. The +rascals will not be likely to be on the mountain just yet, +because it is not dark enough. Yes; we'll go now."</p> + +<p>Tad waited until Kris Kringle had crawled from the cave, then +lay down on his stomach and wriggled out on the ledge.</p> + +<p>There were no signs of the enemy and the camp-fire of the Pony +Rider Boys glowed dimly down below. Tad, peering off into the +gloom, for the moon had not yet risen, thought he saw a figure +flit by the fire. He could not be sure, however. He wished he +might tell the guide of his fancied discovery; but, remembering +the injunction for absolute silence, he said nothing.</p> + +<p>By this time, Tad's arms were about the log. From the slight +vibration he knew that Kris Kringle was somewhere between himself +and the top, yet not a sound did the guide make. Tad made no +more, and they would have been keen ears, indeed, that could have +detected our friends' presence by sound alone.</p> + +<p>When the lad finally reached the top a hand was laid on his +shoulder. The touch gave him a violent start in spite of his +steady nerves.</p> + +<p>"You're all right," whispered the voice of Kris Kringle. +"You'd make a good Indian. I want to explain something that I +didn't wish the others to hear."</p> + +<p>"Yes?" whispered Tad.</p> + +<p>"I have only one shell left in my rifle. That's why I wanted +you to go along. If, by any chance, the rascals should get me, +you lie low. They'll make for the cave, as they know, by this +time, that there is only one rifle in the party. The minute they +do, should such an emergency arise, slide for the camp and get +your gun. You'll know what to do with it. It'll be a case of +saving the lives of your companions if it comes to that."</p> + +<p>"I understand," answered Tad bravely; and without a quaver in +his voice.</p> + +<p>"Mind you, I don't think for a minute that it will happen. I +can handle these fellows if I get the lay of the land. Keep close +enough to hear me."</p> + +<p>"That's not so easy."</p> + +<p>"No; but you'll know. When I stop you do the same."</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER XIX</h3> + +<h4>OUTWITTING THE REDSKINS</h4> + +<p>Kris Kringle moved away without another word. His abrupt +departure was the signal for the Pony Rider boy to start, which +he did instantly.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes Tad was skulking along the top of the +mountain, when he ran into the guide again.</p> + +<p>Just then the report of a rifle sounded down below them.</p> + +<p>"Are they shooting at us?" whispered Tad.</p> + +<p>"No; the boys have lighted the fire in the cave. Our friends +down below took a pot shot at the blaze. Hope they didn't hit +anybody."</p> + +<p>"Chunky would be the only one to get in the way, and I imagine +the others would hold him back."</p> + +<p>"Come this way; we'll go down by a different trail. The +redskins are watching the fire in the cave, but they may be +keeping an eye on the trail at the same time."</p> + +<p>Silently the man and the boy took their way along the rough, +uneven path, slowly working down into the valley. They soon +reached this, for the range was low there.</p> + +<p>Reaching the foothills, the two scouts once more fell into +single file, Tad Butler to the rear. He knew that the guide's +rifle ahead of him was ready for instant use, and at any second +now Tad expected to see the flash of a gun.</p> + +<p>The lad was not afraid, but he was all a-quiver with +excitement. This stalking an enemy in the dark, not knowing at +what minute that enemy might make the attack, was not the same as +a stand-up fight in broad daylight. Tad wondered why the guide +had not permitted the rest of the party to escape while they had +the opportunity. He did not know that Kris Kringle fully expected +an ambush, nor that two would stand a better chance to get +through and out-wit the savages than would half a dozen of them. +The pair had approached nearly to the camp, for which the guide +was heading, when suddenly a hand was laid on the boy's arm in a +firm grip. Tad knew the guide had seen or heard something.</p> + +<p>"What is it?"</p> + +<p>"There!"</p> + +<p>In the faint light of the camp-fire the lad, gazing where Kris +Kringle had pointed, was astonished to see a figure seated at +their table. From his motions it was evident that the intruder +was stowing away the stolen fool at a great rate.</p> + +<p>"Is that one of them?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"He'll have indigestion, the way he's eating. Hope he doesn't +swallow the dishes, too."</p> + +<p>"I'm going to find the other one. You crawl as close to the +camp as you can with safety. If you hear a disturbance, dive for +the tents the instant that fellow starts. He'll move if he hears +any noise. Get a gun and hurry to me, but be quiet about it."</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Remember your instructions. I may be able to handle both of +them, but if I don't get the missing one at the first crack I +shan't be able to take care of them both. You'll have to help me. +Got the nerve?"</p> + +<p>"I'm not afraid," whispered the boy steadily. "And I've got +some muscle as well."</p> + +<p>"That's evident. I'm off now."</p> + +<p>Tad was left alone. This time he could feel the guide's +movements, as the latter slipped away on the soft earth. But in a +moment all sound was lost,</p> + +<p>"I think I'll crawl up nearer, so as to be handy if anything +occurs," decided the lad, creeping along on all fours. He could +not see the light in the camp now, but he reasoned that the man +at the table was sitting with his back to it, as near as Tad +could judge of direction in the dark. The Indian seemed not to +fear a surprise.</p> + +<p>"That's what comes from overconfidence," grinned the lad.</p> + +<p>"I wish I had something to defend myself with," he added after +a pause.</p> + +<p>Tad had no sooner expressed his wish, than his fingers closed +over some object on the ground. He grasped it with about the same +hopefulness that a dying man will grasp at a straw.</p> + +<p>What he had found was a heavy tent stake, one that Kris +Kringle had dropped from his bundle on the way to the cliff +dweller's home.</p> + +<p>The lad breathed a prayer of thankfulness and crept on with +renewed courage.</p> + +<p>He proceeded as far as he dared; then, lay still, listening +for the noise of the expected conflict between the guide and the +other red man.</p> + +<p>It came. The sound was like that of a body falling +heavily.</p> + +<p>Once more the Indian at the table turned his head, listening +inquiringly. He made a half motion to rise, glanced at the table, +then sat down again and began to eat.</p> + +<p>"His appetite has overcome his judgment," grinned Tad. The lad +could hear the faint sound of conflict somewhere to the rear of +him. He was getting uneasy and began to fidget.</p> + +<p>All at once the red man sprang up, starting on a run, trailing +Stacy's rifle behind him. He was headed directly for the place +where Tad lay flattened on the ground, though the lad felt sure +his enemy did not see him.</p> + +<p>But when the Indian suddenly sprang up into the air to avoid +stepping on the object that lay there, Tad knew that further +secrecy was useless. The redskin had jumped right over him, +dropping Chunky's rifle as he leaped. The gun fell on the Pony +Rider boy and for a second hindered his movements.</p> + +<p>But Tad was up like a flash, while the Indian whirled no less +quickly, knife unsheathed, ready for battle.</p> + +<p>This was where Tad's tent stake came in handy. Without it he +would have been in a much more serious fix. It was bad enough as +it was.</p> + +<p>Without an instant's hesitation the lad brought the stake down +on the wrist of the hand that held the knife. The knife fell to +the ground, while the Indian, with a half-suppressed howl, sprang +at the slender lad. Though the fellow's wrist was well-nigh +useless at that moment, he was as full of fight as ever.</p> + +<p>Tad stepped nimbly aside and tried to trip his adversary, but +the Indian was too sharp to be caught that way.</p> + +<p>"If he ever gets those arms around me I'm a goner," thought +Tad, taking mental measure of his antagonist.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the Indian swooped down, making a grab for the rifle +that he had dropped.</p> + +<p>As the redskin stooped, Tad hit him a wallop on the head with +the tent stake. It must have made the savage see a shower of +stars.</p> + +<p>At least, it staggered him so he was glad to let the weapon +remain where it was. For a few seconds the air was full of flying +legs and arms, during which the boy landed three times on the red +man, being himself unhurt.</p> + +<p>Then the Indian succeeded in rushing into a clinch, and Tad +found himself gripped in those arms of steel. Wriggle and twist +as be would he could not free himself from their embrace. His +adversary, on the other hand, found himself fully occupied in +holding on to his slippery young antagonist, giving him neither +time nor opportunity effectually to dispose of the slender +lad.</p> + +<p>Tad was unusually muscular for his years, to which was added +no little skill as wrestler. The Indian soon discovered both +these qualities. And, at about that time, the lad was resorting +to every trick he knew to place the Indian in a position where he +could be thrown.</p> + +<p>The moment came with disconcerting suddenness, and Mr. Redman +uttered a loud grunt as he landed on the ground, flat on his +back. With a spring he lifted himself up, and the next instant he +had thrown the slight figure of the Pony Rider Boy so heavily +that everything about Tad grew black. He felt himself going. Then +all at once he lost consciousness.</p> + +<p>When finally he awakened, Tad found a figure still bending +over him.</p> + +<p>Quick as a flash the boy's arms went up, encircling the neck +of the man kneeling by him. The next instant the fellow was on +his back, with Tad sitting on his chest.</p> + +<p>"Here, here! What's the matter with you?" gasped a muffled +voice, which Tad instantly recognized.</p> + +<p>"Kris Kringle!" he gasped.</p> + +<p>"Yes; and you nearly knocked the breath out of me," grinned +the guide, struggling to his feet. "Well, you certainly are a +whirlwind."</p> + +<p>"I—I thought you were the Indian," mattered Tad in a +sheepish tone.</p> + +<p>"If it had been, there would have been no need for my +interference."</p> + +<p>"Where is he?"</p> + +<p>"Over there, tied up. Both of them are. We'll decide what to +do with them when we get the party together."</p> + +<p>"Tell me what happened," begged Tad.</p> + +<p>The other fellow was so busy watching the cave that he forgot +to keep his ears open. I was able to approach him without being +detected. When I got near enough I laid the butt of my rifle over +his head. No, I didn't hurt him much. Just made him curl up on +the ground long enough to enable me to tie his hands and +feet.</p> + +<p>"About that time I caught the sound of something going on over +here. I made a run, suspecting that you were mixing it up with +the other redskin. Guess I was just in time, too, for he had you +down and was reaching for something—"</p> + +<p>"His knife," nodded Tad. "It's somewhere around here now."</p> + +<p>"Well, I gave him the same medicine that I had given the +other. Now we'd better go and call the others."</p> + +<p>"Thank you. I'd have been in a bad fix, if you hadn't come as +you did."</p> + +<p>"So might I, had you not stopped the second one. We're quits +then," said the guide, extending his hand, which Tad grasped +warmly.</p> + +<p>"I'll call the others, if you wish."</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>Tad ran over to the base of the cliff, and shouted loudly for +his companions. In half an hour the party had gathered about the +camp fire, engaged in an animated discussion over the stirring +experiences of the evening.</p> + +<p>It was decided that the Indians should be placed on their +ponies, to which they were to be tied, with hands free and +provisions enough to last them until they reached their +reservation in the northern part of the state;</p> + +<p>The guide restored their rifles to them after first taking +their ammunition and transferring it to his own kit.</p> + +<p>"I've wasted nearly that much on you," he said. "And, if ever +you ride across my trail again, I'll use your own lead on you in +a way that will stop you. You won't need bullets like these in +the Happy Hunting Grounds, where you'll be going. Now, git!"</p> + +<p>And they did. The redskins rode as if a ghost were pursuing +them.</p> + +<p>"That's the last, we shall see of those gentlemen," laughed +Kris Kringle. "To-morrow morning we shall be on our way in +peace."</p> + +<p>But the trail of the Pony Rider Boys was not to be all peace. +Before them—ere they reached the end of the Silver +Trail—they were to find other thrilling experiences +awaiting them.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER XX</h3> + +<h4>TILTING FOR THE SILVER SPURS</h4> + +<p>Their journey led the young horsemen across the plains, over +low-lying ranges, across broad, barren table-lands and down +through the bottom lands until the wide sweep of the Rio Grande +River at last lay before them.</p> + +<p>After the weeks of arid landscape the sight of water, and so +much of it, brought a loud cheer from the Pony Rider Boys. The +next thing was to find a fording place. This they did late in the +afternoon of the same day, and their further journey took them to +the little desert town of Puraje.</p> + +<p>They camped on the outskirts of the village.</p> + +<p>"Here's where we get a real bath. Who's going in swimming with +me?" asked Tad.</p> + +<p>"I am," shouted all the boys at once.</p> + +<p>The Professor and Kris Kringle concluded that they, too, would +take a dip, and a merry hour was spent in a protected cove of the +big river, where the boys proved themselves as much at home as +they were in the saddle.</p> + +<p>In the evening, they purchased such supplies as the town +afforded. The night passed with-out disturbance, the boys taking +up their journey next morning before the sleepy town had +awakened.</p> + +<p>It was a week later, when, tired and dusty, the outfit pulled +up at La Luz, a quaint hamlet nestling in the foothills of the +Sacramento Mountains. The place they found to be largely Mexican, +and it was almost as if the visitors had slipped over the border +to find themselves in Mexico itself.</p> + +<p>Decorations were in evidence on all sides; bright-colored +mantillas, Indian blankets and flags were everywhere.</p> + +<p>"Hello, I guess something is going on here," laughed Tad.</p> + +<p>"We are in time, whatever it is," nodded the guide. "Probably +it's a feast of some kind. You will be interested in it, if that +is what it is.</p> + +<p>The feast, they learned, was to be celebrated on the morrow +with games, feats of strength and horsemanship.</p> + +<p>"Do you think they will let us take part?" asked Tad, as the +party made camp in the yard of a little adobe church, where they +had obtained permission to camp.</p> + +<p>"I'll see about it," answered the guide. "There may be reasons +why it would not be best to do so."</p> + +<p>"Maybe I can win another rifle," suggested Chunky.</p> + +<p>"These people don't give away rifles. They're too— +too—what do you call it?—too artistic. That's +it."</p> + +<p>The camp being on the main street of the village, attracted no +little attention. After sundown, crowds of gayly bedecked young +people strolled up and stood about the church yard, watching the +American boys pitching their tents and preparing for their stay +over night.</p> + +<p>The villagers were especially interested in watching the boys +get their supper, which was served up steaming hot within fifteen +minutes after preparations had begun. Chunky had bought several +pies at the store, which, with a pound of cheese brought in by +Ned, made a pleasant change in the daily routine.</p> + +<p>Chunky started in on the pie.</p> + +<p>Ned calmly reached over and took it away from him; then the +supper went along until it came time for the dessert, when Chunky +fixed his eyes on the cheese suspiciously.</p> + +<p>"See anything wrong with that cheese?" demanded Ned.</p> + +<p>"No, but I've got an idea."</p> + +<p>"Out with it! You won't rest easy until you do. What's your +idea?"</p> + +<p>"I was thinking, if I had a camera, I could make a motion +picture of that cheese. I heard of a fellow once—"</p> + +<p>"That will do, Master Stacy," warned Professor Zepplin.</p> + +<p>"Can't I talk?"</p> + +<p>"Along proper lines—yes."</p> + +<p>"Cheese is proper, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Depends upon how old it is," chuckled Tad.</p> + +<p>"You needn't make fun of my cheese. Here give it to me; I'll +eat it."</p> + +<p>"You're welcome to it, Ned," laughed the boys.</p> + +<p>The fun went on, much to the amusement of the villagers, who +remained near by until the evening was well along and the lads +began preparing for bed. Next morning the visitors began coming +in to town early. There were men from the ranches, Mexican +ranch-hands arrayed in bright colors and displaying expensive +saddle trimmings. There were others from the wild places on the +desert, far beyond the water limits, whose means of livelihood +were known only to themselves.</p> + +<p>It was a strange company, and one that appealed considerably +to the curiosity of the Pony Rider Boys.</p> + +<p>The early part of the day was given over to racing, roping, +gambling and other sports in which the lads were content to take +no part. But there was an event scheduled for the afternoon that +interested Tad more than all the rest. That was a tilting bout, +open to all comers. A tilting arch had been erected in the middle +of the main street, and had been decorated with flags and +greens.</p> + +<p>The tilting ring, suspended from the top of the arch, was not +more than an inch in diameter. The horseman who could impale it +on his tilting peg and carry the ring away with him the greatest, +number of times, would be declared the winner. Each one was to be +given five chances.</p> + +<p>The prize, a pair of silver spurs, was to be presented by the +belle of the town, a dark-eyed señorita.</p> + +<p>The guide had entered Tad in this contest; but, as the lad +glanced up at the ring only an inch in diameter, he grew rather +dubious. He never had seen any tilting, and did not even know how +the sport was conducted.</p> + +<p>Kris Kringle gave the lad some instructions about the method +employed by the tilters, and Tad decided to enter the +contest.</p> + +<p>Only ten horsemen entered, most of these being either Mexicans +or halfbreeds.</p> + +<p>The first trial over, five of the contestants had succeeded in +carrying away the ring.</p> + +<p>Tad had waited until nearly the last in order to get all the +information possible as to the way the rest of the contestants +played the game. A pole had been loaned to him, or rather a +"peg," they called it, eight feet long, tapered so as to allow it +to go through the brass ring for fully two feet of its +length.</p> + +<p>The Pony Rider boy took his place in the middle of the street, +and without the least hesitancy, galloped down toward the ring, +which, indeed, he could not even see. When within a few feet of +the arch he caught the sparkle of the ring.</p> + +<p>His lance came up, and putting spurs to his broncho, he shot +under the arch, driving the point of the peg full at the slender +circle. The point struck the edge sending the ring swaying like +the pendulum of a clock.</p> + +<p>A howl greeted his achievement. Tad said nothing, but riding +slowly back, awaited his next trial.</p> + +<p>The rule was that when one of the contestants made a strike, +he was to continue until he failed. He would be allowed to run +out five points in succession if he could.</p> + +<p>"Rest the peg against your side, and lightly," advised a man, +as Tad turned into the street for another try. The man was past +middle age, and, though dressed in the garb of a man of the +plains, Tad decided at once that he was not of the same type as +most of the motley mob by which he was surrounded.</p> + +<p>The lad nodded his understanding.</p> + +<p>With a sharp little cry of warning, the boy put spurs to his +pony. He fairly flew down the course. No such speed had been seen +there that day. The northern bronchos that the boys were riding +were built for faster work and possessed more spirit than their +brothers of the desert.</p> + +<p>As he neared the arch, this time, the lad half rose in his +stirrups. He knew where to look for the ring now. Leaning +slightly forward he let the point of the peg tilt ever so little. +It went through the ring, tearing it from its slender fastening +and carrying it away.</p> + +<p>Loud shouts of approval greeted his achievement.</p> + +<p>Once more he raced down the lane, this time at so fast a clip +that the faces of the spectators who lined the course were a mere +blur in his eyes.</p> + +<p>He felt the slight jar and heard the click as the ring slipped +over the tilting peg.</p> + +<p>"Two," announced the scorer.</p> + +<p>He missed the next one. Then the others took their turn. Only +one of these succeeded in scoring. He was one of the Mexicans who +made such a brave show of color in raiment and saddle cloth.</p> + +<p>"That gives the señor and the boy three apiece. Each +has one turn left. The others will fall out. If neither scores in +his turn, both will be ruled out and the others will compete for +the prize," announced the scorer.</p> + +<p>The Mexican smiled a supercilious smile, as much as to say, +"The idea of a long-legged, freckle-faced boy defeating me!" The +Mexican was an expert at the game of tilting as it was practised +on the desert.</p> + +<p>The man took the first turn. He sat quietly on his pony a +moment before starting, placing the lance at just the proper +angle—then galloped at the mark. He, too, rose in his +stirrups. The spectators were silent.</p> + +<p>The ring just missed being impaled on the tilting peg, +slipping along the pole half way then bounding up into the +air.</p> + +<p>The spectators groaned. The Mexican had lost.</p> + +<p>Now it was Tad's turn.</p> + +<p>He rode as if it were an everyday occurrence with him to tilt, +only he went at it with a rash that fairly took their breath +away.</p> + +<p>Just as he was about to drive at the ring, some one uttered a +wild yell and a sombrero hurled from the crowd, struck Tad fairly +across the eyes.</p> + +<p>Of course he lost, and, for a moment, he could not see a +thing. He pulled his pony to a quick stop and sat rubbing and +blinking his smarting eyes.</p> + +<p>A howl of disapproval went up from the spectators. None seemed +to know whether the act had been inspired by enthusiasm or +malice. Tad was convinced that it was the latter. His face was +flushed, but the lad made no comment.</p> + +<p>"You are entitled to another tilt," called the scorer.</p> + +<p>To this the Mexican objected loudly.</p> + +<p>"Under the circumstances, as my opponent objects, and as we +all wish to prevent hard feelings, why not give him a chance as +well? If he wins I shall be satisfied."</p> + +<p>A shout of approval greeted Tad's suggestion. This was the +real sportsman-like spirit, and it appealed to them.</p> + +<p>The proposition was agreed to. But again the Mexican lost.</p> + +<p>"If the young man is interfered with this time, I shall award +the prize to him and end the tournament," warned the scorer.</p> + +<p>Though Tad's eyes were smarting from the blow of the sombrero, +he allowed the eyelids to droop well over them, thus protecting +them from the dust and at the same time giving him a clearer +vision.</p> + +<p>On his next turn, Tad tore down the narrow lane; he shot +between the posts like an arrow, and the tilting peg was driven +far into the narrow hoop, wedging the ring on so firmly that it +afterwards required force to loosen and remove it.</p> + +<p>Without halting his pony, Tad rode on, out a circle and came +back at a lively gallop, pulling up before the stand of dry goods +boxes, where the young woman who was to award the prize stood +swinging her handkerchief, while the spectators set up a +deafening roar of applause.</p> + +<p>Tad was holding the tilting peg aloft, displaying the ring +wedged on it. He made the young woman a sweeping bow, his +sombrero almost touching the ground as he did so.</p> + +<p>Another shout went up when the handsome spurs were handed to +him, which the enthusiastic young woman first wrapped in her own +handkerchief before passing the prize over to him. And amid the +din, Tad heard the familiar "Oh, Wow! Wow!" in the shrill voice +of Stacy Brown.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER XXI</h3> + +<h4>THE FAT BOY'S DISCOVERY</h4> + +<p>"I saw him! I saw him, Tad!"</p> + +<p>"Saw who, Chunky?"</p> + +<p>"I tell you, I did. Don't you s'pose I know what my eyes tell +me in confidence. Don't you to go to contradicting to me."</p> + +<p>Stacy had fairly overwhelmed Tad Butler with the importance of +his discovery; but, thus far, Tad had not the least idea what it +was all about.</p> + +<p>"When you get quieted down perhaps you'll be good enough to +tell me who it is you saw?"</p> + +<p>"The man, the man!"</p> + +<p>"Humph! That's about as clear as the water in an alkali sink. +What man?"</p> + +<p>"The one we saw on the train. Don't you know?"</p> + +<p>Tad thought a moment.</p> + +<p>"You mean the one we heard talking just before we got to +Bluewater?" Butler had entirely forgotten the incident.</p> + +<p>"Yes; that's him! That's him," exploded Stacy.</p> + +<p>"You say that fellow—Lasar, that's his name—is he +here!"</p> + +<p>"Uh-huh."</p> + +<p>"Where?"</p> + +<p>"He got off the stage down by the postoffice, just when I was +coming up here."</p> + +<p>"Was he alone?"</p> + +<p>"The other fellow wasn't with him, if that's what you +mean?"</p> + +<p>"Yes." Tad went over in his mind the conversation the man +Lasar had held with his companion, in which the pair were +plotting against some one by the name of Marquand.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, Chunky, it's none of our concern. I think we must +have magnified the incident. I—"</p> + +<p>"He'll bear watching, Tad. He will and it's muh— +muh—you understand who's going to do it," declared Chunky, +swelling out his chest and tapping it with his right fist.</p> + +<p>"All right, go ahead," laughed Tad. "It's time some of us get +into more trouble. The Professor will begin to think we've got a +fever, or something, if we let two days in succession pass +without stirring up something."</p> + +<p>"I've got an idea," exploded Stacy.</p> + +<p>"There you go. It's coming now."</p> + +<p>"I'll go tell the policeman."</p> + +<p>"Why, you ninny, there are no policemen here. Perhaps there is +a sheriff. Hello, here comes the gentleman who gave me the advice +that helped me to win those handsome spurs. He's introducing +himself to the Professor and Mr. Kringle. Let's go over."</p> + +<p>Forgetting for the moment the subject they were discussing, +Tad and Stacy strolled over to the camp-fire.</p> + +<p>"O Tad, this is Mr. Marquand, Mr. James Marquand from +Albuquerque. He wants to know you. And this is another one of our +Pony Rider Boys, Master Stacy Brown," said the Professor, +presenting his boys.</p> + +<p>"Marquand!" exclaimed both boys under their breaths.</p> + +<p>"I am glad to know you, Master Butler. That was a very fine +piece of work you did this afternoon. You've steady nerves."</p> + +<p>"If there's any credit due it is to you. Your suggestion +helped me to win the prize. Without it I should have failed," +answered Tad generously.</p> + +<p>"Which way are you headed?" asked Mr. Marquand.</p> + +<p>"Guadalupes," answered the guide. "The boys want to explore +some of the old pueblos."</p> + +<p>"And I also," spoke up Professor Zepplin. "I understand there +is much of interest in them."</p> + +<p>"I should say so," muttered their guest.</p> + +<p>"I'd like a few moments to speak with you in private, if you +can spare the time," said Tad in a low voice, at the first +opportunity.</p> + +<p>"At your service now, sir."</p> + +<p>"No; not here."</p> + +<p>"Then come to my room at the hotel. I'll fix it with the +others," said Mr. Marquand, observing at once that the lad had +some serious purpose in mind.</p> + +<p>"My friend Chunky will go with me, if agreeable to you?"</p> + +<p>"That's all right. Professor, if you have no objection I +should like to have these two young men go to my quarters with me +for a little while. I—"</p> + +<p>"Certainly. Don't stay out too late, boys."</p> + +<p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>"Wonder what they've got up their sleeves?" muttered Ned, +watching the receding figures of his two companions and Mr. +Marquand.</p> + +<p>"You may talk," smiled the latter after they were well +started.</p> + +<p>"I'd rather not until we are where we shall not be overheard," +answered Tad promptly.</p> + +<p>All three fell silent. The boys followed their host to his +room, apparently without having been observed. The little village +was too full of its own pleasures to notice.</p> + +<p>"Be seated, boys. I take for granted that neither of you +smoke?"</p> + +<p>"Oh no, sir."</p> + +<p>"Now, what can I do for you? I am sure you have something of +importance to yourselves on your minds."</p> + +<p>"Not to us specially. Perhaps to you, though," replied +Tad.</p> + +<p>"Indeed?"</p> + +<p>"We may be foolish. If so, you will understand that we have no +motive beyond a desire to serve you."</p> + +<p>"That goes without saying."</p> + +<p>"Do you know a man by the name of Lasar—Bob Lasar, Mr. +Marquand?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Marquand started, eyeing both lads questioningly.</p> + +<p>"Yes; he is associated with me in a business venture."</p> + +<p>"Told you so," interjected Stacy.</p> + +<p>"What of him?"</p> + +<p>Tad wished he was well out of it all. To be obliged to tell +all he knew of Bob Lasar, and to the latter's partner, was rather +a troublesome undertaking.</p> + +<p>Plucking up courage, Tad briefly related all that he and his +companion had overheard on the train as they were approaching +Bluewater to all of which their host listened with grave +attention and increasing interest.</p> + +<p>"The incident probably would not have come back to me again +but for certain things that happened to-day," Tad continued.</p> + +<p>"Would either of you know Lasar were you to see him again, do +you think?"</p> + +<p>"My friend Chunky Brown saw him here to-day."</p> + +<p>"Saw him get out of the stage in front of this very hotel," +nodded Stacy.</p> + +<p>"You are right. He is here. Mr. Lasar had stopped off at a +near-by town on a personal matter. Can you describe the man whom +you saw with him on the train?"</p> + +<p>"As I remember him, he was slightly taller than Mr. Lasar, +with red hair and a moustache of the same shade."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's Joe Comstock. No doubt about that," nodded Mr. +Marquand. "You didn't hear them say what their plan was, +then?"</p> + +<p>"Not definitely. Only that they intended to rid themselves of +you after having obtained possession of your plans for finding +the treasure, or at least learning where it is hidden."</p> + +<p>"Hm-m-m!"</p> + +<p>Mr. Marquand sat thoughtfully silent for several minutes, the +lines of his face growing tense and hard. The boys could see that +he was exerting, a strong effort to control himself.</p> + +<p>"You—you haven't told them your plans?" questioned Tad, +in a subdued voice.</p> + +<p>"No. I was going to do so to-night, if Comstock had arrived. +He may get in yet."</p> + +<p>"But you won't do so now—will you?"</p> + +<p>"No! I thank you, boys," exclaimed their host, extending an +impulsive hand to each at the same time.</p> + +<p>"Then—then our information <i>is</i> going to be of some +use to you?"</p> + +<p>"More than you can have any idea of. You have done me a +greater service than you know. I thank you—thank you from +the bottom of my heart! Perhaps, ere long I may be able to show +my appreciation in a more substantial manner."</p> + +<p>Marquand ceased speaking abruptly and began pacing back and +forth, hands thrust deep into his coat pockets. He was a man of +slight build, but strong and wiry. He was well past middle age, +erect and forceful. Looking at him, Tad found himself wondering +how such a man could have gotten into the clutches of two such +rascals as Bob Lasar and Joe Comstock. Tad hoped their host would +offer some explanation, while Chunky was nearly bursting with +curiosity. Mr. Marquand appeared to have forgotten their presence +entirely.</p> + +<p>"I think we had better be going now," suggested Tad, +rising.</p> + +<p>"Wait!" commanded their host. "Sit down! I have something to +say to you. Then, perhaps, I'll walk back to your camp and have a +talk with the Professor. What sort of man is your guide?"</p> + +<p>"He's a very fine man—"</p> + +<p>"That's my idea. What you heard on the train is borne out by +several little things that have come under my observation within +the last few days, but I did not think they would go as far as +you have indicated. I will tell you frankly, that I expect the +treasure which we hope to find to be a big one. How I happened to +take these men in with me, in the search for it, is unnecessary +to state. However, I am done with them, now, for good. They know +that I have not put my information on paper, or else they might +have made an end of me before this."</p> + +<p>"Is the treasure near this vicinity, Mr. Marquand?" asked +Tad.</p> + +<p>"About two days' journey. I expect to find it at or near the +ruins of an old Pueblo house. You know they built their homes one +on top of another. Some of their adobe houses are six and seven +stories high. Even if we locate the place, we may experience +great difficulty in finding that of which we are in search. How +would you boys like to join me? It will be an interesting +experience for you?"</p> + +<p>"Help—help you find the buried treasure?" questioned +Chunky, his face red with suppressed excitement.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Great!" chorused the lads.</p> + +<p>"I'll talk with Professor Zepplin. Come, we will go over to +the camp now."</p> + +<p>When Mr. Marquand and the Professor had finished their +conference, Tad and Chunky leaned forward eagerly to learn the +result.</p> + +<p>"Yes," nodded Mr. Marquand; "you're all going to help me find +the ancient Pueblo treasure."</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER XXII</h3> + +<h4>IN HAND-TO-HAND CONFLICT</h4> + +<p>"I'm done with you, Bob Lasar! And you, too, Comstock!" +thundered Mr. Marquand, as the rascals stood at the door of his +room some two hours later.</p> + +<p>Mr. Marquand had been waiting for them, and with him was Tad +Butler, whom he had urged to accompany him back to the hotel that +he might be a witness to what took place. Perhaps, too, Mr. +Marquand reasoned that his former associates might not take the +same attitude toward him in the presence of the boy that they +might otherwise take.</p> + +<p>The two men had halted in the doorway as Mr. Marquand hurled +his decision at them.</p> + +<p>Lasar shoved his companion into the room and closed the +door.</p> + +<p>"Sit down, both of you! So you thought to hoodwink me—to +get the secret of the treasure and then put me out of the way, +eh? That was your game, was it? Well, it's all off now. I'll have +nothing further to do with you."</p> + +<p>"Why—why, Mr. Marquand, it's all a mistake!" began one +of the pair.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you'll deny having plotted against me on a train on +your way to Bluewater."</p> + +<p>"I deny ever having tried to put up a game on—"</p> + +<p>"Master Tad, did you ever see these men before?"</p> + +<p>They turned on the lad quickly. Neither man had previously +observed him.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Where?"</p> + +<p>"On the train, as you mentioned just now."</p> + +<p>"And they were plotting my life?"</p> + +<p>"So it seemed to me, sir."</p> + +<p>"What have you to say to that?" demanded Mr. Marquand.</p> + +<p>"That the boy lies!"</p> + +<p>Tad's face flushed angrily.</p> + +<p>"That'll do," said Marquand, more quietly.</p> + +<p>"Then you believe him—you do not believe me?"</p> + +<p>"I believe him. I know he has told me the truth. Now, it isn't +necessary to explain to you. You deserve no explanation and +you'll get none further than what you already have."</p> + +<p>"But—"</p> + +<p>"No 'buts' about it. I said I was done with you. Now, I want +you to get out of my sight! You're a couple of rogues—so +crooked that you can't walk straight."</p> + +<p>Bob Lasar's face had grown livid with rage. His anger was +rapidly getting beyond all bounds. Tad observed it and saw the +storm coming. It arrived a moment later when Lasar whipped out a +revolver.</p> + +<p>Before Mr. Marquand could make a move to draw his own weapon +Bob had aimed his weapon and pulled the trigger.</p> + +<p>Tad, instantly divining the purpose of the man when he saw his +hand fly to the pistol holster under his coat, sprang +forward.</p> + +<p>There was a deafening report. A bullet buried itself in the +ceiling of the room.</p> + +<p>Tad had struck up the desperado's arm just in the nick of +time, thus preventing a terrible crime. But the end was not yet. +There were five more bullets in the cylinder of the weapon, as +the lad knew full well.</p> + +<p>He grabbed Lasar's arm, hanging on desperately, at the same +time trying to get a wrestling hold.</p> + +<p>The weapon went off again, this time sending a bullet into the +floor.</p> + +<p>"Look out for the other fellow!" shouted Tad.</p> + +<p>Mr. Marquand already had done so. Comstock had just made an +attempt to draw his own weapon when Marquand threw himself upon +the man. The two went crashing to the floor, while Tad and Lasar +were battling all over the room, the latter's weapon barking +viciously every little while.</p> + +<p>Lasar was much more powerful than his slender antagonist, but +Tad being very quick on his feet managed to keep out of the way +of the revolver and at the same time to avoid being thrown.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, the boy gave the gun-hand of his opponent a quick +twist.</p> + +<p>Lasar uttered a sharp exclamation of pain. The revolver +clattered to the floor.</p> + +<p>Quick as a flash, Tad threw a leg behind the knee of his +antagonist, gave it a quick jerk, with the result that Lasar went +to the floor with great violence.</p> + +<p>By this time, occupants of the hotel were running down the +hall, while others were hammering at the door. Lasar had turned +the key upon entering the room.</p> + +<p>Those within did not have time to listen to the demands of +those in the hall, who were demanding admission.</p> + +<p>Mr. Marquand, as soon as he got his opponent down, quickly +disarmed him.</p> + +<p>"Get up!" he commanded. "I don't want to kill you. I ought to +do so, but I won't."</p> + +<p>He sprang from Comstock, and jerking Tad from Lasar, whom the +lad was making heroic efforts to hold down, pulled the fallen +rascal to his feet.</p> + +<p>"Get out, both of you!" he commanded, covering both his +visitors with his weapon.</p> + +<p>Lasar, in struggling to his feet, reached for his +revolver.</p> + +<p>"Drop it or I'll fill you full of lead!"</p> + +<p>At that instant, the door burst open and half a dozen men +sprang into the room.</p> + +<p>Lasar, seeing that he was caught, leaped through the open +window. He was followed closely by Comstock. He, too, made a +clean leap, landing on the soft ground below.</p> + +<p>"What's the meaning of this shooting?" shouted the proprietor, +his face flushed with anger.</p> + +<p>"Two men tried to murder me," replied Marquand coolly.</p> + +<p>"It looks as though you were doing your share of it," snapped +the proprietor, noting his guest's belligerent attitude and drawn +weapon.</p> + +<p>Just then three shots in quick succession were fired from the +outside. Two of the bullets narrowly missed some of the men, who +had forced their way into the room.</p> + +<p>As the third shot was fired, Tad threw one hand to his head; +then drew it away grinning.</p> + +<p>"Those rascals have evidently gotten a new supply of fire +arms," he said.</p> + +<p>A bullet had gone through his hair and his scalp burned where +the lead had brushed it.</p> + +<p>All of the newcomers drew their revolvers and sprang to the +window.</p> + +<p>"Don't shoot!" cried the Pony Rider Boy; "You'll hit the wrong +one. There are a hundred people down there."</p> + +<p>"He's right!" shouted Mr. Marquand, pushing his way between +the men and the window, at the imminent risk of getting a bullet +in his back from either Lasar or Comstock. "Let 'em go. They'll +be running for home about this time. They are a couple of +scoundrels, sir."</p> + +<p>"But the damage. Look at my fine room."</p> + +<p>"I'll pay for the damage, and I'll quit your hotel now. I've +had enough of the place," retorted Mr. Marquand, pulling a roll +of bills from his pocket. "How much is it?"</p> + +<p>"Well, you see—"</p> + +<p>"How much is it?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess twenty-five would be about right. You +see—"</p> + +<p>"Here's your twenty-five. Clear out!"</p> + +<p>With many apologies the proprietor, accompanied by the others, +backed from the room.</p> + +<p>"We came pretty near having a fight, didn't we?" Marquand +smiled, looking at Tad for the first time since the disturbance +began.</p> + +<p>"Almost."</p> + +<p>"He would have got me if you hadn't knocked up his gun-hand. +That's another one I owe you. Well, maybe we'll have a pay day +soon."</p> + +<p>"You had better go back to camp with me, and bunk in with us +to-night," suggested the lad, "We shall want to make an early +start in the morning, anyway. I think it will be safer there, +too. That pair won't dare come fooling around our camp, knowing +they can't trifle with us," added the lad, with a note of pride +in his tone.</p> + +<p>"I'll do it. Not that I'm afraid of anything that walks on two +legs, but the sooner we hitch up the better it'll be. Got room +enough?"</p> + +<p>"Plenty. Where's your pony?"</p> + +<p>"Up near your camp. Come on."</p> + +<p>The man and the boy walked from the hotel, the former looking +neither to the right nor to the left, Tad observing their +surroundings half</p> + +<p>suspiciously. He was sure they had not yet heard the last of +Bob Lasar and Joe Comstock. In this he was right.</p> + +<p>Marquand and the boy had gone no more than ten rods from the +hotel, when the report of a revolver was heard, and a bullet +fired from the corner of an adobe building passed within an inch +of Mr. Marquand's head.</p> + +<p>With wonderful quickness the latter drew and sent three shots +at the flash.</p> + +<p>Whether he had hit any thing or not he did not know.</p> + +<p>"Run! I don't want you to get hit," cried the boy's new +friend, grasping Tad by the hand and starting off at a brisk +pace.</p> + +<p>"Bullets don't scare me, so long as they don't hit me," +laughed young Butler.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER XXIII</h3> + +<h4>MOONBEAM POINTS THE WAY</h4> + +<p>The moon will be here in a moment."</p> + +<p>"What was it the old Pueblo chief said, Mr. Marquand?"</p> + +<p>"'When the full of the moon has come and shoots its first +arrow over the crests of the Guadalupes, it points the way to the +treasure of my ancient people,'" quoted Mr. Marquand.</p> + +<p>"I presume that would be taken to mean that, at a certain +phase of the moon, one of its beams points to where the treasure +is hidden," explained Professor Zepplin. "But what leads you to +believe this is the Pueblo village of your particular chief's +ancestors?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; I don't see why it might not be any of the ruined adobe +houses in this valley?" said Ned Rector.</p> + +<p>They had journeyed rapidly over mountain and plain to the +valley of the Guadalupes, where Mr. Marquand had informed them +that he expected to find the treasure. In the three days consumed +on the journey, the travelers had seen nothing of either Lasar or +Comstock. Evidently the pair had decided to leave the country +while they still had the chance, fearing that perhaps Mr. +Marquand might invoke the aid of the law to rid himself of them +if they remained.</p> + +<p>The Pony Rider Boys and their outfit had arrived that +afternoon, and during the remaining hours of daylight they had +been excitedly exploring the ancient dwellings, most of which +were in a dilapidated condition. There was one, however, two +stories in height, that was in an excellent state of +preservation. In fact it appeared as if it had only recently been +vacated. After an examination of all the ruins Mr. Marquand had +discovered what led him to believe that this was the structure +which the old Pueblo chief referred to in his description of the +resting place of the treasure. The chief had said he had never +been near the spot. He was the only member of his tribe to whom +the secret had been handed down, and he in turn had transmitted +it to the white man who now stood within the shadow of the +ancient dwelling place.</p> + +<p>"I have my reasons for believing this is the place," answered +Mr. Marquand, in response to the Professor's question. "If I am +wrong, we shall have to wait until the moon rises to-morrow +night. Come inside now, and we will close the door."</p> + +<p>All hands crowded into the cool chamber, closing the heavy +wooden door that barred the entrance.</p> + +<p>"Don't see how moonlight can get through solid walls," +muttered Stacy. "Ought to leave the door open."</p> + +<p>No one answered him. In the darkened chamber, with its +peculiar, musty odors, the boys did not feel in the mood for +hilarity or even for speech. There was something about their +situation that seemed to impress them profoundly.</p> + +<p>"Stand over against the wall on the side, so as not to +obstruct any light that might possibly get in here," directed Mr. +Marquand.</p> + +<p>The others moved silently to the side of the room indicated by +him. They had stood thus for fully five minutes when an +exclamation from Stacy broke the stillness harshly.</p> + +<p>"Look! Look!" cried the fat boy.</p> + +<p>A slender shaft of light had suddenly pierced the blackness, +coming they knew not whence. It was there.</p> + +<p>"Must be a pin hole through the wall up near the ceiling," +suggested Kris Kringle.</p> + +<p>The silver thread shot across the chamber, ending abruptly on +the adobe floor some three feet from the back wall.</p> + +<p>"That's the spot!" shouted Mr. Marquand triumphantly.</p> + +<p>He threw himself on the floor, and with his knife scratched a +cross on the spot where the moonbeam rested. Scarcely had he done +so when the delicate shaft of light disappeared as suddenly as it +had come.</p> + +<p>"It's gone," breathed the boys.</p> + +<p>"But it has pointed the way."</p> + +<p>"And we have followed the silver trail to its end," added Ned +Rector poetically.</p> + +<p>"Bring the tools!" cried Mr. Marquand.</p> + +<p>While they were doing so, he struck a match and lighted the +lantern that they had brought with them from their camp in the +foothills. His first care was to bar the door with the heavy +wooden timber that he had cut and which he now slipped into its +fastenings.</p> + +<p>A close examination of the floor revealed no marks save those +put there by the treasure-hunter's knife.</p> + +<p>"This house seems to be built on the solid ground. I do not +think you will find anything under it," protested the +Professor.</p> + +<p>"There are houses under every one of these buildings," +answered Mr. Marquand. He held a short, keen edged bar in place, +while Kris Kringle swung the maul. Gradually they cut a ring +about two feet in diameter about the cross. The material of which +the floor had been made had been tempered with the years and was +almost as hard as flint.</p> + +<p>The steady thud of the heavy maul, accompanied by the click, +click of the cutting bar, the dim light, the silent, expectant +faces, formed a weird picture in this silent desert place.</p> + +<p>After a full half hour of this the two men paused, and stood +back, drawing sleeves across their foreheads to wipe away the +perspiration.</p> + +<p>Stacy Brown walked pompously over to the circle.</p> + +<p>"Maybe I can fall through it. If I can't, nobody can," he +said, jumping up and down on the spot where they had been +cutting.</p> + +<p>There followed a rambling sound, and with a yell, Stacy Brown +suddenly disappeared from sight. In place of the circle in which +he had been standing was a black, ragged hole, from which +particles of the mortar were still crumbling and rattling to the +bottom of the pit.</p> + +<p>"Are you there?" cried Kris Kringle, leaping to the spot, +thrusting the lantern down through the opening. "Master +Stacy!"</p> + +<p>"Wow!" responded the boy from the depths.</p> + +<p>"Did it hurt you?"</p> + +<p>"How far did you fall?"</p> + +<p>This and other questions were hurled at the fat boy, as his +companions crowded about the opening.</p> + +<p>"I'm killed. That'll answer all your questions," replied +Stacy. "Hurry up! Get my remains out of this place."</p> + +<p>The rays of the lantern disclosed a short stairway, built of +the same material of which the house itself had been +constructed.</p> + +<p>Mr. Marquand forced himself past the guide and was down the +steps in a twinkling. He was followed by the wondering Pony Rider +Boys, Professor Zepplin and Kris Kringle in short order, for all +crowded down through the narrow opening.</p> + +<p>Chunky had hit the top step and rolled all the way down. He +had scrambled to his feet and was rubbing his shins by the time +his friends reached him. His clothes were torn and he was covered +with dust.</p> + +<p>"Fell down the cellar, didn't I?" he grinned.</p> + +<p>But no one gave any heed to him now. Mr. Marquand had snatched +at the lantern and was running from point to point of the chamber +in which they found themselves. He was laboring under great +excitement.</p> + +<p>"Here's another opening," he shouted. "We haven't got to the +bottom yet."</p> + +<p>Another flight of stairs led to still another and smaller +chamber below. Mr. Marquand let out a yell the moment he reached +the bottom. The others rushed pell-mell after him.</p> + +<p>There, with it's top just showing above the dirt was a long +iron chest.</p> + +<p>"Give me the maul!" shouted the excited treasure seeker.</p> + +<p>He attacked the rusty iron fastenings; at last the cover +yielded to his thunderous blows and falling on its edge, toppled +over to the floor with a crash.</p> + +<p>"Somebody's old clothes," chuckled Stacy, peering into the +open chest.</p> + +<p>The garments, priestly robes that lay at the top, fell to +pieces the instant Mr. Marquand laid violent hands on them.</p> + +<p>"Look! Look! Was I right or was I wrong?" he cried, beside +himself with joy.</p> + +<p>There, before their astonished eyes, lay a chest of gold— +coins dulled by age, small nuggets and chunks of silver, all +heaped indiscriminately in the treasure chest.</p> + +<p>"I did it!" shouted Chunky. "I did it with my little feet! I +fell in and discovered the treasure!"</p> + +<p>The tongues of the Pony Rider Boys were suddenly loosened. +Such a shout as they set up probably never had been heard before +in the ancient adobe mansion of the Pueblos. Cheer after cheer +echoed through the chambers and reached the ears of a dozen +desperadoes who were skulking amid the sage brush without.</p> + +<p>Professor Zepplin scooped up a handful of the coins and +examined them under the lantern.</p> + +<p>"Old Spanish coins," he informed them. "Pure gold. And look at +these nuggets! Where do you suppose the Indians found them?"</p> + +<p>"There are hidden mines in the State," informed Mr. Marquand. +"Some of these days they will be discovered. I have been hunting +for them myself, but without success. Boys, what do you think of +it now? If it had not been for you I might never have seen this +sight."</p> + +<p>Their eyes were fairly bulging as they gazed at the heap of +gold. Chunky squatted down scooping up a double handful and +letting the coins run through his fingers. Then the other boys +dipped in, laughing for pure joy, more because their adventure +had borne fruit than for the love of the gold itself.</p> + +<p>"Must be more'n a bushel of it," announced Stacy.</p> + +<p>"Those old Franciscans must have been saving up for a rainy +day. And it never rained here at all," suggested Ned +humorously.</p> + +<p>"Shall we count it?" asked Mr. Marquand.</p> + +<p>"Just as you wish," replied the Professor.</p> + +<p>"Were I in your place, Mr. Marquand, I should get the stuff +out of here as soon as possible. You can't tell what may happen. +I would suggest that we secure the treasure and be on our way at +once. You will want to get it to a bank as quickly as possible. +This is one of the things that cannot be kept quiet."</p> + +<p>"You are right. Will somebody go over to the camp and get +those gunny sacks of mine? I don't want to lose sight of my find +for a minute. You know how I feel about it—not that I do +not trust you. You know—"</p> + +<p>"Surely we understand," smiled Tad.</p> + +<p>"And you all have an interest in it—you shall share the +treasure with me—"</p> + +<p>"No, we don't," shouted the boys. "We've had more than a +million dollars worth of fun out of it already."</p> + +<p>"Certainly not," added the Professor.</p> + +<p>"We'll discuss that later," said Mr. Marquand firmly. "Just +now we must take care of what we have found. Who will get the +bags?"</p> + +<p>"We will," answered the boys promptly.</p> + +<p>"No; you stay here. I'll get them," answered Kris Kringle. +"Light me up the stairs so I don't break my neck in this old +rookery.</p> + +<p>One of the boys lighted the way to the next floor, then +stepped back into the cellar, where Mr. Marquand was turning over +the treasure in an effort to find out if the pile extended all +the way to the bottom of the chest.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Kris Kringle unbarred the door and threw it +part way open. He did it cautiously, as if half expecting +trouble.</p> + +<p>He threw the door to with a bang, springing to one side, and +dropping the bar back into place.</p> + +<p>The reason for his sudden change of plans was that no sooner +had the door opened than several thirty-eight calibre bullets +were fired from the sage brush outside.</p> + +<p>Kris Kringle waited to learn whether those in the cellar had +heard the shots. But they had not. They were some distance below +ground, and their minds were wholly taken up with the great +treasure before them.</p> + +<p>After a few moments the guide once more removed the bar, first +having drawn his revolver in case of sudden surprise. Then he +cautiously opened the door an inch or so.</p> + +<p>At first nothing happened. The moonlit landscape lay as silent +and peaceful as if there were not a human being on the +desert.</p> + +<p>There were six distinct flashes all at once and a rain of lead +showered into the door.</p> + +<p>Kris Kringle took a pot shot at one of the flashes, then +slammed the door shut and barred it.</p> + +<p>"Well; I hope that would get you," he muttered.</p> + +<p>Hastily retracing his steps he called the party up to the +second cellar.</p> + +<p>"Did you fetch the sacks?" called Mr. Marquand.</p> + +<p>"No, but I've fetched trouble. It's coming in sackfuls."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"We're besieged."</p> + +<p>"Besieged?" wondered the Professor.</p> + +<p>"Yes; there's a crowd outside, and they've been trying to +shoot me up. Must be some of your friends, Mr. Marquand."</p> + +<p>"Lasar and Comstock? The scoundrels!" growled Mr. Marquand. +"But we'll make short work of them."</p> + +<p>"Not so easy as you think There are more than two out +there—there's a crowd and they've got rifles. Our rifles +are over in the camp. I've got a six-shooter and so have you, but +what do they amount to against half a dozen rifles?"</p> + +<p>"I'll talk to them, if I can get any place to make them hear," +announced Mr. Marquand, starting up the stairs.</p> + +<p>"I reckon there's a window on the second floor, but you'd +better be careful that you don't get winged," warned the +guide.</p> + +<p>Mr. Marquand went right on, and the others followed. As the +guide had said there was a small window on the floor above the +ground, apparently the only one in the house.</p> + +<p>Mr. Marquand hailed the besiegers.</p> + +<p>"Who are you and what do you mean by shooting us up in this +fashion?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"You ought to know who we are, Jim Marquand, and you know what +we want!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know you all right, Lasar, and I'll make you smart for +this."</p> + +<p>"The place is as much mine as it is yours," answered Lasar. +"And I propose to take it! If you'll make an even divvy of what +you have found, or expect to find, we'll go away and let you +alone. If you don't we'll take the whole outfit."</p> + +<p>"Take it, take it!" jeered Marquand. "You couldn't take it in +a hundred years—not unless you used artillery."</p> + +<p>"Then we'll starve you out," replied the man in the sage +brush.</p> + +<p>"Look out!" warned the guide.</p> + +<p>Mr. Marquand sprang to one side just as a volley crashed +through the opening, the bullets rattling to the floor after +bounding back from the flint-like walls.</p> + +<p>"I guess they've got you, Mr. Marquand. We can't hold out +forever. If we had rifles we could pick them off by daylight. But +when morning comes they'll draw back out of revolver range and +plunk the first man who shows himself outside. Have you any title +to this property?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. I have bought up a hundred acres about here. The deeds +are in my pocket. I guess nobody has a better title.".</p> + +<p>"His title is all right," spoke up Professor Zepplin. "I made +sure of that before I decided to come with Mr. Marquand."</p> + +<p>"Then there's only one thing to be done."</p> + +<p>"What's that?"</p> + +<p>"Get a sheriff's posse and bag the whole bunch."</p> + +<p>Mr. Marquand laughed harshly.</p> + +<p>"If we were in a position to get a posse we should be able to +get away without one. I think we had better go below. This is not +a very safe place with this open window."</p> + +<p>"I'll remain here."</p> + +<p>"What for, Kringle?"</p> + +<p>"Somebody's got to watch the front door to see that they don't +play any tricks on us. It's clouding up, and if the night gets +dark they'll try to get in."</p> + +<p>"How far is it to a place where we could get a sheriff?" asked +Tad, who had been thinking deeply.</p> + +<p>"Hondo. Fifteen miles due east of here as the moon rises. +Why?"</p> + +<p>"If I were sure I could find my way, I think I might get some +help," answered the lad quietly.</p> + +<p>"You!" snapped Mr. Marquand, turning on him.</p> + +<p>"If I had a rope. Perhaps I can do it without one."</p> + +<p>"I'd like to know how?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Marquand was inclined to treat the proposition lightly, +believing that such a move as proposed by Tad Butler was an +impossibility. Kris Kringle, however, was regarding the boy +inquiringly. He knew that Tad had some plan in mind and that it +was likely to be a good one.</p> + +<p>"The rascals are all out in front of the house, aren't +they?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Master Tad. There's no reason why they should be behind +the house. They know we can't get out that way; because there is +no opening on that side."</p> + +<p>Tad nodded.</p> + +<p>"Then I can do it."</p> + +<p>"Tad, what foolish idea have you in mind now? I cannot consent +to your taking any more chances</p> + +<p>"Professor, we are taking long enough chances as it is. Unless +we are relieved soon, we shall be starved out and perhaps +worse."</p> + +<p>"What's your plan?" interrupted Kris Kringle.</p> + +<p>"See that hole in the roof up there?" Tad pointed.</p> + +<p>They had not seen it before, but they did now. A light +suddenly dawned upon Kris Kringle.</p> + +<p>"Boy, you are the only level-headed one in the outfit. You +would have made a corking Indian fighter."</p> + +<p>"I'm the Indian fighter," chimed in Stacy.</p> + +<p>"You can boost me up to the hole and I'll go over the rear of +the house, get to the camp and from there ride to Hondo."</p> + +<p>Tad's three companions started a cheer, which the guide +sternly put down.</p> + +<p>"I can't consent to any such plan," decided the Professor +sternly.</p> + +<p>The rest reasoned with him until, finally, he did consent, +though he knew the lad would be taking desperate chances. Tad +understood that as well as the rest of them, but he was burning +to be off.</p> + +<p>Kris Kringle gave him careful directions as to how to get to +the place.</p> + +<p>"Take your rifle with you, if you can get it. After you get +half a mile or a mile away shoot once. That will tell us you are +all right."</p> + +<p>"You can help me in getting away from here, if you will do +some shooting to cover my escape," suggested Tad.</p> + +<p>"That's a good idea," agreed the guide. "You wait on the roof +until we begin to rake the sage with our revolvers. Then drop. +Take a wide circuit, so that you won't stumble over the +enemy."</p> + +<p>Tad gave his belt a hitch, stuffed his sombrero under it and +announced himself as ready.</p> + +<p>The guide stepped under the hole. Tad quickly climbed to his +shoulder and stood up like a circus performer. He could easily +reach the roof with his hands. A second more and his feet were +lifted from the shoulders of the guide. They saw the figure in +the opening; then it disappeared.</p> + +<p>A slight scraping noise was the only sound they heard.</p> + +<p>Tad flattened himself out and wriggled along toward the rear +of the roof. Peering over the edge he made sure that there was no +one about. He then lay quietly waiting for the shooting to +begin.</p> + +<p>"Let 'em have it," directed Kris Kringle.</p> + +<p>A sudden fusillade was emptied into the sage brush.</p> + +<p>Tad swung himself over the edge of the roof, hung on for a few +seconds, then dropped lightly to the ground.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER XXlV</h3> + +<h4>CONCLUSION</h4> + +<p>The enemy answered the shots with a volley, and for a few +moments a lot of ammunition was wasted while the odor of +gunpowder assailed nostrils on both sides.</p> + +<p>After that, the shooting died away. As the minutes lengthened +into an hour, and no word of Tad's mission had been received, the +defenders began to grow restless. They were under a double +tension now. Mr. Marquand was pacing up and down the floor.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, forgetful of the danger that lurked out there, he +poked his head out of the window.</p> + +<p>A sharp <i>pat</i> on the stone window frame beside him, after +the bullet had snipped off the tip of his left ear, caused Mr. +Marquand to draw back suddenly. He stalked about the floor, +holding a handkerchief to the wounded ear, "talking in dashes and +asterisks," as Chunky put it.</p> + +<p>Kris Kringle's face wore a grim smile. He was taking chances +of being shot, every second now, but he insisted in holding his +place at the side of the window so he could listen and watch.</p> + +<p>A thin, fleecy veil covered the moon, but it was not dense +enough to fully hide objects on the landscape.</p> + +<p>"All keep quiet, now," warned Kris Kringle. "We should get a +signal pretty soon."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid something has happened to the boy," muttered the +Professor. Then all fell silent.</p> + +<p>"There it goes!" exclaimed the guide in a tone of great +relief.</p> + +<p>The crack of a rifle afar off sounded clear and distinct.</p> + +<p>"He's made it. Thank heaven!" breathed Mr. Marquand +fervently.</p> + +<p>Chunky leaped to the opening, swung his sombrero as he leaned +out, and uttered a long, shrill "y-e-o-w!"</p> + +<p>A bullet chipped the adobe at his side. Stacy ducked, throwing +himself on the floor, sucking a thumb energetically.</p> + +<p>"Wing you?" inquired Kris Kringle.</p> + +<p>"Somebody burned my thumb," wailed the fat boy.</p> + +<p>"It was a bullet that burned you. Served you right too. +Somebody tie that boy up or he'll be killed," counseled the +guide.</p> + +<p>The besiegers could not have failed to hear the shot from +Tad's rifle, but it did not seem to disturb them. They evidently +did not even dream that one of the party had escaped their +vigilance and that he was well on his way for assistance.</p> + +<p>The wait from that time on was a tedious and trying one, +though each felt a certain sense of elation that Tad Butler had +succeeded in outwitting the enemy.</p> + +<p>It was shortly after two o'clock in the morning when Kris +Kringle espied a party of horsemen slowly encircling the adobe +house. The riders were strung out far off on the plain. Those +hiding in the sage in front of the house could not see the +approaching horsemen.</p> + +<p>"There they come," whispered Kris Kringle. "Begin +shooting!"</p> + +<p>The two men started firing, while the besiegers poured volley +after volley through the window.</p> + +<p>The posse at this, closed in at a gallop. Their rifles now +began to crash.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes it was all over. The sheriff's men surrounded +the besiegers, placing every man of them under arrest. After this +the officers quickly liberated the Pony Rider Boys. Three of the +besiegers had been wounded. Among them, was the Mexican whom Tad +had defeated in the tilting game a few days before.</p> + +<p>When all was over, the boys hoisted Tad Butler on their +shoulders and marched around the adobe house shouting and +singing. Mr. Marquand decided to go back with the posse, using +these men as a guard for his treasure. It was understood that the +Pony Rider Boys were to follow the next morning. Before leaving, +Mr. Marquand called the Professor aside.</p> + +<p>"There is, on a rough estimate, all of sixty thousand dollars +in the treasure chest. Had it not been for you and your brave +boys I should have lost it. So, when you reach Hondo to-morrow, I +shall take great pleasure in presenting to each of you a draft +for two thousand dollars."</p> + +<p>Professor Zepplin protested, but Mr. Marquand insisted, and he +kept his word. After the posse, with their prisoners and the +treasure, had started, the Pony Rider Boys, arm in arm, started +off across the moonlit meadows toward their camp. It was their +last night in camp. Their summer's journeyings had come to an +end—a fitting close to their adventurous travels. Not a +word did they speak until they reached the camp. There, they +turned and gazed off over the plain which was all silvered under +the now clear light of the moon.</p> + +<p>"It has been a silver trail," mused Tad Butler.</p> + +<p>"It has indeed," breathed his companions</p> + +<p>"And we've reached the end of The Silver Trail," added the +Professor, coming up at that moment. "To-morrow I'll breathe the +first free breath that I've drawn in three months."</p> + +<p>The boys circled slowly around him and joined hands. Then +their voices rose on the mellow desert air to the tune of</p> + +<p align="Center" class="center">"Home, Sweet Home."</p> + +<p>A week later saw the wanderers back in Chillicothe. Their +welcome was a warm one. Banker Perkins found his once ailing son +now transformed into a sturdy young giant.</p> + +<p>We shall meet them again in the next volume of this +series—in a tale of surpassing wonders—published +under the title: "THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE GRAND CANYON; Or, +the Mystery of Bright Angel Gulch." It will be found to be by far +the most interesting volume so far published about the splendid +Pony Rider Boys.</p> + +<h4>The End.</h4> + +<pre> +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN NEW MEXICO *** + +This file should be named prbnm10.txt or prbnm10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, prbnm11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, prbnm10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we usually do not +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections, +even years after the official publication date. + +Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg eBooks is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. + +Most people start at our Web sites at: +<a href="http://gutenberg.net">http://gutenberg.net</a> or +<a href="http://promo.net/pg">http://promo.net/pg</a> + +These Web sites include award-winning information about Project +Gutenberg, including how to donate, how to help produce our new +eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter (free!). + + +Those of you who want to download any eBook before announcement +can get to them as follows, and just download by date. This is +also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the +indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an +announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter. + +<a href= +"http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext04">http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext04</a> or +<a href= +"ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext03">ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext03</a> + +Or /etext03, 02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90 + +Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want, +as it appears in our Newsletters. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any eBook selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. Our +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If the value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour in 2002 as we release over 100 new text +files per month: 1240 more eBooks in 2001 for a total of 4000+ +We are already on our way to trying for 2000 more eBooks in 2002 +If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total +will reach over half a trillion eBooks given away by year's end. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away 1 Trillion eBooks! +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users. + +Here is the briefest record of our progress (* means estimated): + +eBooks Year Month + + 1 1971 July + 10 1991 January + 100 1994 January + 1000 1997 August + 1500 1998 October + 2000 1999 December + 2500 2000 December + 3000 2001 November + 4000 2001 October/November + 6000 2002 December* + 9000 2003 November* +10000 2004 January* + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created +to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +As of February, 2002, contributions are being solicited from people +and organizations in: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, +Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, +Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, +Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New +Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, +Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South +Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West +Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. + +We have filed in all 50 states now, but these are the only ones +that have responded. + +As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list +will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states. +Please feel free to ask to check the status of your state. + +In answer to various questions we have received on this: + +We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork to legally +request donations in all 50 states. If your state is not listed and +you would like to know if we have added it since the list you have, +just ask. + +While we cannot solicit donations from people in states where we are +not yet registered, we know of no prohibition against accepting +donations from donors in these states who approach us with an offer to +donate. + +International donations are accepted, but we don't know ANYTHING about +how to make them tax-deductible, or even if they CAN be made +deductible, and don't have the staff to handle it even if there are +ways. + +Donations by check or money order may be sent to: + +Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +PMB 113 +1739 University Ave. +Oxford, MS 38655-4109 + +Contact us if you want to arrange for a wire transfer or payment +method other than by check or money order. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been approved by +the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN +[Employee Identification Number] 64-622154. Donations are +tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law. As fund-raising +requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be +made and fund-raising will begin in the additional states. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +You can get up to date donation information online at: + +<a href= +"http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html">http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html</a> + + +*** + +If you can't reach Project Gutenberg, +you can always email directly to: + +Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com> + +Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message. + +We would prefer to send you information by email. + + +**The Legal Small Print** + + +(Three Pages) + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this eBook, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you may distribute copies of this eBook if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS EBOOK +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +eBook, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this eBook by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this eBook on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM EBOOKS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBooks, +is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart +through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project"). +Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this eBook +under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market +any commercial products without permission. + +To create these eBooks, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's eBooks and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other eBook medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may +receive this eBook from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook) disclaims +all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this eBook within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS EBOOK IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE EBOOK OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation, +and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated +with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including +legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the +following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this eBook, +[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the eBook, +or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this eBook electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + eBook or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this eBook in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word + processing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The eBook, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The eBook may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the eBook (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + eBook in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the eBook refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the + gross profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" + the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were + legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent + periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to + let us know your plans and to work out the details. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of +public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form. + +The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time, +public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses. +Money should be paid to the: +"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or +software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at: +<a href="mailto:hart@pobox.com">hart@pobox.com</a> + +[Portions of this eBook's header and trailer may be reprinted only +when distributed free of all fees. Copyright (C) 2001, 2002 by +Michael S. Hart. Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be +used in any sales of Project Gutenberg eBooks or other materials be +they hardware or software or any other related product without +express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* + + +</pre> +</body> +</html> + + |