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+Project Gutenberg's The Pony Rider Boys in the Ozarks, by Frank Gee Patchin
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Pony Rider Boys in the Ozarks
+
+Author: Frank Gee Patchin
+
+Posting Date: May 27, 2013 [EBook #6069]
+Release Date: July, 2004
+First Posted: November 1, 2002
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE OZARKS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Kent Fielden and Sean Pobuda
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+The Pony Rider Boys in the Ozarks
+
+By Frank Gee Patchin
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR
+
+
+"Boys!  B-o-y-s!"
+
+There was no response to the imperative summons.
+
+Professor Zepplin sat up in his cot, listening intently.  Something
+had awakened him suddenly, but just what he was unable to decide.
+
+"Be quiet over there, young men," he admonished, adding in a lower
+tone, "I'm sure I heard some one moving about."
+
+The camp of the Pony Rider Boys lay wrapped in darkness, the camp-fire
+having long since died out.  Not a sound disturbed the stillness of
+the night save the soft murmurings of the foliage, stirred in a gentle
+breeze that was drifting in from the southwest.
+
+The Professor climbed from his cot, and, without waiting to draw on
+his clothes, stepped outside.  He stood listening in front of his tent
+for several minutes, but heard nothing of a disturbing nature.
+
+"I believe those young rascals are up to some of their pranks--either
+that, or I have been having bad dreams.  While I'm up I might as well
+make sure," he decided, tip-toeing to the tent occupied by Tad Butler
+and Walter Perkins.
+
+Both were apparently sleeping soundly, while in an adjoining tent Ned
+Rector and Stacy Brown were breathing regularly, sleeping the sleep
+that naturally comes after a day in the saddle over the rugged, uneven
+slopes of the Ozark Mountains.
+
+Professor Zepplin uttered something that sounded not unlike an
+Indian's grunt of disgust.
+
+"Dreams!" he decided sharply.  "I should not have eaten that pie last
+night.  Pie doesn't seem to trouble those boys in the least, but it
+certainly has a bad effect on my digestive apparatus."
+
+Having thus delivered himself of his opinion on the value of pie as a
+bedtime food, the scientist trotted back to his tent, his teeth
+chattering and shoulders shrugging, for the mountain air was chill and
+the Professor was clad only in his pajamas.
+
+No sooner had he settled himself between his comforting blankets,
+however, than he suddenly started up again with a muttered
+exclamation.
+
+"I knew it!  I told you so!"
+
+This time there could be no doubt.  He plainly heard a dry twig snap
+near by; whether it were under the weight of man or beast, he did not
+know.
+
+"There is something out there.  It couldn't have been the pie after
+all.  I'm going to find out what it is before I get back into this bed
+again," he decided firmly, slipping quietly from under the covers and
+peering out through the half closed flap of his tent.
+
+As before, all was silence, the drowsy, indistinct voices of the night
+passing almost without notice.
+
+But Professor Zepplin instead of waiting where he was, reached for his
+revolver and then strode boldly out into the open space in front of
+the tents, determined to solve the mystery, and, if possible, without
+waking the boys.
+
+The reader no doubt already has recognized in the four boys sleeping
+in the little weather-beaten tents the same lads who some time before
+had started off for a vacation in the mountains where they hunted the
+cougar and the bobcat, the thrilling adventures met with on that
+journey having been related in a former volume entitled, "THE PONY
+RIDER BOYS IN THE ROCKIES."
+
+They will be remembered, too, as the lads who, in "THE PONY RIDER BOYS
+IN TEXAS," crossed the plains on a cattle drive, during the course of
+which Tad Butler bravely saved the life of the Chinese cook, by
+plunging into a swollen torrent; and later, saved a large part of the
+great herd, himself being nearly trampled to death in a wild stampede
+of the cattle.
+
+It will be recalled also, how Tad Butler and his companions, after
+many strange and startling experiences, solved the veiled riddle of
+the plains and laid the ghost of the old church of San Miguel, for all
+time.
+
+The stirring adventures of "THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN MONTANA," too, are
+still fresh in the minds of those who have followed the fortunes of
+the four lads since they first started out on their journeyings.
+
+It will be recalled that in the latter story the lads experienced the
+thrill of being in a real battle between the cowboys and the sheep
+herders on the free-grass range of the north; how Tad Butler was
+captured by the Blackfeet Indians, and how, with the help of an Indian
+maiden, he managed to make his escape.
+
+It will also be remembered that Tad was able to rescue another lad
+who, like himself, had been taken by the Blackfeet, and to return the
+boy to his father, none the worse for his exciting experiences.  It
+will be recalled as well, how Tad Butler through his own efforts
+solved the mystery of the old Custer trail--a mystery that had
+perplexed and annoyed the ranchers along the historic trail for many
+months.
+
+And now they were once more in the saddle, having chosen the Ozark
+Mountains in southwestern Missouri as the scene of their next
+explorations.
+
+With them they carried a pack train of four mules, these being best
+adapted to packing the boys' belongings over the rugged mountains.
+For their guide they had engaged a full-blooded Shawnee Indian named
+Joe Hawk, known among his people as Eagle-eye, making a party of six,
+with eight head of stock in all.
+
+At the time of the beginning of this narrative the Pony Riders were
+encamped on a fork of the White River some three days out from
+Springfield.  Joe Hawk had asked permission to leave the party for the
+night to pay a visit to a fellow-tribesman who lived somewhere in the
+mountains to the west of them.
+
+On second thought it occurred to Professor Zepplin that perhaps it
+might have been Joe, or Eagle-eye, as the boys had decided to call the
+Indian, whom he had heard skulking about the camp.
+
+"Eagle-eye," he called softly.
+
+There was no response, so the Professor, gripping his gun resolutely,
+crept along toward the opposite side of the camp where the noise had
+seemed to come from. So quietly had he moved that he made scarcely a
+sound, until suddenly there came a commotion that more than made up
+for the noise he had so successfully avoided before.
+
+Stacy Brown, with his usual forgetfulness, had left his saddle in the
+middle of the camp.  The Professor caught his toe on the obstruction,
+measuring his length on the ground instantly, where he floundered
+about for a few seconds.
+
+"Instead of discovering the other fellow, I think I am discovering
+myself," he growled, scrambling to his feet, gingerly rubbing a knee.
+
+Now the Professor walked with a distinct limp, while his bare feet
+seemed to pick up every sharp pebble in camp, all of which added to
+his discomfort.
+
+"I'd make a nice sort of scout," he muttered.  "Everybody within a
+mile of me would know I was coming even before I got started, I
+guess--"
+
+The Professor suddenly cut short his words, and crouched down close to
+the ground.  He thought he heard something ahead and a little to the
+right of him.
+
+"Who's there?" he demanded.
+
+No answer being made to his inquiry, he gripped his gun more firmly
+and crawled cautiously toward the spot where he thought he had heard
+some one moving.  The night was so dark that he could make nothing out
+of the shadows about him, being obliged therefore to trust entirely to
+his sense of hearing.
+
+Now he was certain that some one was in camp who had no business
+there, for the sound of footsteps was plainly borne to his
+ears--cautious, catlike steps, as if the intruder were seeking to get
+away without attracting attention.
+
+The Professor, determined to capture the intruder, getting down on all
+fours to avoid possible detection, made a wide detour so as to come up
+behind where the fellow seemed to be at that moment.  After much labor
+he managed to reach the desired position.
+
+The Professor straightened up to listen.  He must be close upon the
+other by this time.  But what was his chagrin to hear those same
+footsteps on the opposite side of the camp.  Professor Zepplin by much
+effort had just come from the other side himself.
+
+"Stupid!" he muttered.  "I'll take no roundabout way this time.  I'll
+go straight ahead and be as quiet about it as I can."
+
+He did so.  He moved straight across the camp ground, not forgetting
+the saddle which he carefully avoided, but narrowly missing falling
+over it a second time.
+
+By the time he had crossed to his former position, the intruder had
+done likewise.  Professor Zepplin dodged behind a tree.
+
+By this time the scientist was beginning to feel a little worried.  He
+could not understand what the other fellow's object might be.  If it
+were robbery, the fellow certainly would desire to get away as quickly
+as possible, rather than remain when he knew that efforts were being
+made to capture him.  If not plunder, what could be his purpose?
+
+With suddenly formed determination, Professor Zepplin strode out from
+his hiding place, starting for the other side on a run.
+
+The other man did the same, and the only result of the move was that
+their positions were exchanged.
+
+Once more the Professor decided to try strategy and see if he could
+not come up behind his opponent.
+
+At the same moment the visitor apparently decided to resort to the
+same tactics.  They went in opposite directions, however, to carry out
+their purpose, and when each arrived at the place it was to find that
+the other was opposite him again.
+
+The Professor's bare feet were in a sad state by this time, his
+pajamas were torn and his hands were worn tender from using them for
+feet when running along on all fours.  At the same time his temper was
+wearing to a point of dangerous thinness.  It was likely to break down
+the slender barrier that held it at almost any time.
+
+Suddenly he realized that the intruder had been silent for some
+minutes, and the Professor decided that it was time he ceased thinking
+over his own troubles and paid more attention to what the other man
+was doing.
+
+"Now, I wonder what he is up to," growled the scientist.  "I believe
+he has given me the slip and gotten away.  Here I've been dreaming for
+minutes.  I'll slip some myself and see if I can't surprise him if
+he's there yet."
+
+Once again he started across the camp ground, without resorting to any
+of his former tactics, other than to proceed with extreme caution,
+covering the intervening space with long, careful strides.
+
+Reaching the rock, he paused to listen, but could hear nothing.
+
+Gun ready for instant use, Professor Zepplin dashed around the corner
+of the rock, running plump into the arms of the fellow whom he had
+been so successfully dodging for the past twenty minutes.
+
+So startled was the scientist that he dropped his revolver, throwing
+both arms about his antagonist.  He was surprised at the slenderness
+of the fellow, though he quickly discovered that what the other lacked
+in bulk he easily made up for by his lithe, supple body and muscular
+arms.
+
+Almost before Professor Zepplin had collected his wits sufficiently to
+make any sort of defense he found himself lying flat on his back, with
+his opponent sitting on top of him, both wrists pinioned to the ground
+in an iron grip.
+
+There seemed to the Professor something strangely familiar about the
+figure that was holding him down so firmly, but he did not try to
+analyze the impression.  He had other things to think of at that
+moment.
+
+"I'll wait a second until he lets up ever so little, then, with my
+superior weight, I ought to be able to throw him--"
+
+"I've got you this time.  What do you mean by prowling about our camp
+at this time of the--"
+
+"Wha--what--who--who--" exclaimed the Professor.
+
+"What!" fairly shouted the other.  "Who--who are you?"
+
+"I'm Professor Zepplin.  Who are you?"
+
+"Oh, shucks!  I'm Tad Butler," answered the boy, hastily releasing his
+prisoner, and, more crestfallen than he would have cared to admit,
+assisting the Professor to his feet.
+
+"What do you mean, you young rascal?" demanded the Professor, grasping
+the boy by the shoulders and shaking him vigorously.  "I say, what do
+you mean by playing such pranks on me as this?  Why, I might have shot
+you.  I--"
+
+"You are wrong, Professor; I have not intentionally played pranks on
+you--"
+
+"Yes you have--yes you have," fumed the Professor.
+
+"I might accuse you of doing the same thing to me, only I know you
+didn't get up in the middle of the night to play hide and seek with a
+boy--"
+
+"Then what does this mean?  Answer me instantly!"
+
+"I can do so easily.  The fact is, I heard somebody prowling around.
+The slight noise awakened me--"
+
+"I should think it might," snarled Professor Zepplin.
+
+"And, without waiting to dress, I slipped out--"
+
+"And led me a nice chase.  Look at me.  There isn't a spot on my body
+that isn't black and blue.  And to think I've been running around here
+in my bare feet trying to catch you--"
+
+"You haven't entirely.  You were chasing the same thing that I was,"
+answered Tad thoughtfully.
+
+"What's that? What's that you say?"
+
+"I mean that somebody was here--somebody who had no business to be
+here."
+
+"You mean--"
+
+"Yes, I mean that after I had been out here a few moments I distinctly
+heard two men.  One of them, it appears, was yourself.  Who the other
+was I don't know.  He evidently got away.  As I couldn't follow both
+of them, I chose you.  You seemed to be the easiest one to catch.  I
+was right, wasn't I?" laughed the boy, at the thought of the game they
+had been playing with each other.
+
+"Somebody else here?  I knew it, I knew it," exclaimed the Professor.
+"When I first came out you were sound asleep.  I must have awakened
+you when I fell over the saddle out there.  Who left that thing there
+for me to nearly break my neck on?" he demanded angrily.
+
+"I guess it must be Chunky's saddle."
+
+"Of course.  I'll talk to him in the morning.  I'm going to bed.  I'll
+catch my death of cold."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+A PACK MULE GOES OVER A CLIFF
+
+
+Next morning the boys, assisted by Eagle-eye, had prepared the
+breakfast by the time the Professor had awakened.  They took keen
+satisfaction in calling him for breakfast.  Ordinarily they slept so
+late that the Professor had to turn them out by physical force.
+
+"Anybody'd think you'd been keeping late hours, Professor," laughed
+Ned Rector.
+
+"Perhaps I have," answered the scientist good naturedly.  "But if so,
+I am not the only one of this party who has."
+
+That the Professor's words held some meaning unknown to them the boys
+were fully aware.  Tad had said nothing of his experiences of the
+previous night, so they did not think to turn to him for an
+explanation.
+
+"I might as well tell you, young gentlemen, that there was some one
+prowling about this camp after we all were asleep last night--"
+
+"What!" cried the Pony Riders in sudden surprise.
+
+"Yes, that is true.  Thaddeus and myself chased him around for nearly
+half an hour, but--"
+
+All eyes were now turned on Tad, who was bending over his plate that
+they might not observe the grin that was spreading over his face
+despite the lad's effort to keep it down.
+
+"O Tad, tell us all about it," urged Walter Perkins.  "What was he, a
+bold robber or what?"
+
+"I guess he must have been an 'Or What,'" suggested Stacy Brown
+wisely.
+
+"Don't mind him.  He's dreaming still.  It's only his appetite that's
+here at the table.  The rest of him is in bed asleep," jeered Ned
+Rector, with such a funny grimace that the boys laughed.
+
+"Yes," answered Tad, looking up, "we ran around here in our pajamas
+until we found each other.  Then we gave it up and went to bed."
+
+"But who was it?" insisted Walter.
+
+"It was an--"
+
+"Now, never mind, Chunky.  You are supposed to be asleep," admonished
+Ned, with a superior wave of his hand.
+
+"I cannot say as to that," answered Tad.  "I really don't think it
+amounted to so very much.  Probably some prowler curious to know what
+sort of camp he had stumbled upon.  I didn't lose any sleep over it
+after I got back to bed."
+
+"Neither did Chunky," laughed Ned.
+
+"Did you?" asked the fat boy sharply, turning the laugh on Ned.
+
+"You remember what we were told in Springfield," said Walter.
+
+"What was that?" asked the Professor.
+
+"That a band of robbers had been causing considerable excitement in
+the Ozarks for several months past."
+
+"Yes, you are right.  I had forgotten that," nodded Professor Zepplin.
+"Stealing horses and other things."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"But it's all nonsense to think they would bother us," objected Ned.
+"We haven't anything that they would want."
+
+"No, nor do we want them," replied Walter, with emphasis.  "I guess we
+had better sleep on our rifles to-night."
+
+"That will hardly be necessary," smiled the Professor.
+
+"How about Eagle-eye?" asked Ned.  "Didn't he hear anything?"
+
+"Eagle-eye was away last night."
+
+"Oh, yes, that's so.  I had forgotten that."
+
+"It might be a good idea to tell him about it," suggested Tad,
+glancing over at the Professor.
+
+Professor Zepplin nodded his head.
+
+"Eagle-eye, will you come here, please?" called Tad.
+
+The Shawnee, who had been pottering about the camp-fire, strode over
+to them with his almost noiseless tread, and squatted on the ground
+near the breakfast table.
+
+"There was somebody here last night, Eagle-eye," Tad informed him in
+an impressive voice.
+
+The Shawnee nodded.
+
+"Of course, you not having been here, you knew nothing about it, but
+to-night you'd better sleep with one eye open.
+
+"Joe Hawk know," answered the Indian.
+
+"Know what?" demanded the Professor sharply.
+
+"Know Indian come last night," was the startling announcement.
+
+"What's that?  What's that, Eagle-eye?  You mean yourself, I presume.
+You mean you came back.  But that is not the point--"
+
+The Indian shook his head with emphasis.
+
+"Other Indian come."
+
+Tad nodded at his companions as if to say, "I told you so."
+
+Then the Shawnee did know more than he had seen fit to tell them?
+
+"Tell us about it, Eagle-eye."
+
+"Joe Hawk find trail of canoe on river at sun-up," answered the Indian
+tersely.
+
+"A trail on the river?" demanded Stacy, suddenly breaking into
+uproarious laughter, which died away in an indistinct gurgle when he
+found the eyes of his companions fixed sternly upon him.  "Funny place
+to find a trail," he muttered, threatening to indulge in another fit
+of merriment.
+
+"I don't understand you, Eagle-eye," said the Professor.  "You say you
+found the trail of a canoe on the river?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"That sounds peculiar.  I agree with Master Stacy that it is a most
+remarkable place to find a trail hours after.  Perhaps you will
+explain."
+
+Eagle-eye rose to his feet.
+
+"Come. I show you."
+
+All rose from the table, forgetful that they were eating their
+breakfast, and followed the guide down the steep bank to the river.
+
+"There trail," he announced, pointing a long, bronzed finger at the
+edge of the water.
+
+Tad stooped over, examining the shore critically.
+
+"The Shawnee is right," he said, turning to the Professor.
+
+"How do you know?  What have you found?"
+
+"There.  You can see for yourself.  It is distinctly marked--"
+
+"What's marked?"  demanded Stacy, pressing forward.
+
+"You can see where the keel of a canoe has rested in the dirt there.
+The trail is ever so faint, but it is unmistakably there.  See how it
+broadens out as it extends backward until it reaches the gravel in the
+stream."
+
+"Moccasin tracks," grunted the guide.
+
+"Where?" asked Walter, apprehensively.
+
+"There," answered the Indian, pointing up the bank whence they had
+just come.
+
+The boys looked at each other in wondering silence.
+
+"What do you think is the meaning of the visit, Eagle-eye?" asked the
+Professor.
+
+The Shawnee shrugged his shoulders.
+
+"Mebby hungry."
+
+"That is a sensible explanation of the visit," decided Professor
+Zepplin.  "What other motive could an Indian have for a visit at that
+hour?  There is no cause for alarm.  But I wish if any more hungry
+ones pay us a visit, they would do so in the day time, so as not to
+interrupt my sleep."
+
+"And mine," laughed Tad.
+
+"Yah-hum," yawned Stacy, sleepily.
+
+"I told you you weren't awake yet," growled Ned.  "Let's all go back
+to our breakfast."
+
+"I second the motion," laughed the Professor.  "We are forgetting all
+about the inner man.  And it is time we were getting on our way if we
+are to make any great progress to-day."
+
+Anxious to be in the saddle again, the boys bounded up the bank and
+hastily finished their breakfast.  While they were doing so the guide
+stoically busied himself with packing the cooking kits and loading the
+pack mules, so that by the time the lads were ready all save their own
+belongings had been stowed away.
+
+It was the work of a few minutes only to strike their tents, fold
+blankets and pack their personal belongings.  They had now been
+roughing it long enough so that they had become really expert in the
+work.  And, besides, they had learned to get together a fairly
+satisfying meal out of not much of anything.  They had learned many
+other things that were to prove useful to them in after years, but
+which at the time was making little or no impression upon them.
+
+Fairly radiating health and spirits, the boys threw themselves into
+their saddles with a shout.  The guide led the way, leading the mule
+train, and his pace was so rapid that the pack animals were put to
+their best to keep up with him.  Most of the time he appeared to be
+dragging the led mule, instead of leading it.
+
+"A wonderful country," breathed the Professor, as they finally came
+out on a high elevation that gave them a glimpse of the eastern slope
+of the mountains.
+
+They halted to take in the magnificent view.
+
+"This is what is known as the 'Ozark Uplift,'" the Professor informed
+them.
+
+"I should call it a downfall," answered Ned, gazing off at the deep
+gorges and jagged precipices.  "Why do you call it that?"
+
+The Professor waxed eloquent.
+
+"From the earliest time, young gentlemen, this region has been subject
+to uprising or downsinking.  In all sections of its area it has
+experienced the effects of powerful dynamic forces--"
+
+"Dynamite--did they use dynamite to blow the mountains up into such
+shapes as that?" asked Stacy innocently.
+
+"I said nothing about dynamite.  Dynamic was the word I used," replied
+Professor Zepplin, casting a withering glance at the fat boy.
+
+"Oh," Stacy exclaimed.
+
+"It is therefore called the 'Ozark Uplift.'"
+
+"That is interesting," answered Ned solemnly, though it is doubtful if
+he understood what the Professor was really talking about.
+
+"There is still another of tremendous import connected with this
+region.  You will all be interested in it," announced the Professor
+impressively.
+
+The boys gathered about him in a circle, meantime allowing their
+ponies to nibble at the green leaves.
+
+"Yes," urged Tad.
+
+"The region where is now located the Ozark Uplift is said to have been
+the first land to appear above the waters of the continental ocean."
+
+"You--you mean--" stammered Ned.
+
+"He means this was the first land to appear above the water when this
+continent was all an ocean," spoke up Tad, with quick understanding.
+
+Stacy urged his pony further into the circle.  His face was flushed
+and he evidently was filled with some sudden new thought.
+
+"What is it, Master Stacy?" asked the Professor.
+
+"You--you say this was the first land to--"
+
+"Yes, so it has been said."
+
+"Then--then this--then this must have been where the Ark landed,"
+exploded the fat boy.
+
+For a few seconds a profound silence greeted this announcement.  Then
+the lads broke out into a shout of laughter.  Even Professor Zepplin
+threw his head back and laughed immoderately.
+
+"I am afraid, my young friend, that the place where the ancient craft
+ran aground was some distance from this rugged spot--"
+
+"But why not?" persisted the boy.
+
+"In the first place, this continent came to life some time after the
+event you speak of is supposed to have taken place."
+
+"Oh," muttered the lad.
+
+"And now we had better be pressing on."
+
+"When do we reach the Red Star Mine?" asked Ned.
+
+"You will have to ask Eagle-eye.  I don't know."
+
+The Indian, when questioned on this point, said the Red Star Mine lay
+three suns to the southwest of them.
+
+The country seemed to be getting more rough as they proceeded, and it
+had now become necessary to move with extreme caution for fear of
+plunging over one of the many abrupt cliffs that now and then appeared
+almost under the feet of the advancing train.
+
+But the Indian seemed to feel no concern over these.  He merely
+changed his course, skirting the canyon until a turn in its winding
+course enabled him to head straight into the southwest again.
+
+Not even in the Rockies had the boys met with such peculiar formations
+as now appeared on all sides of them.
+
+"I'd hate to travel this trail in the night," growled Stacy.
+
+"You wouldn't have to travel it far," laughed Tad.  "You'd be walking
+on air before you knew it."
+
+Stacy had pressed on ahead while the others were talking.  He had
+observed what they had not.  One of the pack mules had lagged behind,
+and with head lowered almost to the ground appeared to have gone sound
+asleep.  The Shawnee, engaged with his own thoughts, apparently was
+unaware that he had left a mule behind.
+
+The fat boy, with great glee, was urging his pony quietly along,
+approaching the pack animal with as much caution as possible.  It was
+Stacy's intention to give the beast the fright of its life, in which
+ambition he succeeded beyond his fondest anticipations.
+
+Getting near enough for his purpose, Stacy slipped from his pony,
+hunted about until he found a stick long enough for his purpose, and
+with this crept up on the sleeping mule.
+
+With a shrill shriek the lad brought the stick down on the long-eared
+animal's rump with a whack that, while it could not have hurt, did all
+that he had hoped it might.
+
+Both the mule's hind feet shot up into the air, while the beast with a
+short, sharp bray of fright lunged straight ahead.
+
+The guide uttered a shrill exclamation of warning as he saw the mule
+tearing through the bushes to the left of the trail.  Leaving his two
+pack animals, Eagle-eye leaped for the fleeing one.
+
+But he was too late.
+
+All at once the frightened beast appeared to stand on his head, his
+hind feet beating a tattoo in the air; then he disappeared altogether.
+
+The Pony Rider Boys, hearing the disturbance, had hurried up, and just
+in time to see the final scene in the little tragedy that their
+companion had caused.
+
+"What's this?  What's this?" demanded the Professor.  "What's the
+matter?"
+
+"Pony fall down!  Pony fall down!" exclaimed the Indian, with a trace
+of excitement in his tone.
+
+"He means our long-eared friend has taken a header over that rock
+there," Ned Rector informed them.
+
+"I am afraid it is more serious than that," added Tad.  "It looked to
+me as if the pack mule went over a cliff."
+
+"Him fall down, fall down, fall down," repeated the guide.
+
+Chunky, frightened at the result of his prank, had quickly scrambled
+into his own saddle and drawn back from the scene of his late exploit.
+
+Professor Zepplin did not understand how it had happened.
+
+"I'm to blame, sir," announced Chunky, plucking up courage and riding
+up beside the Professor.  "I hit him with a stick and he ran away."
+
+In spite of the disaster that had come upon them, the boys could not
+but laugh at the boy's rueful countenance.  Nor did the Professor find
+it in his heart to be harsh.
+
+"You deserve to be punished, sir, but somehow when I look at you my
+anger vanishes instantly.  The next question is, how are we going to
+get the beast up here?  What do you say, guide?"
+
+"Him dead."
+
+"What's that?"
+
+"Pack pony, him gone Happy Hunting Ground."
+
+"You don't mean he has been killed?"
+
+The guide nodded with emphasis, at the same time bringing the palms of
+his hands sharply together to convey the impression that the mule had
+hit the rocks below so hard that he would never rise of his own accord
+again.
+
+"Now we are in a fix," said Ned.
+
+"I guess we had better make Chunky walk and use his pony for packing
+the outfit," suggested Walter.
+
+"Yes, but we have little or no outfit to pack," answered Tad.  "Most
+of it is down there with the dead mule; how far I don't know."
+
+The Pony Rider Boys gasped.  This, indeed, was a serious situation.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+A DARING PROPOSAL
+
+
+For a full moment the boys looked at each other doubtfully.  Professor
+Zepplin was the first to break the silence.
+
+"Wha--what pack did the mule have?"
+
+"Part of the kitchen outfit and all of the canned goods," answered Tad
+Butler impressively.
+
+Ned Rector laughed.
+
+"This is where we give our stomachs a rest," he mocked.
+
+"I fail to see anything humorous in our present predicament," chided
+the Professor.  "We are many miles from our base of supplies, with our
+supplies at the bottom of a gorge, goodness knows how deep down.
+Whether we can get down there or not I haven't the slightest idea--"
+
+"Don't we get anything to eat?" wailed Chunky.
+
+"Think you deserve to have anything?" demanded Ned.
+
+"Don't be hard on him," spoke up Tad.  "He feels cut up enough about
+it as it is.  We've all done just as foolish things, only they didn't
+happen to turn out the way this one has."
+
+Chunky turned his pony about and rode a few paces away from them,
+being more disturbed than he cared to have his companions know.
+
+"Eagle-eye," called the Professor.
+
+The Indian was leaning over the cliff looking down into the deep
+canyon, trying to find the pack mule.  He straightened up and strode
+over to the Professor upon being called.
+
+"You sure the mule is dead?"
+
+"Mule no pack more."
+
+"Can you get down there to gather up our belongings?"
+
+Eagle-eye shook his head.
+
+"No get um."
+
+"Why not?" interjected Walter.
+
+"Pony fall in--Injun fall in," grunted the Shawnee.
+
+"But can we not go forward or else back a mile or so and find an
+entrance to the gorge?" demanded the Professor.
+
+"Yes, that's the idea.  Of course we can," urged Ned.  "We are not
+half as bad off as we thought.  Of course the mule is done for, but we
+can divide up the pack amongst us boys and carry it all right until we
+get where we can either hire or buy another mule.  Don't think a
+little thing like that will stop us."
+
+"How about it, Eagle-eye?" asked Tad.
+
+"No get um.  Water him deep.  Him cold, b-r-r-r!  Pony drown, Indian
+drown.  Mebby fat boy drown, too."
+
+"That seems to settle it," announced the Professor.  "We shall have to
+hold a council of war, as Eagle-eye does not seem to have any
+suggestions to make.  What have you to say about it, Master Tad?"
+
+"I think it would be a good idea to take a look over the cliff before
+offering any suggestions," answered the lad, dismounting and tethering
+his pony.  "Perhaps the guide may be wrong."
+
+One look over the bold cliff, however, was sufficient to convince Tad
+of the correctness of the Indian's judgment.  He found himself gazing
+down into one of those deep canyons that had been cut through the
+mountains by water courses during hundreds of years.
+
+The wall on each side, while nearly straight up and down, was jagged
+and broken, but so precipitous as to make any idea of descending it
+impossible.  There was not a bush nor shrub in sight until near the
+bottom, where Tad discovered a thick growth of bushes on the edge of
+the swiftly flowing water course.
+
+A disturbed spot among these showed where the pack mule had fallen.
+That he had not gone on into the stream and been swept away was due to
+the matted growth down there.  The others had joined Tad by the time
+he had made up his mind that their guide had described the situation
+correctly.
+
+"What do you make of it, Master Tad?" asked the Professor.
+
+"Nothing very encouraging."
+
+"Whew!  That's a drop!" exclaimed Ned, peering cautiously over.
+"Where is our kitchen outfit?"
+
+"There, where you see the bushes trampled down.  What there is left of
+it, anyway.  But perhaps the canvas wrapped around the stuff has
+protected it from serious damage."
+
+"Little difference it makes to us whether or not," answered the
+Professor.  "The supplies are lost and that's all there is about it.
+We have scarcely enough left to carry us through the day."
+
+"No!" said Walter.  "Then what are we going to do?"
+
+"I don't know, Master Walter."
+
+"We've got to get the stuff up here, that's all," answered Tad, with a
+firm compression of the lips.
+
+"Then you'll have to borrow a flying machine if you do.  That's the
+only way we'll ever reach the pack mule.  Why, it's a mile down
+there--"
+
+"Not quite," answered Tad.
+
+"How deep do you think the gorge is, Tad?" asked the Professor.
+
+"Oh, forty or fifty feet, I should say.  I hardly think it is deeper
+than that.  But that is quite enough--"
+
+Tad, in the meantime, had been considering the problem, thinking
+deeply on the best means of solving it.
+
+"Yes, I think I can do it," he decided.
+
+"Do what?" asked Walter.
+
+"Get the stuff up."
+
+"How?" demanded Ned sharply.
+
+"Why, go down after it, of course."
+
+"Out of the question," answered the Professor, with emphasis.
+
+"No, I think it can be done, if you will allow me to--"
+
+"You mean, Master Ted, that you will attempt to get to the bottom of
+that gorge and bring up the provisions?"
+
+"Yes, sir; I'll try it."
+
+"Impossible. I cannot permit it."
+
+"I should say not," growled Ned.  "If anybody goes it should be the
+guide.  He is an expert at climbing, I should imagine, and--" Tad
+laughed.
+
+"Why, my dear Ned, you couldn't even push Eagle-eye down there.  For
+some reason he seems to have a superstitious dread of that place.  I
+don't know why, for Indians are not supposed to be much afraid of
+anything.  I'll ask him.  Eagle-eye, will you go down there and try to
+get the provisions for us?" asked Tad, turning to the guide.
+
+Eagle-eye shrugged his shoulders, at the same time giving a negative
+twist to his body.
+
+"Eagle-eye not go down there," he grunted.
+
+"Why not?" asked Ned.
+
+"Bad spirits live in waters.  Bymeby come out and get Eagle-eye."
+
+"Oh, shucks!" jeered Ned.  "My opinion is that they wouldn't bother to
+get you, even if there were any such things down there."
+
+"Then there remains only one thing for us to do," said the Professor.
+
+"And that?" queried Walter.
+
+"Get to the nearest settlement as quickly as possible."
+
+"That would take at least a day or two, would it not?" inquired Tad.
+
+"Yes, I believe so."
+
+"Then why not let me try--at least make an effort to recover our
+things?  Why, just think of the amount of stuff we are losing,
+Professor."
+
+"But the risk, Tad.  No, I cannot assume the responsibility--"
+
+"I'll take the risk of all that.  The only danger will be up here.  I
+shall not be taking any risks to speak of--"
+
+"How do you propose to go about it, young man?"
+
+"Simplest thing imaginable.  I'll climb down with a rope around me, so
+that in case I slip anywhere you can straighten me up.  I promise you
+I will not fall."
+
+"The next question is, where are you going to get the rope?"
+
+"I have one that is plenty long enough," answered Tad.
+
+"You mean the quarter-inch rope?" spoke up Walter.  "That's in the
+pack that went over the cliff."
+
+Tad Butler's face fell.
+
+"Guess you are mistaken, Walt," corrected Ned.  "You threw that rope
+down when you were packing.  I picked it up and it's in my kit on my
+pony now."
+
+"Hurrah!" shouted the other boys.  "You can't down the Pony Riders."
+
+Tad hurried to Ned's mount, and, pulling down the pack, secured the
+precious rope, which he adjusted about his waist carefully, the others
+observing him silently.
+
+"I guess I am ready now, boys.  I'll tell you what I want you to do,
+so pay close heed to what I am about to say."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+INTO THE CANYON
+
+
+"Thaddeus, I cannot consent to this.  I--"
+
+"Please, now, Professor, don't stop me.  I'm all right, don't you see
+I am?"
+
+"Yes, at this precise moment you are.  It's the moments to come that I
+am thinking about."
+
+"Don't you worry one little bit.  Walt, will you bring me two of those
+staking-down ropes?  I want to splice them on in case this one should
+prove to be a little short.  Distance is deceptive, looking down, as
+we are here."
+
+"What do you want us to do?" asked Ned.
+
+"Hold on to the rope, that's all."
+
+"In other words, we are to be a sort of 'tug-of-war' team, eh?  Is
+that it?"
+
+"I suppose it is, Ned."
+
+"Then I hope we win."
+
+"I sincerely hope you do, too," laughed Tad.
+
+"If I win, I'll lose.  That sounds funny, doesn't it?"
+
+"What do you mean?" demanded Chunky, pushing his way forward.
+
+"He means," Walter informed him, "that if he wins it will be because
+he takes a tumble to the bottom of the canyon.  Understand?"
+
+"Oh," muttered Chunky, thrusting his hands into his trousers pockets.
+He stepped to the edge of the cliff, where he stood peering over
+curiously.
+
+"I hope Tad doesn't win, too," he decided sagely, whereat the others
+laughed loudly.
+
+"Now, Professor, will you please take charge of the operations?"
+
+"Certainly.  But, you understand, I permit this thing under strong
+protest.  I am doing wrong.  I should use my authority to prevent it
+were we not already in such a serious predicament."
+
+"Don't worry.  What I want is to have you take a few turns around that
+small tree there with the rope, and pay it out carefully, so that I
+can lower myself safely.  Don't give me too much rope at one time, you
+know."
+
+"No," chuckled Ned.  "You know what they say happens to people who
+have too much rope."
+
+"You mean?"
+
+"That they usually hang themselves."
+
+Tad laughed softly.
+
+"Please call that lazy Indian over here and set him to work.  Little
+does he care what trouble we're in.  See, he's asleep against a tree
+now."
+
+"Yes, his head would fall off if it were not nailed fast to him,"
+added Ned, striding to the Shawnee and giving him a violent shake.
+"Wake up, you sleepy head!" shouted Ned in a voice that brought the
+Indian quickly to his feet.
+
+"Come over here, Eagle-eye.  You're wanted," called Walter.
+
+"Put the Indian on the end of the rope; and, Professor, you please
+take a hold nearest to the tree.  You'll be my salvation.  The rest of
+you, except Chunky, can stand between the Professor and Eagle-eye."
+
+They took their places as directed, while Tad straightened out the
+rope until it extended to the edge of the cliff.
+
+"What do you want me to do?  Have I got to stand here and look on?"
+demanded Stacy.
+
+"No, Chunky.  You may run the signal tower," laughed Tad.
+
+"What's that?  I don't see any such thing around here?"
+
+"You are it."
+
+"What?  I'm what?" answered the fat boy, plainly puzzled.
+
+"You are the signal tower in this case.  That is, you will stand here
+and watch me.  When I give a signal you will receive and pass it on to
+the others."
+
+"What kind of signals?"
+
+"That's what I'm trying to tell you, if you will give me the chance.
+When I hold up my hand, it means that they are to stop letting out
+rope.  When I move it up and down, it means they are to let out on the
+rope a little.  Understand?"
+
+"Oh, yes; that's easy.  When they shake their hand, it means you want
+to go up or down," exclaimed the lad enthusiastically.
+
+"O Chunky, you're hopeless.  No, no!  Nothing of the kind.  Listen.
+When I move my hand up and down, just like this--Understand?"
+
+"Sure."
+
+"That means I want to go down further.  They don't wave their hands at
+all, at least I hope they don't while I am hanging in the air.  Now,
+do you think you understand?"
+
+"Yes, I understand."
+
+"Repeat the directions to me then, please."
+
+Stacy did so.
+
+"That's right.  See that you don't forget.  Remember, I'm depending
+upon you, Chunky, and if you fail me, I may be killed."
+
+"Don't you worry about me, Tad," answered Stacy, swelling with pride
+because of the responsibility that had been placed upon his plump
+shoulders.  "I can make motions as well as anybody.  Eagle-eye, tend
+to business over there.  Get hold of that rope.  Twist it around your
+arm.  There, that's right."
+
+"Hear, hear!" cried the boys.
+
+Such self-confidence they had never observed in their companion
+before.  And then again, they were trying to be as jolly as possible,
+that they might not give too much thought to the seriousness of the
+undertaking before them.
+
+"Chunky's coming into his own," muttered Ned.  "He'll be wanting to
+thrash some of us next.  See if he doesn't."
+
+"I think I am all ready now," announced Tad, casting a critical glance
+at the men holding the rope, then taking a careful survey of the
+depths below him.
+
+He was standing on the very edge of the cliff, a position that would
+have made the average person dizzy.  Yet it seemed to have no effect
+at all on Tad Butler.
+
+He motioned for them to let out a little rope.
+
+"More rope!" bellowed Stacy.
+
+"All right, Captain," jeered Ned.  "Better port your helm, though, or
+the rope will give you a side wipe and take you along over with Tad."
+
+Stacy quickly changed his position, which Tad had intended telling him
+to do.
+
+Without another word Tad sat down with his feet dangling over, then
+crawled cautiously down the steep wall.  For a short distance he was
+able to do this without depending on the rope, Stacy in the meanwhile
+lying flat on his stomach, peering down and passing on the signals to
+those holding the rope.
+
+Now Tad came to a piece of rock that was straight up and down and
+perfectly smooth.  He motioned for them to lower him slowly, which
+they did until the boy's feet once more touched a solid footing.
+
+He carefully settled down until he was in a sitting posture.  He was
+on a narrow, shelving rock, and there he remained for a few moments to
+rest, for the trip thus far had been exceedingly trying.
+
+"The water's fine, Chunky," he called up cheerfully.
+
+"The water's fine," bellowed Chunky, glaring at his companions.  Then
+a sheepish grin spread over his countenance when he realized what he
+had said.  "I mean, that's what Tad called," he explained, amid a roar
+of laughter.
+
+"He won't find it so fine if he falls in," muttered Walter.
+
+"Bad spirits in water," grunted the Indian.
+
+"Unfortunately for us, they're not all down there," growled Ned.  But
+his barbed wit failed to penetrate the tough skin of the red man.
+
+"Tend to business, boys," warned the Professor, observing a series of
+frantic gestures on the part of Stacy Brown.  "What does he want, to
+be lowered?"
+
+"Yes, yes, don't you understand?"
+
+"No, we don't understand motions in a foreign language," laughed
+Walter, permitting the rope to slip through his hands a little.
+
+"How's that?" queried Professor Zepplin.
+
+"More rope!" roared Stacy.  "Watch my signals, then you'll know what
+to do."
+
+"What not to do," muttered Ned.
+
+Once more Tad began his cautious creeping down the uncertain trail.
+Though he had gone some distance, it seemed to him as if the bottom
+were further away than when he started.
+
+"I'm afraid this rope is not going to be long enough," he breathed.
+"However, I believe I can crawl down the last fifteen or twenty feet
+if the line will only reach to them.  It's not nearly so steep down
+there as it is higher up."
+
+There occurred a sudden sharp jolt on the rope, due to the men above
+not letting the loops slip around the tree while the rope was taut.
+This gave Tad a drop of three or four feet and a jar that made him
+think he was falling.
+
+"Here you, up there!  What are you trying to do?"
+
+"What do you fellows mean?" demanded Stacy.
+
+"Just a slip, that's all," answered Walter.
+
+"Somebody slipped," shouted Stacy.
+
+"Tell them to be careful, Chunky.  This rope won't stand many such
+jerks as that.  Remember, it's running over some sharp rocks above
+here and is liable to be cut in two."
+
+Stacy transmitted the order in a loud tone of command, which the
+Professor emphasized by a sharp command to the boys, at the same time
+admitting that he himself had also been at fault.
+
+"Tell him we will not make that mistake again, Chunky," said the
+Professor.
+
+"Won't do it again," called Stacy, passing the word along.
+
+"All right.  I'm doing well now.  Just keep the line fairly steady so
+that I won't lose my footing."
+
+He was obliged to raise his voice now, being a long way down the
+slope, with the goal still far from him.
+
+"Who would have ever thought it so far?" Tad asked himself.  "I'm sure
+now that the rope will not reach."
+
+Believing that he could obtain a better footing a little to the right
+of him, he motioned for more rope, then raised his hand aloft as a
+signal that he had sufficient for present needs, all of which Stacy
+repeated with more or less correctness.
+
+Tad had gained a broad, shelving rock this time.  Above him projected
+a rocky roof that reminded him of the roof over his mother's porch at
+home.  It shut off his view of the cliff above him entirely.  Straight
+down below him roared the river, here and there a spout of white spray
+shooting up into the air, revealing the presence of a hidden,
+treacherous rock.
+
+It was an impressive moment for Tad Butler up there alone, with
+nothing between himself and sudden death save a slender quarter-inch
+strand of rope.
+
+But though he felt the loneliness of his position, he felt no fear; he
+was impressed with the solitary grandeur of it all.  Time was
+pressing, however, and he decided that he must continue his descent.
+
+Stepping back to his former position, he started to grope his way
+downward.  For several minutes he made more rapid headway than he had
+at any time before.
+
+He was congratulating himself that he would soon be at the bottom of
+the cliff, which lay about twenty feet below him.
+
+All at once he gave a gasp as he felt the rock crumble beneath his
+feet.  He had thrown his weight on a piece of crumbling limestone and
+it had given way.
+
+At that moment he had some two or three feet of slack rope, that he
+had motioned to them to pay out, as the way was not now nearly so
+steep.
+
+Grasping wildly for some projecting rock to break the jolt which he
+knew would come when he reached the end of his rope, and perhaps
+seriously hurt him, the boy was able to stay his progress a little.
+
+However, the pressure that his body threw on the slender rope was so
+great as to jolt nearly all the air from his lungs.
+
+Then Tad suddenly made another and terrifying discovery.
+
+He was going down.  He was falling.
+
+At the top of the cliff another scene was being enacted.  The sudden
+jolt on the rope had occurred just after the boys had paid out the
+rope beyond the place where Tad had spliced it before beginning his
+descent.
+
+The strain was too great for it.  The ropes parted at a weak spot near
+the knot.
+
+The Pony Riders were too much stunned to do more than gaze upon that
+which they believed meant the death of their companion.
+
+Chunky, who appeared to be the coolest of any, had been watching the
+knot approaching him with almost fascinated interest.  He was
+speculating what would happen should the knot chance to come
+apart. And the very emergency that he was considering did happen.
+
+"The rope's broken!" shouted the Professor.
+
+But Chunky had no need to be told that.  He knew it already, almost
+before they realized it.
+
+With great presence of mind, and an agility that none would have given
+him credit for, the fat boy threw himself upon the line that was
+whisking over the cliff.
+
+Somehow he managed to fasten both hands on it.
+
+The boy began to slide along the ground with the speed of an express
+train.
+
+"Grab him! Grab him, somebody!  He's going over the cliff!"
+
+"Let go!" bellowed Ned Rector.
+
+Stacy hung on grimly, perhaps not realizing the danger he was in.  At
+any rate, he was determined to save Tad if he could.
+
+"There he goes!" fairly screamed the Professor.
+
+Chunky slipped over the brink and disappeared with a terrified "Wow!"
+
+"They're both down there, now," groaned the Professor, leaning against
+the tree and wiping the perspiration from his brow.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+RESCUED BY A HUMAN CHAIN
+
+
+Too much stupefied to speak, even to move, the other two boys stood
+pale and trembling.  There was no doubt in their minds that both Tad
+and Stacy had been killed.
+
+"Do something!  Do something!" shouted the Professor, recovering his
+voice in a sudden rush of words.
+
+"I--I am afraid there is nothing we can do now," stammered Walter.
+
+But Ned Rector had bounded to the edge and was gazing over half
+fearfully.
+
+"There's Chunky! There he is!" he shouted.
+
+"Where?  Where?" cried the Professor, running up.  "Where is he, I
+say?"
+
+"Right down there, not more than ten feet below us.  He has lodged
+between two rocks--no, I see now, he's caught on one."
+
+Now that they looked closer, they observed that he was hanging head
+down, doubled over like a sack of meal, a sharp rock having caught in
+his left trousers pocket, thus stopping his downward flight.
+
+It was not a very secure position at best.
+
+"Are you hurt, Chunky?" called Walter.
+
+"I--I don't know.  I think I'm killed."
+
+"Can you see Tad?  Do you know what happened to him?" asked Ned, in an
+excited tone.
+
+"No, I can't.  I've got troubles of my own.  Get me out of here quick.
+I can't hold on much longer."
+
+"If the trousers only hold out, we'll save you," cried Walter.  "Get a
+rope, Eagle-eye."
+
+"Move!  Move, idiot!" snorted the Professor.  "What are you standing
+there for?"
+
+Eagle-eye shrugged his shoulders, if anything more indifferently than
+before.
+
+"No rope," he answered, as if it were a matter of no moment.
+
+"I'll get a lariat.  That surely ought to be long enough," said
+Walter, darting away to the ponies.
+
+"Come back.  There's no lariats there.  They're all in the pack down
+at the bottom of the canyon," shouted Ned.
+
+"Then we're helpless," groaned the Professor.
+
+"No, we're not.  I'll find a way to get the boy out," announced Ned,
+in a voice of stern determination.  There was no laughter in his face
+now.  Purpose was written in every line of it.
+
+"Come here, you lazy redskin, you," he commanded, which summons
+Eagle-eye obeyed reluctantly.
+
+"What are you going to do?" demanded the Professor.
+
+"Help!" came a wail from the unhappy Chunky.
+
+"We're coming.  Keep quiet.  Don't you move," admonished Walter.
+
+"I'll get a nosebleed if I have to hang here this way."
+
+"You'll get worse than that if you don't get a grip on yourself and
+keep quiet.  I'm going to form a human chain, the way we used to do to
+get pond lilies at home.  Professor, lie down there, while I tie your
+feet to the tree.  We will use you for an anchor."
+
+In a trice the Professor's feet were made fast to the tree with the
+remaining piece of rope that had broken off short.
+
+"Down on your stomach, Eagle-eye!" commanded the resourceful Ned,
+giving the redskin a jerk that sent him sprawling.  "Take hold of his
+ankles and hang on, Professor.  You next, Walter.  Good.  Now grab me
+by the ankles, while I go over head first."
+
+But Ned's carefully laid plans failed.  The human chain was not long
+enough to reach.
+
+"Pull back, quick!" he ordered.
+
+The return, however, was less easily executed, and perspiring, weak
+and trembling, Ned finally succeeded in scrambling to the cliff, with
+the aid of those behind him.
+
+"What can we do now?" begged the Professor, greatly agitated.
+
+"Try it another way, that's all.  We've simply got to do it.  Sit down
+and brace your feet against that boulder near the edge, there,
+Professor."
+
+This Professor Zepplin did quickly.  Walter dropped down in front of
+him, and next came the Shawnee and Ned Rector, each, save the
+Professor, sitting on his knees, facing the edge of the cliff.
+
+"Now each one grab the ankles of the one ahead of him," directed Ned.
+
+As they did so, the sitting men and boys, still doubled up, let
+themselves fall forward on their faces.
+
+Slowly the line lengthened out like the unwinding of the coils of a
+serpent, Ned Rector slipping slowly over the brink, the red man
+squirming after him, until both were clear of the edge, hanging head
+down.
+
+"I've got him," came up the muffled voice of Ned.  "But I've got a
+rush of blood to the head.  Pull now!  Pull for all you're worth, all
+of you.  If you slip we're all gone.  Be careful."
+
+His words of caution were not needed.  Each realized the
+responsibility that rested upon his shoulders, and each was bending
+every nerve and muscle in his body to the task.
+
+Eagle-eye himself was urged to renewed efforts by the certain
+knowledge that if he failed he would go to join the "evil spirits" in
+the rapid waters below.
+
+"Wait a minute.  I want to turn him around.  He's a dead weight this
+way and I'm afraid we won't get him over," cautioned Ned.
+
+After much effort he succeeded finally in turning Stacy around so that
+they could clasp hands.
+
+"Now brace your feet, Chunky, and help all you can."
+
+This Stacy did gladly enough.
+
+"Don't drop me," he warned.
+
+"If somebody doesn't let go you'll be all right," was the comforting
+answer.
+
+Walter, being weaker than the others, was by this time well-nigh
+exhausted, but he held on with a determination that did him credit.
+At last they succeeded in pulling Ned and Chunky to the surface. Both
+boys were thoroughly exhausted by the time they were hauled up, and
+for a moment they lay breathing hard.
+
+"Lucky my pants didn't rip, wasn't it?" grinned Chunky.  "Did you see
+me fall in?  But where's Tad?" he exclaimed, suddenly sitting up.
+
+The Professor had already hurried to the edge as soon as he was able
+to get his breath, calling loudly into the depths.
+
+There was no answer.  Then the boys added their voices to his, but
+without result.
+
+Tad could hear them call, but as yet he did not possess the strength
+to answer.  When the rope parted he realized instantly that he was
+falling, and sought desperately to check his fall.  He was powerless
+to do so.  However, the rope did this for him to a certain extent,
+catching here and there in crevices in the rocks, jolting Tad almost
+into unconsciousness as he bounded up and down.  Finally the springing
+rope bounced him clear of the last jagged points, dropping him neatly
+into the bushes.
+
+Tad landed squarely on the pack that he had gone in search of, but the
+shock was so severe that for a time he lay stunned and motionless.
+
+When finally he became conscious he heard his companions far above
+calling.
+
+The lad tried and tried to answer them, to assure them that he was
+safe, but the roar of the stream beside him seemed to drown his
+weakened voice.
+
+"I've got to make them hear.  I simply must make them hear," he said
+to himself.  "They will be beside themselves with worry, believing
+that I am killed."
+
+Finding that he could not raise his voice sufficiently to carry to the
+top of the cliff, the lad struggled to his feet and began waving his
+handkerchief.
+
+At first those above were so busy using their voices that they did not
+observe the tiny piece of cloth.
+
+They had about given up hope of finding the boy alive, when Ned
+Rector, who had been anxiously peering into the gorge, suddenly raised
+himself to his knees.
+
+"I see something moving," he shouted.
+
+The others crowded around him as close to the edge as they dared.
+They were able to make nothing of what he saw.
+
+"It's Tad! It's Tad! He's signaling us," cried Ned eagerly.
+
+"Are you sure?" asked the Professor doubtfully.
+
+"Come and see for yourself," answered Ned, grasping the Professor by
+the arm and rushing him to the edge.
+
+"Be careful!  Be careful!  You'll have both of us over there, next
+thing you know."
+
+"Judging from the experiences of our friends, it wouldn't do us much
+harm," laughed Ned.  "There's Tad Butler down there.  Goodness knows
+how far he fell, and Chunky got a bump that would have knocked the
+breath out of almost anyone.  Hooray, T-a-d!"  roared Ned in answer to
+his companion's signal.  "Are you all right?"
+
+The tiny piece of cloth waved more emphatically.
+
+"What's the matter, can't you talk?"
+
+The handkerchief fluttered more rapidly.
+
+Ned interpreted this as meaning that the boy could not make himself
+heard.
+
+"I am afraid he is hurt."
+
+"Can't be very seriously or he would be unable to stand up and swing
+that rag," suggested Walter.
+
+"Looks to me as if he were trying to climb up the rocks," announced
+Chunky.
+
+As they gazed down intently they discovered Tad emerging from the
+bushes, slowly making his way upward.
+
+"He never can make it," breathed the Professor, anxiously.  "He will
+be killed if he tries it."
+
+"Trust Tad.  He knows what he is about.  He won't try to climb up
+here," returned Ned.
+
+"You'll see what he's up to in a minute."
+
+The lad's object in scaling the steep wall as far as he could was to
+get away from the roar of the water that was hurling itself furiously
+through the gorge, so he could talk with his companions.
+
+After ascending as far as the formation of the rocks would allow, Tad
+perched himself behind a point of limestone and swung his hand gayly
+to those above.
+
+"You can't kill a Pony Rider," glowed Ned.
+
+"Yes, judging from what we have been through, you young gentlemen seem
+to be immune to almost everything.  Of course there is liable to be a
+first time.  We don't want that to happen.  But we have a serious
+difficulty on hand at the present moment.  Call to Master Tad.  See if
+he is all right."
+
+Ned did so.
+
+"I got a pretty fair shaking up," answered Tad, in a voice that they
+could catch only by the most careful attention.
+
+"How far did you fall?" shouted Walter.
+
+"I didn't have time to measure the distance," answered the voice from
+below.
+
+The boys uttered a shout of laughter.
+
+"Neither did Chunky."
+
+"What happened to him?"
+
+"He fell over in trying to catch the rope and save you."
+
+"Good boy!  Hurt him any?"
+
+"No.  It hurt us more in getting him out."
+
+"Ask him if he found the provisions ruined?" suggested the Professor.
+
+Tad informed them that nothing save some of the cooking utensils had
+been damaged.
+
+All had been too securely packed and wrapped with canvas to insure
+them against exactly the kind of an accident that had happened.
+
+"Think you can get the stuff up here?"  asked Ned.
+
+"I'd like to know how?  The rope is all down here.  I can't very well
+throw the things up to the top of the mountain," replied Tad.
+
+"That's so.  We had forgotten that," muttered the Professor.  "And
+young gentlemen, will you tell me how Master Tad himself is going to
+get back?  Don't you see my judgment was right when I said it was a
+dangerous undertaking?"
+
+"It seems so," answered Ned ruefully.  "But there must be some way to
+get the provisions out."
+
+"Bother the provisions," interrupted the Professor, impatiently.
+"We've something more important than food to consider just now.
+Master Tad is down in the canyon and from the present outlook he is
+liable to remain there for some time.  Any of you think of a plan that
+will help us?  Here, Eagle-eye, perhaps you can tell us how to get
+that young gentlemen out of there."
+
+The Indian shrugged his shoulders indifferently.
+
+"Him stay.  Spirits git um bymeby."
+
+"You stop that kind of talk," commanded Ned.
+
+"Tad is calling," interrupted Walter.
+
+"What is it?" asked Ned.
+
+"Get a rope and let down here."
+
+"There is not ten feet of rope in the outfit."
+
+"Send for help then.  I've got to get out of here somehow."
+
+"Tell him there is no help that we could depend upon, within twenty or
+thirty miles of here," said the Professor.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+MAKING THE BEST OF IT
+
+
+They were well along in the afternoon now and their predicament was
+apparently serious.
+
+"There seems to be only one way out of the difficulty," said the
+Professor, after a little thought.
+
+"What's that, Professor?" asked Walter.
+
+"We must send for help, distant as it is."
+
+"If you will pardon my differing with you, Professor, we have help in
+plenty right here and a lazy Indian thrown in for good measure," said
+Chunky.
+
+The boys laughed and nodded their heads in approval.
+
+"What we need is a rope, not more help.  Don't you think so?"
+
+"Yes, yes.  I should have put it that way myself only--"
+
+"Why not send the Indian for a rope?" suggested Chunky.  "I would go
+myself if I knew the way."
+
+"No, you'd fall in somewhere," chuckled Ned.
+
+"And the Indian probably would forget to come back," added Walter.
+"Altogether we are in a fix."
+
+"I think Master Stacy's suggestion is the most practicable of all,"
+decided the Professor.
+
+"Yes, but where could you send Eagle-eye?" asked Ned.  "It would take
+two days for him to ride to Springfield, and that much more time to
+return.  Tad would starve to death before that, wouldn't he?"
+
+"Not hardly.  Altogether, the situation has some humor in it.  Master
+Tad is down there with plenty of food, but he cannot get up here.  On
+the other hand we are up here safe, but without food and cannot get
+down to him."
+
+"If Tad couldn't get out, he'd be even better off than we then,"
+laughed Walter.
+
+"We would all be all right in that event, my boy.  Come here,
+Eagle-eye."
+
+The Indian obeyed the command lazily.
+
+"We want you to take one of the ponies and ride back to your friend's
+place as fast as you can.  Get a rope, one long enough to reach down
+into the gully.  Don't spare the pony.  Get back as quickly as
+possible."
+
+"Him no got rope."
+
+"How do you know?  You go just the same and you go in a hurry.  Don't
+you dare to show your face back here unless you bring a rope, sir.  If
+you get back before dark, I shall make you a present of this rifle
+that you have admired so much--"
+
+"I beg your pardon, that's my gun you are trying to give away,"
+objected Stacy.
+
+"Never mind, you shall have another.  Don't you think it's worth that
+much to get Master Tad out of his difficulty quickly?"
+
+"Of course it is.  I didn't mean it just that way.  Sure, give the
+lazy Indian my gun, give him anything I have, only do something to
+make him hurry."
+
+The Indian's eyes sparkled with anticipation.  "You give Indian gun?"
+he asked.  "Yes.  Me ride um pony like fire from sky."
+
+"Well, get off now," said the Professor.  "We'll take for granted that
+you'll do your best.  But get back before dark."
+
+The red man was off with a bound, and releasing one of the ponies
+leaped into the saddle, plunging over the rough, rocky trail at a pace
+that threatened destruction to pony and rider.
+
+"They'll break their necks.  But he certainly is making time," grinned
+Walter.
+
+"Hope he doesn't break any necks until he returns with a rope.  I
+don't care how soon after that he--"
+
+"That's not a kind thing to say, even of an Indian," corrected the
+Professor.
+
+"Then I won't say it.  I'll just think it," laughed Ned.
+
+"We have sent for a rope, Tad," called Walter.  "You must have
+patience, for it may be several hours before he gets back."
+
+"Whom did you send?"
+
+"The noble red man," interjected Ned, with a laugh.
+
+"Then, it is more likely to be a week before he returns," sighed the
+lad.
+
+They could almost hear Tad groan.  However, there was nothing they
+could do, and after talking back and forth for a time, the boys
+settled down to rest, rather worn out from the excitement of the last
+few hours.
+
+Chunky, though, seemed drawn to the edge of the cliff as if by some
+invisible force.  He simply could not keep away from it.
+
+Twice Ned Rector had hauled him back.
+
+"Fall over if you wish to, Chunky.  I can't be bothered to watch you
+all the time," said Ned finally.
+
+"I won't fall over.  Once is enough," replied Stacy, then they left
+him to himself.
+
+The boy, observing that his friends were not looking, began to toss
+tiny pebbles over.  He was chuckling with glee.  First he would throw
+one, peer over to watch the effect, then dodge back.  Stacy Brown's
+sense of humor seemed impossible to satisfy.
+
+At first Tad paid little attention, believing that what he heard
+dropping about him was particles dislodged from the rocks overhead.
+
+But when finally, a bit of limestone the size of a chestnut hit the
+lad fairly on the top of his head and bounded off, he sprang up from
+where he had been sitting, with an exclamation of impatience.
+
+Moving slightly to one side, Tad peered cautiously upward.  He was
+gratified a moment later by a sight of Stacy Brown's red face peeking
+over at him.
+
+"Hi, yi, yi, yi!" exploded Tad Butler.
+
+Just at this time Professor Zepplin happened to cast his eyes over
+toward Stacy and, seeing that something unusual was going on, went
+quickly but silently over to the boy.
+
+"What's the trouble?  Anything the matter?" called the Professor.
+
+"There will be if you don't tie Chunky to a tree or something," called
+Tad.
+
+"We haven't any rope to tie him with, but we'll attend to the young
+man," answered the Professor.  "See here, boy, what have you been up
+to?"
+
+"I--I was tossing pebbles over at him," answered Stacy whimsically.
+
+"That will do, young man," warned the Professor.  "I shall have to
+take you in hand if I hear any more such complaints.  Do you know that
+you might have seriously injured Master Tad?  Anything thrown from
+such a height strikes with considerable force."
+
+Stacy hung his head, and thrusting his hands in his pockets walked
+away, after which there was peace in the camp of the Pony Riders for
+some time.
+
+"Every time I try to have a little fun I get into trouble," muttered
+the boy.  "I'll show them some of these days that Stacy Brown isn't
+the tenderfoot they seem to think he is.  I'll do something yet."
+
+He had already done so when he threw himself on the rope with the hope
+of saving his companion from a terrible fall.  But, as usual, his
+effort had resulted in his own undoing.
+
+"Got anything to eat?" he asked, approaching the group.
+
+"You deserve to go hungry," retorted Ned.
+
+"Looks as though he would, whether he deserves it or not," added
+Walter.
+
+"Young men, there are some canned beans in my saddle bag.  I carried
+them along in case we should become separated from our pack train,"
+observed the Professor.
+
+"Hooray!" laughed Ned, tossing his hat in the air.  "I guess we won't
+starve this evening.  Let's cook them?"
+
+"What shall we cook them in?" asked Walter.
+
+"That's so.  I'd forgotten that.  Our cooking outfit is at the bottom
+of the gorge."
+
+"I think you will find something on one of the two remaining
+mules--something that will answer the purpose," suggested the
+Professor.  "But first, I would suggest that you unpack your tents and
+pitch them.  It is plain that we shall have to remain here all night."
+
+"Why not throw Tad's tent down to him if we don't succeed in getting
+him up?" asked Chunky.
+
+"Don't you think we've got enough to do with getting him and the
+provisions up, without throwing down the rest of our stuff?"  sniffed
+Ned.  "You must think we have an easy job ahead of us.  Well, if you
+think that you're wrong; we haven't."
+
+They got to work at once, unloading their tents.  The canvas was soon
+spread out on the ground, ropes laid in place and folding cots placed
+where they belonged.  The next task was to cut some tent poles, which
+was quickly accomplished.  Shortly afterwards, the little tents sprang
+up, and the boys busied themselves with making them inhabitable.
+
+While they were doing this, Professor Zepplin had busied himself with
+gathering firewood.  He had trouble in finding enough dry stuff to
+answer their purpose.  Walter remembered having seen some in a gully a
+short distance away.
+
+"I know where it is.  I'll go fetch it as soon as we have finished
+here," he said.
+
+"Very well, Walter.  I have enough here to start the supper with."
+
+Having done all that was necessary to the tent for the time being,
+Walter Perkins ran off to get the wood for the night fire, while Ned,
+having found a spider, prepared to cook the supper.
+
+Out of the packs he had drawn a small package that looked good to him.
+He opened it and uttered a shout.
+
+"Will we starve to-night?  I guess not," he laughed, waving the
+contents of the package above his head.
+
+"What have you found?" asked the Professor.
+
+"Bacon.  Enough for all of us and perhaps some to spare."
+
+"Then, we are not so badly off after all, Master Ned.  How about the
+coffee?"
+
+"Coffee went down the hill."
+
+"The tea also?"
+
+"Yes.  The whole business.  Neither have we any butter or lard.  We
+shall have to cook the beans in themselves and eat them without
+seasoning."
+
+"Cook the bacon with them.  That will furnish the salt," suggested
+Stacy.
+
+"Large head," laughed Ned.  "I'll do it.  Go fetch me some water."
+
+Stacy hurried away whistling, and in a few minutes returned with his
+sombrero filled with clear, cool mountain water.
+
+"Here, here!  What do you mean?  Think we want to drink out of that
+old hat?" jeered Ned.  "Get a pail; what ails you?"
+
+"Nothing ails me.  It's the pail you want to find fault with--not with
+me."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"The pail's down at the bottom of the mountain with Tad," grinned
+Stacy.
+
+"That's one on me," laughed Ned.  "Very well, go wash the hat
+thoroughly.  I suppose we shall have to use it for a water pail.  A
+good scrubbing won't do it any harm, at that."
+
+"I did wash it," replied Stacy.  "Think I'd bring you water in it
+without doing so?"
+
+"All right, put it down," said Ned, turning away.
+
+"I can't."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"If I put the hat down the water will all run out over the top."
+
+"Then stand there and hold it till we get through supper," growled
+Ned, turning to the fire where the bacon was frying in the pan of
+beans.
+
+Stacy eyed him questioningly for a few seconds, and then with an
+exclamation poured the water on the ground, jamming the wet, dripping
+sombrero down over his head.
+
+"You go get your own water.  I'm not the cook, anyhow," he said,
+thrusting both hands into his trousers pockets and strolling over to
+the other side of the fire, where he watched the supper preparations
+out of the corners of his eyes.
+
+"Serve you right if we didn't give you any supper," commented Ned.
+
+"I'll set the table if you will agree not to find fault with the way I
+do it," offered the boy.
+
+"Go ahead. I'll promise."
+
+Stacy flirted the table cloth in the air, and after walking around
+several times, succeeded in smoothing it out.  He could find only two
+spoons in their kit, and no knives and forks.
+
+The boy pondered deeply for a moment, then hurried off into the brush,
+returning shortly, stuffing something in his inside coat pocket.
+
+"Grub pi-i-i-lee!" announced the cook.
+
+"Hey, Tad, supper's ready," shouted Ned, peering over the cliff.
+
+"All right," came back the answer.  "I'm eating mine now.  I've got
+corned beef and--"
+
+"And what?  It must be something pretty good."
+
+"It is.  What would you say to canned peaches?"
+
+"Canned peaches!  Now, fellows, what do you think of that?  I didn't
+know there were any in the pack," mourned Ned.
+
+"And you the cook!  I don't think you're much of a cook after all.
+It's lucky for us you didn't know it, I guess," said Stacy, with a
+grimace.
+
+"Lucky for Tad, you mean.  Precious little of those canned peaches
+we'll ever see.  Come, fall to.  You'll make me late with my dishes,"
+urged Ned.
+
+They were hungry enough, and the spiderful of beans and bacon looked
+good to them.
+
+"What, do we have to eat with a spoon--a large spoon, at that?"
+
+"You do, unless you prefer to use your fingers, Professor.  We are not
+allowed by you to do that, but I presume you can if you want to.
+Chunky doesn't need any.  We will divide the two spoons between the
+three of us," said Ned, with a twinkle in Stacy's direction.
+
+But his levity did not disturb the fat boy in the least.  After having
+had his plate heaped with beans and bacon, Stacy calmly took from his
+pocket two sharp sticks that he had cut and trimmed just before
+supper.  On one of these he speared a piece of bacon, stringing
+several beans on the other, and carrying both mouthward at the same
+time.
+
+The boys burst out laughing.
+
+"Well, will you look at the chopsticks!" exclaimed Ned.  "I always
+thought he'd make a good Chinaman."
+
+"Master Stacy is at least resourceful," answered the Professor, a
+broad grin on his face.  "I think I shall cut me some sticks just like
+those."
+
+The boy stripped the beans from one into his mouth and extended the
+stick to Professor Zepplin.
+
+"No, thank you," laughed the scientist.  "I think I prefer to get my
+own."
+
+Chunky solemnly chased a truant bean about his plate, finally spearing
+and conveying it to his already well-filled mouth.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+BOY AND PONIES STRANGELY MISSING
+
+
+After all, the supper proved a very jolly meal, now that they were
+sure Tad was all right.  Then, again, the beans and bacon were
+pronounced excellent by each of them, and Stacy had made fully as good
+time with his crude chopsticks as had the others with the tablespoons.
+
+Supper finished, all hands turned in to help wash the dishes, and in a
+few moments the camp was again in perfect order.
+
+Tad was informed of Stacy's skill with chopsticks, and they could hear
+him laughing over it, even though they were no longer able to see him.
+
+"Are you warm enough down there?" called Ned.
+
+"Sure thing.  I have most of the blankets."
+
+"That means we freeze, I guess," interjected Stacy.
+
+"You can go cut yourself a few chopsticks and sleep under them,"
+retorted Ned Rector.  "Hey, Tad, why don't you build a fire down
+there?"
+
+"Haven't any matches."
+
+"Never mind, Tad, the moon soon will be up and you can get warm by
+that," shouted the fat boy.
+
+"Chunky has suddenly developed into a wit, Tad.  I don't know what's
+happened to the boy.  It must have been that fall over the cliff that
+shook his thinking machinery into place."
+
+"Pity some other folks not more'n a million miles away wouldn't fall
+over," muttered Stacy.
+
+"What's that you say?" demanded Ned, turning on him.
+
+"I--I was just thinking to myself," explained Chunky, edging away.
+
+Ned was glaring at him ferociously, at the same time struggling to
+keep back the laughter that rose to his lips because of Stacy's sharp
+retort.
+
+"I'll make a suggestion, young gentlemen," said the Professor.
+
+"Yes, sir, what is it?" asked the boys in chorus.
+
+"Pile up all the dry wood that Walter has gathered.  Pile it right up
+on the edge of the cliff and light it.  I think that will make the
+evening more cheerful for Master Tad down there."
+
+"That will be fine," cried Walter.
+
+Quickly carrying the dried wood to the place indicated, they piled it
+so that it would make a long fire, then lighted it from three sides at
+the same time.
+
+The result was a bright blaze that flared high, lighting the rocks far
+down into the canyon, but not sufficiently far to reach Tad.
+
+"Trying to burn up the mountain?" shouted Tad.
+
+"No; we're trying to burn it down, so we can pick you up," called Ned
+Rector.
+
+"Oh," came up from the depths.
+
+"It seems to me that you young men are getting rather sharp with each
+other," said the Professor, shaking his head.
+
+"I guess it must be the Ozark air getting into our lungs," answered
+Ned.  "I've felt like having a wrestling bout with some one ever since
+we got into these mountains."
+
+"Wait till Tad comes up.  I think he will accommodate you," suggested
+Chunky wisely.
+
+"You mustn't mind our talk, Professor," explained Walter.  "We say
+things to each other, but it's all in fun.  We don't mean to be mean.
+Do we, Ned?"
+
+"Of course not.  Chunky is the only one who--"
+
+"Never mind Chunky.  He'll take care of himself," answered the fat boy
+sharply.
+
+"Isn't it about time that lazy Indian were back, Professor?" asked
+Walter.
+
+"Yes, that's so.  I hadn't thought of that, Walter.  He has been gone
+all of five hours now, and the trip should not have taken him more
+than three all told."
+
+"Suppose he had to stop to smoke a pipe of peace with his friend,"
+suggested Ned.  "Then there would be a certain amount of grunting to
+do before Eagle-eye could state his business, and after that much
+talk, talk.  That's the Indian of it."
+
+"You seem to know a lot about Indians.  Were you ever an Indian?"
+asked Stacy innocently.
+
+"Even if I were, I couldn't be called a savage," retorted Ned.
+
+The hours wore on, and the moon came up in a cloudless sky, much to
+the relief of the boy down in the canyon.  Just before dark he had
+observed that there was quite a strip of rock and sand on his side of
+the rushing mountain torrent.  It extended further than he could see
+and the lad wondered where it might lead to.
+
+After a time he cuddled up, but could not sleep.  Perhaps it was the
+loneliness of his position.  Yet he had been alone in mountain and
+forest many times before.
+
+"Hello, up there!" he shouted, pulling himself to a sitting position.
+
+"Hello!" answered Walter.
+
+"I'm going to bed.  Don't worry about me.  I suppose the Indian has
+not returned?"
+
+"No such luck," answered Ned, who had come up beside Walter and
+replied to Tad's question.
+
+"And he won't be back till morning," sang the boy down there in the
+shadows.
+
+"Right you are," laughed Ned.  "If he gets back then we are in great
+luck.  I'll let the rope down to you if he should happen to return
+during the night."
+
+"No; wait till morning.  I wouldn't care to try to climb up in the
+dark.  I'd be likely to get hurt if I did.  You had better all turn in
+now.  There will be no need for you to sit up."
+
+"All right," answered Ned and Walter at once.
+
+"I think perhaps Master Tad is right.  We had better go to bed.  I
+would suggest, however, that one of you roll up in his blankets
+outside here, so that he can hear if Master Tad calls," suggested
+Professor Zepplin.
+
+"That's a good idea.  I'll do that, with your permission, Professor,"
+offered Ned Rector promptly.
+
+"Yes.  Then Walter and Stacy had better go to their tents.  If
+anything occurs during the night, remember you are to let me know at
+once.  If Eagle-eye returns, I want to know it, too."
+
+"Very well, sir," answered Ned.
+
+After replenishing the fire, determined to remain awake until
+daylight, the lad rolled up in his blankets.
+
+In a few minutes after the camp quieted down he fell sound asleep; and
+he did not open his eyes again until the sun peeped over the eastern
+range of the mountains and burned apart his eyelids.
+
+Ned awoke with a start.  He could scarcely believe that another day
+had dawned.
+
+He sat up, rubbing his eyes and blinking in the strong morning light.
+
+"Whew!  I'm stiff in every joint," he mumbled.  "And sleepier than
+Stacy Brown ever thought of being."
+
+Ned pulled himself to his feet, yawning broadly.
+
+"That's another bad habit I have learned from Chunky.  I wonder if
+Tad's awake."
+
+Peering over the edge, Ned was unable to make out whether his
+companion down there were awake or sleeping.  He hesitated to call,
+knowing that if Tad Butler were still asleep at that hour of the day
+it was because he was tired out and needed rest badly.
+
+Ned strode over to Stacy's tent.
+
+"Wake up," he commanded, pinching one of the fat boy's big-toes.
+
+"Get out," mumbled Stacy sleepily, at the same time kicking viciously
+with the disturbed foot.
+
+Thus encouraged, Ned pulled the other big-toe.
+
+Chunky rose in his wrath, hurling the rubber pillow on which he had
+been sleeping full into the face of his tormentor.
+
+Ned, caught off his balance, tumbled over in a heap, while Stacy
+crawled back under the blankets, very well satisfied with the result
+of his throw.
+
+But he was left in peace only a moment.  Ned recovered himself and
+returned to the charge.  Over went the cot, with Stacy beneath it.
+From the confusion of blankets emerged the red face of the fat boy.
+
+Ned Rector thought it time to leave.  He did so, with Stacy a close
+second and the rubber pillow brushing Ned's cheek in transit.
+
+There was no more sleep in the camp.  Ned and Stacy's foot race
+continued until both were out of breath and thoroughly awake.  Then
+they sat down, laughing, the color flaming in their cheeks and eyes
+sparkling with pleasurable excitement.
+
+"I'll wake up Tad, I guess," announced Ned after recovering his
+breath.
+
+Going to edge of the cliff, he shouted loudly.  But there was no
+answer to his summons.  Then both boys added their voices to the
+effort, joined a few minutes later by the Professor and Walter
+Perkins.
+
+They were unable to get any reply at all; nor was there the slightest
+movement or sign of life where Tad had last been seen.
+
+"What can it mean?" they asked each other, all the laughter gone out
+of their faces now.
+
+"It means," said Ned, "that Tad isn't there.  Beyond that, I would not
+venture an opinion."
+
+"Maybe he's fallen into the stream during the night and drowned,"
+suggested Chunky.
+
+"We shall not even consider that as possible, nor do I believe it is,"
+replied the Professor.  Nevertheless, he was deeply concerned over the
+mysterious disappearance of the lad.
+
+"If the Indian ever gets here with a rope, I'll go down there and see
+if I can find out anything," said Ned.
+
+"Not until all other means have been exhausted," declared the
+Professor.  "We appear to have lost one boy, and I do not intend that
+we shall lose another."
+
+"I wouldn't worry," comforted Walter Perkins.  "You all know Tad, and
+you know he isn't a boy that you can lose so easily.  I'll bet my
+share in the next meal that he's back here before dark this
+afternoon."
+
+This confidence brightened the others visibly.
+
+"That's right," agreed Ned.  "You can't down Tad.  I guess I'll go
+water my pony and give him some fresh trees to eat up while some of
+you are starting the fire.  We had better eat, anyway."
+
+"What is there to eat?" asked the Professor.
+
+"Beans, that's all, and not much of that.  Unless we get the stuff
+down there, we won't have another meal to-day."
+
+The other two boys began preparing for the camp-fire.  Ned had been
+gone only a few moments when he returned on a run.
+
+"Boys! Boys!" he cried.
+
+"What is it?  What is it?" they exclaimed in sudden alarm.
+
+"The ponies!  The ponies!"
+
+"What about them?" asked Walter, pausing as he was about to strike a
+match to the wood.
+
+"Yes, what of them, Master Ned?  Has anything happened to them?"
+asked the Professor, striding toward the excited Ned Rector.
+
+"Happened?  I should say there had--"
+
+"Well, what is it?  Don't keep us waiting in suspense all--"
+
+"They're gone!"
+
+"Gone?" exclaimed the two boys in chorus.
+
+"It can't be possible."
+
+"Two of them are.  They have broken away, I think.  It must have
+happened late last night, for I looked at them just before going to
+bed, and they were all asleep then."
+
+"Whi--which ponies--which ones are gone?" asked Walter apprehensively.
+
+"Chunky's and Tad's."
+
+"Is it possible?" sputtered the Professor, striding to the place where
+their stock had been tethered.
+
+"Yes, they've broken away," he decided, observing that a piece of
+stake rope belonging to each had been broken short off.  "Look around,
+boys.  They cannot be far away.  Probably got hungry and concluded to
+look for some tender bushes to browse on."
+
+The boys, thus encouraged, hastened to begin their search for the
+missing stock.
+
+"They went this way," shouted Ned.
+
+All hands hurried to him.
+
+"Yes, there's their tracks," agreed the Professor.  "Now follow them,
+but look out that you do not get lost."
+
+Instead, a few moments afterward, they lost the trail.  It disappeared
+from before them as utterly as if the ponies had walked on air from
+that point on.  No amount of searching brought it to view again, and
+after more than an hour of persistent effort, the Professor called the
+hunt off, and the crestfallen party returned to camp.
+
+"What are we going to do?" asked Stacy dolefully.
+
+"I know what you are going to do," returned Ned.
+
+"What?"
+
+"You're going to ride a mule from this point on."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+THE INDIAN MAKES A DISCOVERY
+
+
+It was not a cheerful breakfast to which the lads sat down.  It seemed
+as if nothing but trouble had overtaken them ever since they had been
+in the Ozark Mountains.
+
+They had just finished when the Indian rode in on Ned's mount, which
+he had chosen for his journey.
+
+This was something at least to detract their attention from their
+troubles.
+
+"Hey, you haven't got back, have you?" taunted Ned, noting the flecks
+of foam on his pony with disapproving eyes.
+
+"Me back," grinned the Indian.
+
+"I see you are," replied the Professor dryly.  "Where's the rope?"
+
+"Yes; we don't care so much about seeing you, but we want that rope,"
+added Ned emphatically.
+
+"No got um."
+
+"Do you mean to say you have been gone nearly twenty-four hours and
+have not found a rope?" demanded Professor Zepplin.
+
+"No rope," persisted the guide sullenly.
+
+"Why not?" demanded Ned, steadying himself, for he was more wrought up
+than he wished to admit, even to himself.
+
+The Shawnee shrugged his shoulders.
+
+"Where's that rope?" snapped Chunky, with sudden new-found courage,
+facing the guide at close quarters.
+
+"No get um!  No get um!" insisted the Indian, gesticulating
+extravagantly.
+
+"Yes, but why not, why not?" urged the Professor.
+
+"No find."
+
+"You mean you could not find one?"
+
+"He doesn't know what he means," sneered Ned.  "He's had too much pipe
+of peace."
+
+"Go take care of that pony," commanded the Professor sternly.  "Rub
+him down well.  After you have done so, return and get your breakfast.
+There's not much for you."
+
+"He'll have to wash his own dishes," announced Ned.  "No washing
+dishes for a lazy Indian.  No, not for me."
+
+"Yes, he will have to do that," agreed the Professor.  "Come back
+here, Eagle-eye."
+
+The boys did not know at the moment what the Professor had in mind.
+
+"Two of our ponies got away last night, Eagle-eye."
+
+The Indian nodded, but without exhibiting any surprise.
+
+"Did you know it?"
+
+"Me know."
+
+"How?" demanded the Professor, with unfeigned surprise.
+
+"Me see um tracks.  Me see um ropes there."
+
+"Well, you have got some sense after all,"' retorted the Professor.
+"How do you suppose they got away?"
+
+"No get away."
+
+"What's that?  What do you mean?" asked Ned sharply.
+
+"No get away."
+
+"I guess the pipe of peace has gone to his head," declared Ned
+disgustedly.  "Now you say they didn't get away.  If not, they must be
+over there now.  How do you explain that?"
+
+"No there."
+
+"Of course they're not.  Then they got away."
+
+"No get away.  Steal um," announced the Indian calmly.
+
+His announcement was like an electric shock to them.
+
+"Stolen?  Stolen?  Is that what you mean?" shouted Professor Zepplin.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Oh, preposterous!  Stolen?  And with all of us sleeping within a rod
+or so of them?  Impossible."
+
+"Eagle-eye say stole," insisted the guide.
+
+"How do you know?"
+
+"See um tracks, then not see um tracks."
+
+"Well, what do you infer from that--what does that mean?"
+
+The Indian went through a series of pantomimic gestures to indicate
+that the feet of the missing ponies had been bound with cloths so that
+their hoofs would leave no imprint.
+
+"Come Eagle-eye," he commanded, striding off toward the bedding-down
+place.
+
+They followed and gathered around him as he picked up the ends of the
+tether ropes.
+
+"Break um?  No, cut um."
+
+"You mean the ropes have been cut?"
+
+"Uh-huh," he grunted in gutteral tones.
+
+There was silence for a moment.
+
+"He isn't such a wooden Indian as he'd have us believe after all,"
+grinned Ned.
+
+"Can't you trail them?" asked Stacy.
+
+The Shawnee shook his head.
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"No leave trail.  Smart man."
+
+"Yes, there is no doubt of that," agreed the Professor.  "Have you any
+idea who did this thing, Eagle-eye?"
+
+The Shawnee shrugged his shoulders as indicating that he did not know.
+
+"Probably it was the same fellow whom you found fooling about the camp
+the other night," suggested Walter.
+
+"Just what I was thinking," added Ned.
+
+"Yes, no doubt he is the man.  But what we are going to do, I don't
+know.  It occurs to me that I might send some one on to Mr.  Munson,
+superintendent of the Red Star Mine, to whom I have a letter, asking
+him to send us on a couple of extra ponies."
+
+"Does he know who we are?" asked Walter Perkins.
+
+"Yes, he knows your father.  Mr. Munson is expecting us, and is to
+entertain us when we reach the place."
+
+"How far are we from there now?" inquired Ned.
+
+"How far, Eagle-eye?"
+
+"Two suns."
+
+"Two days, eh.  We could make it while Eagle-eye was going there and
+back.  I move that we wait until to-morrow.  Perhaps we may find Tad
+some time to-day.  I believe he will return, as I said before.  If he
+does, we can start right on.  Some of us will have to walk, but that
+doesn't matter.  We are pretty well used to doing that, I guess."
+
+"Master Ned, your suggestion is a good one.  We shall adopt it.  I
+presume the other animals are safe.  The thieves certainly will not
+have the assurance to come back again."
+
+"No come more," affirmed the guide.
+
+"After you have finished your breakfast I want you to start in and
+look for Master Butler.  You'll have to find a way to get down there,
+even if you have to wade in the stream--"
+
+"Spirits git um boy."
+
+"We will leave that out of the question.  You find him, that's all."
+
+"He won't go down there," said Ned.  "He may say he will, but he
+won't."
+
+"I'll see that he does," replied the Professor, with a firm closing of
+the lips.  "I have trifled long enough.  Now we shall do something.
+I--"
+
+"Well, what's all the excitement about?" demanded a cheery voice
+behind them.
+
+"Tad!  It's Tad!" shouted the boys in chorus.
+
+With yells of delight they pounced upon him and for a moment there was
+a regular football scrimmage, with Tad Butler at the bottom of the
+heap, the others mauling him about with shouts of glee.
+
+It was the Pony Rider Boys' way of showing their delight at the return
+of their companion.  But Tad did not mind it at all.  Throwing them
+off with a prodigious effort he scrambled to his feet, dust-covered,
+hatless and with hair in a sad state of disorder.
+
+Professor Zepplin had thrust the other boys aside and was gripping
+Tad's hands.
+
+"It's the last time you ever get me to consent to your taking such a
+chance," he said.  "How did you get out?  You certainly did not climb
+up the side of the mountain."
+
+"Oh, no," laughed Tad.  "I knew there must be some way out, for I
+found a moccasin track down there in the sand before I turned in last
+night."
+
+"You must have pretty good eyes to find a moccasin track in the dark,"
+laughed Ned.
+
+"I did not say it was dark.  I made the discovery before that."
+
+"Tell us about it," urged Walter.
+
+"You didn't find any of Eagle-eye's evil spirits down there, did you?"
+asked Ned.
+
+"No.  I wish I had.  I should have been glad of company of any kind."
+
+"We want to hear how you got out," spoke up Chunky.  "I--I came pretty
+near falling in after you, too."
+
+"Yes, I know.  Well, to begin with, before I found the moccasin track
+I noticed that there was room to walk along by the side of the stream.
+When the moon came up, not being able to sleep, for some reason--I
+guess it was on account of the water that made such a racket, I
+thought I'd look around a bit.  After I got started I kept on going
+and going, and the further I went the less steep did the banks
+appeared--"
+
+"How far did you go?" interrupted the Professor.
+
+"I haven't the slightest idea."
+
+"I presume you found no great change in the topographic features of--"
+
+Tad laughed good-naturedly.
+
+"I was trying to get out, Professor. Finally, I found a place that
+looked good and after I had scrambled up some fifteen feet I
+discovered that I had struck a trail.  It had been in use not long
+since.  What for I cannot imagine.  The rest was very easy.  I reached
+the top of the cliff just after daylight."
+
+"How--how did you find your way back?" wondered Stacy.
+
+"I followed along the ridge.  After a while I saw the smoke from your
+camp-fire, then I hurried in and here I am."
+
+"You always were a lucky fellow," laughed Ned.  "Now if that had been
+myself I should have been down there yet, or else in the river or
+whatever you call that stream down there."
+
+"Got anything to eat?" asked Tad.  "My appetite this morning is a
+thing to be feared."
+
+"Depends upon how much the guide has eaten," replied Walter.  "I guess
+you will have to lick the frying pan."
+
+"Yes, that's all he'll get," added Ned.  "Any fellow who has filled up
+on canned peaches and the like doesn't need any more than that."
+
+"Professor," continued Tad, "I would suggest that we pack up and move
+along down until we come to the trail.  We can all then work into the
+gorge leaving the ponies on top.  It will be an easy matter for us to
+pack the stuff to the top.  We'll be in good shape then.  Shall we do
+it?"
+
+"Yes, yes," answered the Professor absently.
+
+"Come on then, fellows.  I'll tighten my belt and save my appetite
+until we get something like real food to eat.  Licking a frying pan
+won't satisfy my longings this morning.  I'll pack the ponies while
+you are striking the tents.  I--"
+
+Tad turned, gazing at them curiously.  They were strangely silent.
+The lad felt instinctively that something had gone wrong, for Tad
+Butler was quick to catch a suggestion.
+
+"Well, what is it all about?  You are as solemn as a lot of owls at
+sunrise.  Anything happened?"
+
+Walter nodded.
+
+"It's about the ponies, Master Tad," the Professor informed him.
+
+"The ponies?  Which ponies?  Are they hurt?" exclaimed the lad
+sharply.
+
+"We don't know," answered Professor Zepplin.
+
+"Then what is the matter?  Don't keep me in suspense."
+
+"Gone," growled Ned dismally.
+
+"Where?"
+
+"I'm sure I don't know.  The redskin says they have been stolen--your
+pony and Chunky's.  The trail has been masked so we cannot follow
+them."
+
+Without a word, Tad Butler hastened to the spot where the animals had
+been tethered when he went over the cliff.  Silently he made a careful
+inspection of the place.
+
+"Well, what do you think of it?" asked Ned.
+
+"I think I'll walk," answered Tad, thrusting both hands in his
+trousers pockets.  "But I'm going to get my pony back before ever I
+leave these mountains," he announced quietly.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+HORSE THIEVES PAY A SECOND VISIT
+
+
+Tad was unusually silent while they were packing ready to break camp,
+but as they got out on the trail he became more talkative.  He did not
+refer to the ponies again on the way, though the lad's mind was
+working rapidly.
+
+"Do you think we shall be able to hire some ponies of Mr. Munson?"  he
+asked when they had been an hour on their journey.
+
+"I have no doubt of it," answered the Professor.  "Perhaps it would be
+better to buy a couple."
+
+"I don't want to do that just yet.  There's the place where we are to
+leave the trail," he added, pointing to what appeared to be a broad
+gash in the rocks ahead of them.  "We shall have to leave the ponies,
+what few we have left.  I don't suppose the thieves will come back for
+the rest of them, do you?"
+
+"Hardly," answered the Professor.
+
+Securing their mounts as well as the two pack mules, they started down
+the mountain side with Tad Butler in the lead.  On down the long,
+sloping trail they trudged until at last they reached the point where
+they were obliged to get down on all fours to clamber the last fifteen
+feet of precipitous rocks.
+
+Eagle-eye halted, standing rigid, gazing off across the gorge.
+
+"Well, what are you waiting for?" demanded the Professor.  "Come
+along.  We shall need you."
+
+"Me stay."
+
+Professor Zepplin was angry.  He was for trying to force the Indian to
+accompany them.
+
+"I would suggest that you let him remain where he is," said Tad.  "We
+shall need some one here to haul up the packs when we get them at the
+bottom there.  I'll leave my rope for him."
+
+"Very well, just as you say.  I hate to see even an Indian make such
+an exhibition of himself," answered the Professor witheringly.  "I
+never supposed there were such cowards among the red men."
+
+Tad handed his rope to Eagle-eye, at the same time telling the fellow
+what he was to do.  The party then scrambled down the rocks, soon
+finding themselves on more secure footing by the side of the roaring
+stream.
+
+The mountain torrent was more of a reality to the boys now than had
+been the case when they were gazing down upon it from the top of the
+cliff.
+
+"My, I'd hate to fall in there!" decided Stacy, edging away from the
+flying spray that floated like a thin cloud along the edge of the
+bank, masking the torrent like a white veil.
+
+"Wonderful! wonderful!" exclaimed the Professor, raising both hands
+above his head, glancing first up then down the imposing mountain
+gash.  He was deeply impressed by the spectacle.
+
+"Young gentlemen," he said, turning to them, impressively, "it would
+be well for you to give serious thought to the remarkable region in
+which you now find yourselves."
+
+"Yes, sir," agreed Tad.
+
+"We are not liable to forget it, Professor," added Ned.
+
+"The Ozark region is unusual in having within such limited areas so
+wide a range of geological formation."
+
+Professor Zepplin in his enthusiasm was waxing eloquent, and the lads
+were giving respectful attention.
+
+"Perhaps you are unaware," continued the scientist, "that in both the
+eastern and western portions of this range, a section running
+transversely to its main axis presents a complete succession from the
+oldest Archaean to the newest quaternary."
+
+The Professor fixed Stacy with a stern eye.
+
+"Do you follow me, young gentleman?"
+
+"Ye--yes, sir," stammered Chunky weakly, shrinking back against the
+rocks.
+
+"And from perfectly massive rocks to the most perfectly stratified
+sediments there are represented a considerable variety of masses
+belonging to different ages--a very complete section of the Palaeozoic
+and a rather full sequence of the latter deposits which recline
+against the older strata."
+
+"Yes, sir," agreed Ned meekly.
+
+"A-h-e-m.  And now having thus enlightened you, we will proceed with
+our quest for something to eat.  I trust my explanation has been
+perfectly clear to you all?" queried the scientist, with the suspicion
+of a twinkle in his eyes.
+
+"With all due respect to you, sir, I must confess that I didn't
+understand a word of it," answered Tad boldly.
+
+"I hadn't the slightest idea that you did," retorted the Professor,
+with a hearty laugh.  "Our friend, Master Stacy, appears to be the
+only one of you who grasped the scientific truths."
+
+The boys shouted with laughter.
+
+Ned Rector proposed three cheers for Professor Zepplin, which were
+given with a will.
+
+Stacy, rather crestfallen, joined in the cheering, weakly, however.
+
+"It is well to give thought now and then to more serious matters,
+boys.  After we are out of our present difficulty I will put what I
+have just told you into more simple language--language that you will
+all understand.  This is the most unusual country we have been in yet,
+and I want you to leave it with a pretty clear idea of the lessons it
+teaches.  How far is it to where our provisions were dumped?"
+
+"It will take us an hour to get there, I should say," replied Tad.
+"We had better be on our way."
+
+Tad tied his red handkerchief to a bush, so they might not miss the
+trail upon their return, after which the party started out on its long
+tramp.
+
+"If we were nearer to food, I should not take the time to rescue the
+supplies.  At the present rate, it may be days before we reach a
+settlement."
+
+"Especially if we lose any more live stock," said Tad.
+
+Lost in admiration, the lads worked their way along the bank, gazing
+first at the swirling waters, whose spray here and there gave off the
+colors of the rainbow in the morning sun, then up at the towering
+white limestone cliffs above them.
+
+"There's the place," announced Tad finally.
+
+"Where?" queried the Professor.
+
+"Just below where you see that projection of rock that looks like an
+Indian's nose.  That's the rock that I tumbled down after the rope
+broke with me.  I am black and blue yet.  Don't think there's a spot
+on the rock that I didn't hit on my way down.  My, I got a bump!"
+
+"Are the things damaged?" asked Ned solicitously.
+
+"No, nothing to speak of.  I guess I did the most damage when I helped
+myself last night," laughed Tad.
+
+Tad, after finishing his meal, had carefully packed the stuff
+together, and they now found it all in excellent condition.  The heavy
+canvas had protected the food and dishes in the dizzy fall, though
+some of the cans had been considerably flattened.
+
+"What do you say to having a real breakfast down here?" suggested
+Walter.
+
+"Yes, I'm hungry," urged Chunky.
+
+"Oh, you'll get over that," retorted Ned.
+
+"An excellent idea, but what are you going to do for a fire?"  asked
+Professor Zepplin.
+
+They had not thought of that before.
+
+"That's so.  There is no wood down here at all," said Tad.  "But, wait
+a minute.  I know where there are some dead brush sticks a little way
+from here.  Come on, some of you fellows, and we'll see what we can
+do."
+
+When they returned each had his arms full of brush and vines, all of
+which they dumped in a heap on the edge of the rapids.
+
+"It doesn't look very promising," said the Professor, with a doubtful
+shake of his head.
+
+"No, I guess it will be a quick fire," answered Tad.  "Ned, you get
+the coffee ready and the other things so we can put them on the fire
+the moment we get it started.  I'll have the pile ready by the time
+you are."
+
+With considerable skill the lad arranged the heap, placing the dead
+leaves and the driest of the sticks at the bottom.  On top he placed a
+mass of half green stuff, packing the whole down by throwing himself
+on the pile, after which he rounded it up in a mound shape, with a
+circle of stones in the middle.
+
+The fire blazed up encouragingly, and Ned, getting water from the
+rapids for the coffee, put the pot quickly into the ring of stones.
+
+"Something's going to happen in about a minute," announced Chunky,
+with an air of great wisdom.  He had been watching the preparations
+with hands thrust deeply into his pockets.
+
+"What's going to happen?" demanded Ned, turning on him sharply.
+
+Chunky, instead of replying, leaned back against the rocks and began
+to whistle.  In a moment the disaster that he had foreseen was upon
+them.
+
+The flimsy pile of brush and vines, after the fire had burned away its
+foundations, gave way beneath the weight of the stones.  Coffee pot,
+coffee and stones went down with a crash and a clatter.
+
+"Save the coffee pot!" shouted Ned, giving Chunky a push.
+
+"Save it yourself.  I'm not the cook," answered the fat boy, who
+chanced to be nearest to the fire.  "I told you something was going to
+happen."
+
+In the meantime Tad Butler had sprung to the rescue.  With one
+well-directed kick he had scattered the brush and rescued the coffee
+pot before serious damage had been done to it.
+
+Rushing to the river, he scooped up a fresh supply of water, planting
+the pot in the center of the fire and heaping the burning stuff about
+it.
+
+"We'll have some coffee after all," he glowed.  "I don't think Ned is
+much of a cook, do you, Chunky?"
+
+"'Bout as good as you are at making fires to cook by, I guess,"
+mumbled Chunky.
+
+Tad laughed with them at his own expense.
+
+The water was soon boiling, however, and with the canned stuff laid on
+the canvas which had been spread out close to the water, the jolly
+party shortly after that were able to sit down to breakfast.
+
+"Two lumps of sugar I believe you take, Professor?" questioned Ned
+politely, poising a handful of lumps over the Professor's cup.
+
+"Give me four," interjected Chunky.
+
+"You take yours clear this morning," retorted Ned.
+
+"I got the condensed milk, anyway," jeered Chunky.  "No sugar for me,
+no condensed milk for you," and he planted the can firmly between his
+feet, which were curled up half under him.
+
+"Oh, give him the sugar.  I have to take my coffee half milk," begged
+Walter.
+
+"All right, hand over the condensed milk then.  I'll give you two
+lumps," said Ned.
+
+"Three," replied Chunky, firmly, making no move to hand over the milk.
+
+Ned let the lumps drop into his companion's cup, but from such a
+height that Chunky had to dodge as the coffee flew up.
+
+He wiped a few drops of the coffee from his face, deliberately filled
+his cup to overflowing with milk, then handed the can to Walter.
+
+"I guess Chunky doesn't need any of our help.  He is pretty well able
+to take care of himself," laughed Tad.
+
+"Delicious," breathed the Professor, sampling his cup of steaming
+liquid.
+
+"Who, Chunky?" asked Ned quizzically.
+
+"Certainly not the coffee," replied the Professor in a tone of
+reproof.
+
+The meal was finished with many a jest and the pack divided up into
+bundles so that each should have his share to carry, after which the
+lads took up their return tramp.
+
+They arrived at the mountain trail shortly before noon.
+
+"Where's the guide?" asked Tad, glancing about.
+
+"Probably asleep somewhere," replied Ned.  "He's almost as big a
+sleepy head as Chunky."
+
+"He is not here, Ned."
+
+"Most unreliable guide we've had.  I shall dismiss him immediately
+upon our arrival at the Red Star Mine," decided the Professor.  "You
+are sure he is nowhere about, Tad?"
+
+"You can see.  He's not here.  I hope he has left the rope.  I'll
+climb up there and find out.  No, he has taken it with him,
+evidently."
+
+"Here's the rope," called Stacy, hauling it from a clump of bushes
+where it had evidently been dropped.
+
+"Coil it and cast it up here," directed Tad.
+
+This done, he began hauling up the bundles that they made fast to it
+below. Finally, this was completed without accident.  All hands took
+up their packages from that point and started along the winding trail
+that led up the mountain side.
+
+"Most peculiar, most peculiar," muttered the Professor.
+
+"Maybe some of those spirits that the Indian was talking about came up
+and got him," suggested Stacy, with serious face.
+
+"Maybe," agreed Ned.  "But I'd sooner think they would take you if
+they were the real bad spirits."
+
+"It is my opinion," declared Professor Zepplin gravely, "that the
+spirits that trouble Eagle-eye most are not the supernatural kind.  We
+certainly drew a prize when we picked him."
+
+"We did," agreed Tad, laughing.
+
+"Next time we'll choose a white man, if we can get one--"
+
+"Hello, he isn't here, either," called Ned, who was the first to reach
+the end of the trail at the top.
+
+Tad, close behind him, cast a searching glance about.
+
+"That's not all that is missing, either," he said sharply.
+
+"What!" exclaimed the Professor.
+
+"Two more ponies, that's all," replied Tad Butler.  "We are a smart
+lot to let him steal our stock right under our very eyes."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+THE PROFESSOR DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF
+
+
+The boys uttered a cry of dismay.
+
+"You don't mean--you can't mean they have been here again?"
+
+"It looks that way," replied Tad.  "Both Walter's and Ned's ponies are
+gone.  See, the ropes have been untied, not cut.  The ponies surely
+did not do that."
+
+The Professor was much too excited to speak for the moment.
+
+"I am glad they did not take your mount, Professor.  That is one thing
+to be thankful for, anyway," said Tad.  "I don't understand this
+business at all."
+
+"Why, they must have been hanging about our camp all the time.  They
+followed us here," exploded Ned.  "We are a lot of tenderfeet."
+
+"Some of us," suggested Chunky.
+
+"This is no joke," snapped Ned, turning on him almost savagely.  "We
+are in a fix."
+
+"Yes, but we've got two mules left, haven't we," queried the boy
+whimsically.
+
+"It's an outrage!" shouted the Professor.  "I'll have the law on them
+whoever they are.  They shall suffer for this!"
+
+"Yes, but first we shall have to catch them, Professor," returned Tad.
+"It seems we were not misinformed when they warned us to be on the
+lookout for horse thieves."
+
+"In Springfield, yes.  I had no idea it was as bad as this.  They
+certainly can't get away without being caught."
+
+"I don't know about that.  But I do know that we have been easy game
+for the thieves."
+
+"Do you think they took anything else?" demanded the Professor.
+
+"I don't see that anything else is missing, do you, Ned?"
+
+"No."
+
+"See, they took off the saddles.  Didn't want them for some reason.
+I'm glad of that.  By the way, did they get my saddle when they stole
+my pony last night?" asked Tad.
+
+"No, I had your saddle in my tent," Walter informed him.
+
+"The question is--" began Tad.
+
+"The first question is, what has become of Eagle-eye," interrupted the
+Professor.
+
+"That's so.  I had forgotten about him," said Tad.
+
+The lads looked at each other questioningly.  The same thought was in
+the mind of each.
+
+"You--you don't suppose--" muttered Walter.
+
+"Of course!  That's it!  It's Eagle-eye!" exclaimed Ned.
+
+"Don't be too quick to accuse anyone, young gentlemen.  It is very
+irritating, I know.  But let us be slow about placing the charge at
+any man's door, be he copper colored or white."
+
+"But, Professor," expostulated Ned Rector, "he goes away, and while
+absent from camp two ponies are stolen.  To-day we leave him halfway
+down the rocks and upon our return, two more ponies are missing, as
+well as the Indian himself.  What can we think, but that he has had
+something to do with our loss?"
+
+"If I remember correctly, it was Eagle-eye who called our attention to
+the fact that the animals had been stolen last night.  You thought
+they had broken away," recalled Professor Zepplin.
+
+"That's so," agreed Ned.
+
+"It certainly does look bad.  If Eagle-eye had no hand in the theft,
+why should he run away as he seems to have done?" asked Tad.
+
+"This is what is known as circumstantial evidence," the Professor
+informed them.  "I do not say that the Indian is guiltless.  I am
+simply counseling caution.  Wait.  We shall soon be at the mines, and
+from there, we can set the officers of the law on the track, which we
+shall do as soon as we are able to communicate with Mr.  Munson."
+
+"Yes, but how are we going to get there?" asked Ned.
+
+"Guess we'll have to ride the mules," grinned Stacy.
+
+"You may be a mule driver if you wish--I'll walk," retorted Ned.
+
+"That's what we all shall have to do," laughed Tad.  "Glad the thieves
+didn't take our guns."
+
+"And the food," reminded Stacy.
+
+"Yes.  Probably they knew you had your appetite with you," laughed
+Ned.
+
+In the meantime Tad had begun a search about the place for clues.  He
+discovered where the animals had been taken from camp, but, as in the
+case with the loss of the other animals, the trail suddenly
+disappeared a short distance from camp.
+
+"They seem to have headed for the west.  We are sure of that much,"
+decided Ned.
+
+"Which means nothing at all," answered Tad.  "They may have turned and
+gone back or else are traveling along ahead of us.  In either case we
+can't follow them.  Do you not think we had better be starting,
+Professor?  We cannot afford to lose a minute now.  I want my pony."
+
+"And so do I--and I--and I," added the lads, one after the other.
+
+"I think so.  Yet how are we going to find our way?  We shall be
+lost."
+
+"No, we can't get lost, Professor," interrupted Stacy.
+
+"Not lost--cannot get lost?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Why not?" glared the Professor.
+
+"We can't get lost," announced Stacy impressively, "because we don't
+know where we are, anyway."
+
+A roar of laughter greeted this assertion.  It did more than anything
+else to put the boys in a better frame of mind--unless perhaps it
+might have been the return of the lost ponies.
+
+"I am forced to admit the correctness of Master Stacy's logic,"
+replied the scientist, after their laughter had subsided.
+
+"It seems fairly simple to me," spoke up Tad.  "The mountains run in a
+southeasterly direction.  If we follow that direction we are bound to
+come out somewhere--"
+
+"In Arkansas or the Indian Territory or some other place," cut in Ned
+Rector.
+
+"As I understand it," went on Tad, not heeding the interruption,
+"these gorges or canyons in the Ozark range follow the same general
+direction.  We have one right here by us, and we have the sun above
+us.  Between the two we should be able to find our way."
+
+"That sounds promising, Master Tad.  You are a level-headed young man,
+even if you do take long chances and do foolish things now and again.
+I shall adopt your suggestion and we'll be off at once."
+
+They were forced to pack some of their belongings on the back of
+Professor Zepplin's mount, while each of the two mules was subjected
+to an additional load.
+
+When the packing had been finished there was little room for anyone to
+ride, so Tad took one of the mules, Ned Rector the other, leading them
+by short ropes, and started off followed by Walter and Stacy on foot,
+with the Professor riding his own pony.
+
+The boys moved away with broad grins on their faces as they thought of
+the spectacle they were creating.  Yet there was none to watch their
+undignified progress.  However, leading a mule and riding a pony were
+two distinctly different operations.  The boys were in a hurry and the
+mules were not and over this difference of inclination they had many
+disagreements.
+
+Once Ned lost his temper with the beast of burden that he had in tow,
+and used his crop rather too freely to suit the long-eared animal.
+The latter kicked until he kicked the pack from his back.
+
+Amid the shouts of laughter of his companions, his face red and
+perspiring, Ned was obliged to gather up the pack in sections and
+strap it in place again, which he did after much endeavor.  Thereafter
+he kept his temper.
+
+"I've heard it said that a mule wouldn't kick after twelve o'clock,"
+said Chunky.  "Guess it wasn't true."
+
+"Perhaps it is after twelve o'clock at night that was meant,"
+suggested Tad.
+
+"Mules are asleep then, aren't they?"
+
+"Supposed to be, I guess."
+
+"Then that's it," answered the fat boy somewhat enigmatically.
+
+They failed to make any great distance that day.  How far they had
+advanced they did not know.  Shortly before sundown they called a halt
+at Professor Zepplin's suggestion.
+
+The mules went to sleep while the boys were unloading them.  Ned
+confessed that he was nearly fagged.  Tad, on the other hand, declared
+that he had never felt better in his life.
+
+"Hope they won't steal anymore live stock," said Ned.  "If they do
+we'll have to pack the outfit on our own backs, which, after all,
+probably wouldn't be any harder than trying to lead a stubborn mule.
+I think I'll tie a string around the necks of the stock and hitch the
+string to my big-toe to-night.  Then I'll know if anybody tries to run
+off with them."
+
+"Run off with your big-toes?" queried Chunky.
+
+"No, run off with the ponies, I said--I mean the pony and the mules."
+
+Stacy's eyes lighted up appreciatively.
+
+"I've got a string that you can use," he said.  "I'll fix it up for
+you.  Shall I?"
+
+"You would like to see me lose my big-toes, wouldn't you?  No, thank
+you, I'll furnish my own string if I decide to adopt the plan."
+
+After supper had been cooked and eaten, and the dishes washed, all
+hands gathered around the camp-fire, where they remained until
+bedtime, which on that particular night was earlier than usual,
+because all were more or less tired after their active day.
+
+It was decided that some one should be left on guard lest they lose
+their remaining stock.  The Professor took the first half of the
+night, Tad going on at half past twelve and remaining through the rest
+of the night.
+
+Nothing occurred to disturb the camp, for which all hands were
+thankful.  Tents were quickly struck after breakfast and once more the
+outfit started out on the trail after having discussed the
+advisability of bearing to the west a little.  Their final conclusion,
+however, was to keep within sight of the gorge.
+
+Two days passed as the little outfit crawled along over the rough
+mountain passes, down through broad deep washes and narrow draws.  It
+was trying work, but the lads kept up their spirits.  So inured were
+they to hardships, by this time, that the unusual strain gave them
+little or no inconvenience.
+
+On the morning of the third day they had about decided to change the
+course and try to find their way out of the mountains as the quickest
+method of getting out of their predicament.
+
+They were gathering their equipment together preparatory to making a
+start in the new direction, when Tad startled the camp by a sudden
+exclamation of surprise.
+
+"What is it this time?" cried the Professor, prepared for almost any
+surprise.
+
+"I see smoke!"
+
+"Oh, is that all," answered Ned disgustedly, not at first realizing
+the importance of the announcement to them.  "I thought maybe you had
+discovered the missing ponies."
+
+"Perhaps I have.  Who knows?  At any rate, don't you see it means we
+are going to meet some human beings at last?  We haven't seen one,
+outside of our own party, in several days, though we have good reason
+for thinking that one or more has been near us."
+
+"Smoke, smoke?" queried the Professor.  "Where?"
+
+"There, to the southwest."
+
+"That's so, it is smoke.  It surely is."
+
+"Must be somebody's camp-fire," decided Tad, studying the wisps of
+vapor that were curling lazily up on the clear, warm morning air.
+
+"Indeed, it must be," declared the Professor.  "We must get in touch
+with them at once, for they no doubt will soon be on their way.  We
+have not a minute to lose."
+
+The Professor began bustling about excitedly.
+
+"It will be an hour or more before we can hope to get there with our
+old local freight train," objected Ned.  "They probably will be gone
+long before that."
+
+"Yes.  I have it," cried the Professor.  "I will hurry over there on
+my pony.  You boys come along at your leisure.  Even if they do not
+wish to wait for the rest of our party, I shall be able to get
+directions at least, and perhaps to hire some one to pilot us on to
+the Red Star."
+
+This seemed to be good judgment, so the boys hastened to saddle the
+Professor's mount, and in a few moments he was jogging away as rapidly
+as the uneven ground would permit, his eyes fixed on the distant
+spiral of smoke curling lazily upward.
+
+"Guess we had better follow as fast as we can," suggested Tad.
+
+"Chunky, get busy.  What are you standing around with your hands in
+your pockets for while Rome is burning?" shouted Ned Rector.  "Hurry
+up!  Take down those tents, pack all the stuff over to the mules
+and--"
+
+"And what are you going to do while I'm doing that?" drawled Stacy.
+
+"Me?  I'm going to boss the job.  What did you suppose I was going to
+do?"
+
+"Oh, that's about what I thought you would be doing.  I'll pack my own
+stuff.  You can leave yours here for all I care," laughed the fat boy,
+sauntering to his tent without the least attempt to hurry.
+
+"Don't tease him so," advised Tad in a low voice.
+
+"What, tease Chunky Brown?  You couldn't tease Chunky with a club.  I
+just say those things to get him started.  He says such funny things."
+
+Nevertheless, the camp was struck in record time that morning, and the
+pack mules loaded so rapidly that they turned back their soulful eyes
+in mild protest.
+
+"Got a new job for you to-day, Chunky," announced Ned Rector while
+cinching the pack girths.
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"We've decided to let you follow along behind with a sharp stick and
+prod the mules so they will make better time."
+
+"Think I'll wait till after twelve o'clock to-night," answered the fat
+boy.
+
+They were off soon after that, but the mules had never seemed to move
+as slowly as they did that morning.  Instead of an hour, more than two
+hours had passed before they finally came within hailing distance of
+the camp-fire.  For some time, they had been finding difficulty in
+keeping it in sight, as the fire appeared to be dying down.
+
+Tad shouted to attract the attention of the campers or the Professor
+to let them know the Pony Riders were coming.  There was no reply,
+which caused the lads to wonder.
+
+So they pushed the mules all they could, a vague apprehension that all
+was not as it should be, growing in their minds.  They soon came upon
+the object of their search.  What they found was a smouldering
+camp-fire.
+
+"The camp is deserted," groaned Tad.
+
+Not a person save themselves was within sight or sound.  Professor
+Zepplin, too, had disappeared.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+CHUNKY OBJECTS TO EGG WATER
+
+
+"Well, doesn't that beat all!" marveled Tad.
+
+"Certainly does," agreed Ned.
+
+"Yes, but I don't understand--what does this mean?" exclaimed Walter.
+
+"I'm a poor guesser," answered Ned.
+
+"It means that we are all alone," replied Tad.  "Beyond that I could
+not guess."
+
+Chunky had been viewing the scene with solemn complacency.
+
+"We've got the mules, anyway," he nodded.
+
+"Precious lot of good they'll do us," returned Walter.
+
+"And we've got the food and--and I don't have to build a fire,
+either," added the fat boy.
+
+"Yes, we have some things to be thankful for, that's a fact," laughed
+Tad.  "My idea is that the Professor, finding the men had just left
+here, has hurried on to overtake them.  I don't think we have any
+reason to worry."
+
+"Then we had better stay right here," answered Ned.
+
+"Yes.  That is all we can do for the present."
+
+"Think we had better unpack?"
+
+Tad considered the matter briefly.
+
+"I think we had better wait a little while," he decided.
+
+"I think you are right.  I hope we don't have to.  We have enough food
+in our pockets to keep us going until night and--"
+
+"Don't we get anything to eat until night?" wailed Chunky.
+
+"Not unless you can browse," retorted Ned.  "There's plenty of green
+stuff hereabouts."
+
+"You can eat with the mules if you wish to.  I don't."
+
+"Might as well keep the fire up," decided Tad, gathering up a fresh
+supply of green stuff which he dumped on the graying ashes.  "The
+smoke will help the Professor to find us quickly when he comes back."
+
+"What if he shouldn't come back?" asked Walter, with sudden
+apprehension.
+
+"Oh, he will.  Don't worry about that.  You can't lose the Professor."
+
+The boys laughed, then settled down to make the best of their
+situation, whiling away the time with jest and stories.
+
+After a time, Tad left the party and strolled from the camp in an
+effort to determine which way the late occupants of the camp had gone.
+He was beginning to feel worried, but as yet had confided nothing of
+this to his companions.
+
+Examining the ground closely he found four distinct trails leading
+from the abandoned camp.  These trails were fresh, showing that ponies
+had only recently been ridden over them.  They all looked alike,
+however, and he was unable to determine which of them had been made by
+Professor Zepplin's pony.
+
+"Evidently the party, whoever they were, split up after leaving here,"
+thought the lad aloud.  "I'd like to follow out the trails, but I
+don't dare do so.  The Professor would be liable to return while I was
+away.  Then again I might lose the trail and my own way at the same
+time.  I've caused this outfit enough trouble as it is."
+
+With this, Tad slowly turned back toward the camp.
+
+He found a growing sense of uneasiness among his companions there.
+
+"What did you discover?" asked Ned rather more solemnly than was his
+usual wont.
+
+Tad told him.
+
+"Then, there's no use trying to follow?"
+
+"No."
+
+"What time is it?"
+
+"Half-past three," announced Tad after consulting his watch.
+
+"Huh!" grunted Ned.  "I guess the Professor has gone and done it
+himself this time."
+
+"We'll wait," answered Tad easily.
+
+After piling fresh fuel on the fire Tad went over and sat on the bluff
+overlooking the eastern slope of the range of mountains which they
+were traversing.  Chunky lay stretched out sound asleep, untroubled by
+the series of disasters that had overtaken them.
+
+Tad after running over in his mind many plans, none of which seemed
+practicable, also lay down for a nap, and in a few moments the tired
+boys were all sound asleep, including the pack mules.
+
+When they awakened the sun had been down all of half an hour.  Tad was
+the first to awake.  He started up guiltily, and looking around found
+that he was not the only one who had napped.
+
+"Hallo, the camp!" he shouted.
+
+The other boys sat up suddenly, rubbing their eyes.
+
+"Time to go to bed.  Get up!" laughed Tad.
+
+"Nice way to put it," growled Ned.  "Tell a fellow to get up because
+it's time to go to bed."
+
+"Wat'cher wake me up for?" demanded Chunky.  "I was sleeping."
+
+"So were all of us.  First time I ever heard you object to being
+called to eat."
+
+"Eat?  Eat?  Who said eat?" cried the fat boy, struggling to his feet
+with difficulty, his head whirling from the effort of pulling himself
+awake so suddenly.
+
+"I did.  It's night."
+
+"You don't say," wondered Ned, looking around in surprise.  "I--I
+thought I was back home in Chillicothe."
+
+"Dreams, dreams," muttered Stacy.  "No Professor yet, eh?"
+
+"No.  I believe he is lost.  He surely would have been back long
+before this."
+
+"Maybe he's gone the same place the Indian went," ventured Walter.
+
+"Where's that?" queried Stacy, at once interested.
+
+"That's a conundrum.  You dream over it to-night," jeered Ned.
+
+"We had better unpack and make camp," advised Tad.  "Chunky, Walt and
+I will do that if you will get the supper."
+
+"All right.  Somebody get me some water."
+
+"I will," said Walter quickly.  "Anybody know where I can find it?"
+
+"There must be some near by.  Those other fellows would not have made
+camp here and remained all night unless there was water near--"
+
+"Unless they know no more about these confounded mountains than we do,
+you mean?" laughed Ned.
+
+After some searching about, Walter found a spring.  It was full of
+water that had a whitish tinge to it.  The lad tasted it gingerly,
+then smiled knowingly.  Filling his pail he returned to camp with it.
+
+By this time Tad and Stacy had unloaded the mules.  The three boys got
+to work at once putting up the tents.  In the absence of Professor
+Zepplin, they concluded to erect only two, and by the time this had
+been accomplished, Ned was ready for them.
+
+"Come and get it!" he bellowed.
+
+There was no table cloth, no table, just the bare ground, and the boys
+sat down to eat in the fresh, bracing air.
+
+"No one who has not been camping for a long time can appreciate
+smoke," announced Ned oracularly.  "If I had to go without my supper I
+believe if I could breathe smoke for a few minutes, I could almost
+imagine I had a full stomach."
+
+"Well, I couldn't.  I've heard of smoke-eaters, whatever or whoever
+they are, but I want something a little more lasting," announced
+Walter Perkins.  "No smoked smoke diet for me."
+
+"Nor for me," agreed Tad.
+
+"What's a smoke eater?" asked Stacy.
+
+"I should say that a Pony Rider Boy named Ned Rector was one,
+according to his own admission," laughed Walter.
+
+"Pass the water, please."
+
+Walter filled Stacy's cup.  The fat boy drank it down without taking a
+breath.  No sooner had he swallowed the liquid than he hurled the cup
+from him and leaped to his feet coughing and making wry faces.
+
+They could not imagine what had happened.
+
+"Slap him on the back, he's choking," shouted Ned.
+
+Walter Perkins, by this time, was laughing immoderately, while his
+companions were jolting Stacy between the shoulders and shaking him
+violently.
+
+"Stop pounding me, d'ye hear?  Stop it, I tell you," cried Stacy,
+wriggling from their grasp, red of face, an expression of great
+indignation in his eyes.
+
+"Did you swallow a bone?" queried Ned.
+
+"Bone nothing."
+
+"Then, please tell us the cause of all this unseemly disturbance.
+Your table manners are about the worst I ever saw, Stacy Brown."
+
+"Water," gasped Stacy.
+
+"Here," twinkled Walter, passing the pail.
+
+"What's the matter with the water?" demanded Ned.
+
+"Somebody's been putting old eggs in it.  I believe you did that, Ned
+Rector, just to tease me."
+
+Ned did not understand what the fat boy meant.
+
+"Here, pass that pail.  Is there anything the matter with that water,
+Walt?  You got it."
+
+"I think it is thoroughly good, wholesome water," replied Walter,
+holding his head low over his plate that they might not observe his
+amusement.
+
+"Ugh!" exclaimed Ned, after tasting the liquid.  He hurled the
+remaining contents of the cup full into the camp-fire.
+
+"I told you so," nodded Stacy solemnly.  "It's eggs and they weren't
+laid yesterday, either."
+
+"You're right.  Walt, where did you get that awful stuff?"
+
+Tad and Walter were both drinking deeply of the liquid and apparently
+enjoying it.
+
+"From the spring," gasped Walter, placing his cup on the ground.
+
+"Don't drink that stuff.  It'll make you all sick," commanded Ned.
+
+"Don't be silly.  That water is all right," laughed Tad.
+
+"All right?  Call that all right?" demanded Ned.
+
+"Call that all right?" echoed Chunky.
+
+"Of course it is.  It is mineral water--sulphur water," spilling over
+his clothes the contents of the cup that he was carrying to his lips.
+Walter was laughing so that he finally let go of the cup itself and
+rolled over on his side, shouting with merriment.
+
+"You can have it," announced Ned firmly.
+
+"Yes, all of it," added Chunky.  "I'll take my eggs hard boiled after
+this."
+
+"Drink it.  It will do you good, Chunky," urged Tad.
+
+"No, thank you.  I wouldn't offer it to a mule."
+
+"So I see," flung back Ned, with a malicious little grin appearing in
+the corners of his mouth.  "But speaking of mules, I wonder if it has
+occurred to anyone that our mules might be wanting a drink, too."
+
+"Haven't they had any water to-day?" asked Tad.
+
+"Haven't seen them drink since we left Springfield."
+
+"Why, of course they have had water every day.  They could not live
+without it."
+
+"If they're like me they could--if they had to drink egg water,"
+grumbled Stacy amid a loud laugh from his companions.
+
+"I'll attend to them right after supper," decided Tad.  "But just now
+we had better talk over our own situation.  It is plain that something
+has happened to the Professor.  How much longer will our provisions
+last, Ned?"
+
+"Well, on a rough guess, I should say not beyond to-morrow."
+
+"Then I should say in the first place that it would be wise to put the
+outfit on half rations beginning to-morrow morning--"
+
+"No, no, no," protested Chunky, springing up and waving his plate
+excitedly.
+
+"You won't have anything before you know it, young man," warned Ned.
+
+"Yes, but we may have to stay here a week, if the Professor does not
+return.  I do not see what good it will be to begin starving us until
+it is necessary," objected Walter.
+
+"It will be necessary to-morrow," replied Tad.
+
+"And after to-morrow what?"
+
+"I shall hope to have some provisions here by that time, Ned."
+
+Ned Rector laughed.
+
+"Yes, I can almost see it now.  How do you propose to get them, may I
+ask?"
+
+"Go after them."
+
+"Where?" queried Walter.
+
+"Red Star mining camp.  It cannot be so very far from here."
+
+"Going to drag the mules after you?" asked Ned in a half sarcastic
+tone.
+
+"No, I'm going on foot."
+
+"What!" exclaimed the boys in one voice.
+
+"You heard me.  If Professor Zepplin has not returned by to-morrow
+morning I'm off for assistance and a fresh supply of food."
+
+"And leave us here alone?" cried Chunky.
+
+"Don't you see, fellows," continued Tad, "the Professor undoubtedly is
+in a worse fix than we are.  He may wander about the mountains until
+he starves.  I've simply got to stir somebody up to start out hunting
+for him.  By remaining here we are only getting deeper into trouble.
+Don't you understand that?"
+
+"Yes," admitted Ned.  "But, then, why not let us all go with you?"
+
+"Yes, that's the idea," interjected Walter.
+
+"No, that is not good judgment."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"In the first place some one must remain here to watch our outfit.  We
+don't want to lose anything more than we have."
+
+The boys nodded.
+
+"Secondly, the Professor might possibly find his way back here, and
+the chances are he would lose himself again trying to find us."
+
+"That's so," chorused the boys.
+
+"And thirdly, as the Professor says, I can get along a lot faster
+alone than if you are all with me."
+
+"Fellows, I understand why our friend Tad Butler wears a hat a size
+and a half larger than any of us--his head's bigger.  Yes, you're
+right, Tad."
+
+"Yes, yes," shouted Walter and Stacy, "that's the reason."
+
+"And don't I get all I want to eat until he-he--until Tad gets back?"
+
+"That depends upon how much you want.  Judging from past experience, I
+should say you wouldn't," replied Ned.
+
+"But what will happen to us if you get lost, Tad?"
+
+"Yes, yes, that's what I want to know?" questioned Ned.
+
+"I'll see that I don't."
+
+"How?"
+
+"This time I am going to blaze every tree I pass, with my hunting
+knife.  It will enable me to get back if I fail to find the way, and
+it also will serve to guide the men here, if I find any to return with
+me."
+
+"I take off my hat to you," exclaimed Ned.
+
+"How many eggs have we left, Ned?"
+
+"A dozen hard boiled ones, I think."
+
+"Then I'll take three.  I'll eat one for breakfast and carry the other
+two with me.  That will leave three apiece for the rest of you."
+
+"Oh, take a drink of water from that--that spring and save your egg
+till you need it," suggested Chunky.
+
+"I'm going to start early in the morning, so I guess I'll turn in now.
+Remember, you are not to leave this place till I get back--that is,
+unless the Professor should return in the meantime."
+
+"We promise," answered the lads together.
+
+After putting the camp in shape for the night and attending to the
+mules the boys turned in and slept the night through without further
+incident.
+
+Next morning when they turned out, Tad Butler had gone.  On a piece of
+paper pinned to a tree they found a note reading: "I'm off, fellows.
+Bye."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+ALL GONE BUT TWO
+
+
+"Well," grunted Ned Rector, as he served the meager breakfast, "at
+this rate there soon will be nothing left of the Pony Rider Boys
+except the skeletons of two mules."
+
+Chunky, solemn-visaged, was munching his hard boiled egg slowly, in an
+effort to make it last as long as possible.
+
+"This all I get to eat to-day?"
+
+"Eat?  No, certainly not.  I'm going to cook all the rest of the day
+for you.  Let's see, you shall have a porterhouse steak, fried
+potatoes, some nice fresh salad and a soup plate of ice cream and--"
+
+"And a finger bowl," finished Chunky, without the suspicion of a
+smile.
+
+"Yes, with egg water in it," added Ned.
+
+It was the longest day they had ever put in.  There was no difference
+of opinion on that point when the day was ended.  They had hoped to
+hear from Tad before nightfall.  He did not return, however, and they
+had little hopes of his doing so now that the darkness was coming on.
+
+There was no merriment in the camp that night.  By dint of careful
+management they had saved enough out of their supplies to give them a
+light breakfast on the following morning, After that they had no idea
+how they should manage, providing no assistance came to them.
+
+The mules were the only indifferent ones in the party.  They munched
+the green leaves contentedly, sleeping when they were not eating.
+Near the middle of the night one of the animals set up a loud braying
+which brought the boys from their cots in quick alarm.  At first they
+could not imagine what it was.  They tumbled out, shouting to each
+other.
+
+"What is it, Indians?" cried Stacy, dancing about in his pajamas.
+
+"No, it's nothing but a mule with an overloaded stomach," answered Ned
+turning back to his tent growling his disgust.
+
+"Wish it wouldn't dream quite so loudly," grumbled Chunky.
+
+When morning came, and still no tidings from either the Professor or
+Tad, the boys began to realize the seriousness of their position.
+
+"Something's got to be done, fellows," announced Ned Rector.
+
+"I wonder if we could not shoot some game," suggested Walter.
+
+"That's a good idea. But, is there any game here?"
+
+"I heard an owl last night," said Stacy.
+
+"We haven't got down to owls yet.  We may when we get hungry enough,"
+returned Ned.  "I think I'll take my rifle and go out gunning."
+
+"Do you think the Professor would like you to do that?" questioned
+Walter.
+
+"I am sure he would not wish us to starve.  There must be some kind of
+game in these mountains that's fit to eat.  I'll shoot almost anything
+that comes along."
+
+"Don't you get lost, now," cautioned Walter.
+
+"No danger.  And I'll bring back something to eat, you take my word
+for that."
+
+Ned, with rifle thrown over his left arm, stepped boldly from the
+camp, heading west, reasoning that this direction would take him into
+the heart of the mountains where he would be more likely to find game.
+
+An hour passed; then they heard a gun.
+
+"He's shot something," exulted Walter.
+
+"At something, you mean," corrected Chunky.
+
+A second shot followed quickly on the first, then a third one.
+
+"Guess you're right, Chunky," smiled Walter.
+
+Later on they heard three more shots.
+
+"That sounded a long way off," mused Walter.  "I'm afraid he is
+getting too far from camp."
+
+Chunky nodded thoughtfully.
+
+"He thinks he can shoot, but he can't.  I wish I had a fish line.  I'd
+go down to the river in the gorge there and see if I couldn't catch a
+fish.  Maybe I can fix up something that will--"
+
+"No, you don't, Stacy Brown. You stay right here.  You would get lost
+before you got out of sight of the camp.  I don't want to be left
+alone here, with nothing but a pair of long-eared mules for company."
+
+Stacy shrugged his shoulders and began idly cutting his name in the
+bark of a tree with his knife.
+
+"Funny we haven't heard Ned shoot in some time," said Walter after a
+long interval of silence.  "He must be working his way back.  Think
+so?"
+
+"Nope," answered Stacy, still engaged with the knife.
+
+"You don't?  Why not."
+
+"Hasn't got any more shells, that's why."
+
+"I don't understand."
+
+"He shot six times, didn't he?"
+
+"Let's see--yes, I believe he did."
+
+"Well, that's all the bullets he had in the gun.  He'll have to throw
+stones if he sees anything else to shoot at."
+
+A startled expression appeared on Walter Perkins's face.
+
+"You're right, Chunky.  But why don't he come back, then?"
+
+"Lost, I guess," replied Stacy, not appearing to be in the least
+disturbed by his own announcement.
+
+Walter started up in alarm.
+
+"You don't--you don't think--"
+
+"No, I'm just guessing."
+
+"If--if Ned should get lost, too, it would be awful."
+
+Stacy nodded indifferently, Walter meanwhile pacing restlessly back
+and forth.
+
+The lad's face wore a troubled look.  With the Professor and all his
+companions save Stacy, gone; with no food left in camp, Walter Perkins
+had reason to feel alarmed.
+
+Chunky, however, whittled on undisturbed.
+
+"Are you hungry, Chunky?" asked Walter, pausing in his walk, later on.
+
+Stacy nodded.
+
+The day had worn along well into the afternoon and neither of the boys
+had had anything to eat since early morning.  Their appetites were
+beginning to assert themselves.
+
+"I'm going to get some mineral water.  It surely will help some.  Come
+on, it won't hurt you."
+
+Stacy turned a pair of resentful eyes on his companion.
+
+"No egg water for me.  I'll starve first," he answered, with more
+spirit than usual.
+
+While Walter went to the spring to help himself to the sulphur water,
+Stacy stood off to view his artistic work on the bark of the tree.
+
+"Guess--guess they'll know I've been here, anyway," he mumbled.
+
+"That's real good stuff," announced Walter, as he returned.  "I do not
+feel nearly so hungry as I did before.  Better try some."
+
+Stacy made no reply to the suggestion.
+
+When twilight came on, Walter Perkins was more alarmed than ever.
+There could be no doubt now that Ned Rector had missed his way.  Stacy
+remained unmoved.  He bedded down the mules.  When he returned from
+this duty he carried something bright in one hand.  Walter's eyes
+caught it at once.
+
+"What have you there?" he demanded.
+
+"Can of orange marmalade," replied Chunky, with a twinkle.  "Guess it
+must have been dropped out when we unloaded the pack.  Good thing
+there's only two of us to eat it."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+WINNING THROUGH PLUCK
+
+
+Tad Butler had left the camp at daybreak.  He started off at a slow
+trot which he kept up over the rough, uneven ground until some time
+after sunrise, all the time keeping the mountain gorge in sight so
+that he might not lose his way.
+
+He had eaten no breakfast, having simply taken a cup of sulphur water,
+believing that he could make better time on an empty stomach.
+However, he now sat down and munched on one of the three hard boiled
+eggs he had taken with him.
+
+"Guess it will be a good thing to rest for half an hour," he said to
+himself.  This he did, by stretching flat on his back, after having
+finished his scanty breakfast.
+
+Sharp on the half hour by his watch, Tad sprang up, greatly refreshed.
+Leaning well forward he dropped into a long, easy lope, which carried
+him over the ground rapidly.  Hard as nails and spurred on by the need
+of his companions, the lad pushed on and on, blazing his trail as he
+went, not feeling any fatigue to speak of.  Now and then he would
+pause for a few moments to make sure that he was not straying from the
+river gorge, which occasional rocks and foliage hid from his view.
+
+At noon Tad sat down and ate another egg.
+
+"I must be getting near the place," he mused.
+
+Still there was no trace of human habitation.  There remained nothing
+for him to do save to push on, which he did stubbornly.
+
+When the sun went down he seemed no nearer to the object of his search
+than when he had set out at daybreak.  The lad, after looking about,
+came upon a tree which he climbed in order to get an unobstructed view
+of the country.  He argued that camp-fires would be lighted for the
+evening meal.  Not a sign of smoke could he discover anywhere.
+
+Tad's heart sank.
+
+"I've got to stay out all night," he muttered.  "If I were sure of
+finding some one in the morning I wouldn't mind."
+
+There remaining about two hours before dark, he decided to push on as
+long as he could see.  So he trotted on resolutely until the shadows
+fell so densely about his path that he could no longer find his way.
+
+Tad reluctantly halted and after selecting a suitable place, gathered
+wood for a camp-fire.  Water there was none, so he had to do without
+it while he ate his last egg.
+
+Then he lay down to sleep, refusing to allow himself to think very
+long at a time of his lonely position.
+
+Late that night, the boy awakened, finding the moon shining brightly.
+
+He got up and looked about him.  The camp-fire had died out.  The
+light of the moon was so strong that he could make out the
+surroundings almost as well as in daylight.
+
+"I may as well go on," he decided.  "Perhaps I'll get somewhere in
+time for breakfast.  If I don't I surely will have no breakfast, for I
+haven't a scrap of food left."
+
+So he trudged on.  He did not run this time, for a little more care
+than he had been exercising was now necessary to avoid pitfalls in the
+shadows cast by rock and tree.
+
+Daylight came, but still the weary boy kept on his way.  Hungry?  Yes,
+Tad was actually faint for want of food.  He tried the experiment of
+chewing some leaves that he knew were harmless.  At first this gave
+him some relief.  After a little it made him sick, so he did not try
+the experiment again.  He feared he was going to give out.
+
+Toward eleven o'clock the boy came out upon a rise of ground
+overlooking a long slope.  He rubbed his eyes almost unbelievingly.
+
+Halfway down the slope was a shack and off beyond it stood a man with
+his back turned toward him.
+
+Tad uttered a shout of joy and began leaping down the incline.  The
+man down there, startled by the cry, wheeled suddenly and descrying
+the figure of Tad Butler racing toward him, ran to his cabin,
+appearing a moment later with a rifle in his hands.
+
+A moment more a second man dashed out, he too carrying a gun.  Both
+men stood facing the lad, until, when he got near enough, they
+discovered that it was a boy; then they laughed and lowered their
+weapons.
+
+Tad fairly staggered up to them.
+
+"Act as if ye'd seen a ghost, young feller.  What's the excitement
+about?" demanded the first of the two men.
+
+Tad explained as best he could between breaths, at which the men
+laughed more heartily than ever.
+
+"I want something to eat first of all.  I'm half starved," he told
+them.
+
+"Sorry, younker, but we ain't got more'n enough for ourselves.  It's a
+long ways to where we kin git more."
+
+"But I am willing to pay you for it.  I must have food right now,"
+protested Tad.
+
+"So must we."
+
+"Who are you?" demanded Tad indignantly.  "I didn't suppose there was
+a man mean enough to refuse a boy at least a piece of bread when that
+boy was starving."
+
+"We're prospecting.  I reckon we know our business best.  Ye can't get
+any chuck out of this outfit."
+
+"Then tell me where the Red Star Mine is.  I've got to get there at
+once."
+
+"She's nigh onto fifteen miles off thar--"
+
+"Why, that's the direction I came from," exclaimed the lad.
+
+"Sure. Ye must have dodged it.  Did ye pass the Ruby Mounting?"
+
+"I don't know.  Where is it?" asked Tad Butler.
+
+"You'd know if ye saw it once.  It's a peak that looks red when the
+sun shines on it."
+
+"No, I didn't pass the place.  Tell me how I can get to the mining
+camp, even if you won't let me have anything to eat," begged the boy.
+"My companions will starve before I can get back unless I get help to
+them soon."
+
+"Got a compass?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Then lay yer course north by northwest three p'ints and ye'll hit the
+Red Star plumb in the eye--if ye don't miss it," and the miner laughed
+coarsely.  "Know anybody there?"
+
+"Mr. Munson, Richard Munson."
+
+"Dick Munson, eh?" returned the man, with increasing interest.
+
+"I'll be going now.  Much obliged for directing me, at least," said
+Tad, turning away and starting with compass in hand.
+
+The men said something to each other in a low tone, but Tad paid no
+attention to them, hurrying away as fast as his weary limbs would
+carry him.
+
+"Hey, young feller, come back here."
+
+Tad did so reluctantly.
+
+"Sorry we can't give ye anything to eat.  My pardner and I reckon
+though that ye can milk the goat if ye want to."
+
+"The goat?"
+
+"Yep.  The goat's our milk wagon--she gives milk for the outfit."
+
+At first he thought they were joking, but Tad suddenly realized that
+the men were in earnest.
+
+"I--I never milked a goat," he replied hesitatingly.
+
+"Well, if yer hungry enough ye'll try."
+
+"Where is the goat?"
+
+"Oh, I dunno.  Browsing hereabouts, I reckon.  Look her up if ye want
+to. We ain't got time."
+
+"Thank you. I'll try."
+
+"Mebby you'll find her over in that little draw there to the left,"
+suggested the miner.
+
+Tad sought the draw and after some search came upon the goat rather
+unexpectedly.  The animal gazed at him suspiciously and moved off when
+he spoke to her.
+
+Tad coaxed without avail, until finally with a handful of green
+leaves, that he had pulled from a branch above his head, he managed to
+excite the animal's interest.  While she was nibbling at his offering,
+Tad patted her and after a time managed to quiet her sufficiently to
+enable him to get around to one side.
+
+He had milked cows, but this was his first experience at milking a
+goat.  As a result the lad went about his task rather awkwardly.
+Holding his cup with the left hand and using the right, he soon filled
+the cup, gulping down the contents greedily.
+
+"Gracious, that tastes good!" gasped the boy.  "I never knew goat's
+milk was anything like that.  I suppose I can take all I want."
+
+He helped himself to another and still another cupful, until he felt
+that he could hold no more.
+
+"Thank you, Mrs. Goat," he soothed, patting the animal, while she in
+turn rubbed her nose against his sleeve as much as to say, "You're
+welcome.  Help yourself if you wish any more."
+
+"No, thank you, I think I have plenty, but you shall have some more
+green leaves."
+
+Tad pulled down branch after branch which he piled up in front of the
+goat, and which she attacked with vigorous nibbles and tugs.
+
+Very much refreshed, the boy ran back to the miners' shack.
+
+"How much do I owe you?" he asked.
+
+"Don't owe us nuthin'."
+
+"Well, here is twenty-five cents.  I thank you very much," replied the
+lad, laying the money down in front of the door of the shack, because
+the miner refused to reach out his hand for it.
+
+"You're welcome, kid.  Mebby we might squeeze out a chunk of bread
+after all."
+
+"I think I have had plenty.  I do not feel hungry now," he smiled.
+"How far is it to the Red Star the way you have directed me?"
+
+"As the eagle flies, 'bout twelve miles.  You'll make it in fifteen,
+cause you'll have to go around a draw that you can't get through.
+When you get round the draw just come back till ye git on yer course
+again," directed the miner.
+
+"Thank you.  Good-bye.  Hope I have a chance to return the favor some
+time," smiled Tad, swinging his hand in parting salute, as he started
+with renewed courage.
+
+The fifteen miles of rough traveling did not discourage him in the
+least.  He reasoned that he ought to reach the mining camp by four or
+five o'clock that afternoon.  That would be in time for him to start
+back with food for the other boys, whom he had left in camp.
+
+"My, but I'll bet Chunky is a walking skeleton by this time," smiled
+Tad, as the thought of his companion's appetite came humorously into
+his mind.
+
+Talking to himself to keep up his courage, consulting his compass
+frequently, that he might not stray from the course in the least, the
+lad hurried on.  Reaching the draw that the miners had described, he
+recognized it at once, worked his way around it and came back.  He
+might have shortened the journey had he but known how to work out his
+course by the compass.  Tad realized this.  He told himself that he
+could not afford to try any experiment, however.
+
+His judgment was verified, when, shortly after four o'clock he was
+gratified by sighting several pillars of black smoke.
+
+"That's the place.  I've hit it!" exulted the lad, breaking into a
+sharp trot, which he increased until he was running at top speed.
+
+With clothes in a sad state of disorder, eyes red and sunken, Tad
+Butler burst into the Red Star mining camp.  His sudden entrance
+caused the few people about to pause and gaze at him in astonishment.
+
+"Where's Mr. Munson--Mr. Richard Munson?  I must see him at once," he
+asked of one of these.
+
+"He ain't here."
+
+"What!  Not here?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Then where is he? I must find him," expostulated the lad.
+
+"Reckon you'll have a long run, then.  He's gone over to the Mears
+mines.  That's a good twenty miles from here, I reckon."
+
+Tad groaned in his disappointment, and sitting down on a rock, buried
+his head in his hands.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+RESCUE PARTIES ON THE TRAIL
+
+
+"Who is in charge in his place?  There must be some one that I can
+talk to," demanded the lad, starting to his feet.
+
+"Might see Tom Phipps, the assistant superintendent."
+
+"Where is he?  Tell me quickly."
+
+"See that shack over there?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, if he ain't there, he's somewhere else."
+
+"Thank you," said Tad, unheeding the fling.
+
+Tad started for the shack at top speed.  He burst into the place,
+which proved to be office and sleeping place as well, without even
+thinking to knock, so excited was he.
+
+A young man, who sat studying a map, glanced up in surprise.
+
+"Mr. Phipps--Mr. Thomas Phipps, I want," said Tad.
+
+"I am he."
+
+"I beg your pardon for my seeming rudeness, sir, but I'm in an awful
+hurry."
+
+"So I have observed," smiled the young man.  "What is it--is there
+something I can do for you?"
+
+"Indeed there is.  I had hoped to find Mr. Munson, as he would know
+who I am.  You do not, but I am going to ask a very great favor of
+you--"
+
+"Perhaps I may know, if you will tell me," smiled Phipps.
+
+"I am Tad Butler, one of the Pony Rider Boys, and we're in an awful
+fix."
+
+"Shake," nodded the assistant superintendent, extending his hand.  "Of
+course I know about you.  Dick has told me about your trips this
+summer and he's been expecting you almost any time now.  When he left
+this morning he charged me to be on the lookout for you.  Where's the
+rest of your party?"
+
+"I'm afraid most of them are in trouble."
+
+"Tell me about it."
+
+Tad related in detail all that occurred since they left Springfield,
+not omitting the sudden disappearance of the Indian, nor the loss of
+the ponies.
+
+"So you've been hit too, eh?  You are not the only ones who have lost
+stock. It's getting to be a common thing in this part of the country.
+Nor do they confine their depredations to stealing horses.  They help
+themselves liberally to whatever they happen to want.  It's never seen
+again.  They have some secret method of smuggling their plunder from
+the range that we can't discover," continued Phipps breezily.
+
+"I am most concerned just now with getting food to my companions and
+having some one start out for the Professor," urged Tad.
+
+"Yes, I'm thinking that over.  There are not many ponies in camp here.
+We had more, but the same thing happened to them that did to yours,"
+said the young miner.  "I think Munson is planning to make a round-up
+of the country with the idea of breaking up the band.  You stay here
+while I go out and see what I can do about it.  By the way, have you
+had anything to eat?" asked Phipps suddenly.
+
+Tad told him honestly what he had had.
+
+"Three eggs and a drink of nanny goat milk, eh?  Not much to travel
+more than thirty miles on.  Can you cook?"
+
+"After a fashion," admitted Tad.
+
+"Then get to work.  There's bacon.  You'll find bread and butter in
+the large tin box there.  Help yourself.  I would cook it for you only
+I would rather get things going for your friends," said Phipps
+cordially.
+
+Tad protested that he could help himself and urged the miner to make
+all haste possible.  After the latter had left him, the lad lost no
+time in starting the fire and in a few moments had bacon sizzling in
+the spider and the coffee pot steaming.  He found some cold potatoes
+which he fried in the grease of the bacon.
+
+"Don't that smell good!" exclaimed Tad, as the odor of the cooking
+drifted up to his nostrils.  "If it tastes half as good as it smells
+I'll have the meal of my life."
+
+He was not disappointed.  Tad ate and ate, yet he was wise enough to
+restrain himself and chew his food well, knowing full well that he
+would have to submit himself to a still further test of endurance
+before he could call his work done.
+
+The lad was still eating when Tom Phipps returned.
+
+"What luck?" cried Tad anxiously.
+
+"It's all right.  I've rounded up enough ponies for the party.  I have
+called six of the miners from work.  They are men who know the
+mountains.  The cook in the chuck house is preparing food for you to
+take back with you--that is if you intend to go--"
+
+"Of course I do," spoke up Tad quickly.
+
+"I think it will be best for the whole party to return with you to the
+place where your friends are camped.  From that point they can start
+on the trail.  They'll find the Professor.  No doubt about that.
+After you all get back we will talk with you about the loss of your
+stock.  Perhaps your experience may help us to land the band. I hope
+so."
+
+"Can--can your men find their way in the dark?"
+
+"I should say they could.  Some of them know now from my description
+just where your camp is.  Don't worry about that.  Here they come
+now."
+
+The miners, leading an extra pony for Tad, rode up at that moment.
+When they glanced at the slight, boyish figure of Tad Butler they were
+of the opinion that he had best remain at the mining camp.  They did
+not believe him hardy enough to stand the grilling journey that lay
+before them.
+
+They changed their minds before they had been out of camp an hour.
+Tad rode well up with the leader, sitting in his saddle like a
+veteran, taking obstructions in their path with jumps that some of the
+party balked at and rode around.
+
+"Say, kid, where'd you learn to hit a saddle like that?" called one.
+
+"Does my riding please you?" inquired Tad.
+
+"I should say it did.  You are no tenderfoot."
+
+Though the party rode rapidly, the hour was late when they reached the
+vicinity of the Pony Rider Boys camp.  Having approached the place
+from another direction, Tad did not know where he was.
+
+"It must be somewhere hereabouts," decided the leader.  "Can't you
+remember whether it was to the north or the south of this?"
+
+"Which way is the gorge?" asked Tad.
+
+"That way.  Lays right the other side of those rocks."
+
+Tad considered for a moment.
+
+"Wait," he said, a sudden idea coming to him.  "I do not remember this
+particular spot, but when I left the camp I blazed trees all along so
+I could find my way back.  If there are any marks on the trees here, I
+made them."
+
+The men leaped from their ponies and began examining the trees, from
+the cliff back several rods.  Not a sign of fresh blazing were they
+able to discover.
+
+"There's nothing here," announced the leader.
+
+"Then I didn't go this way," answered Tad, with a note of finality in
+his tone.
+
+"We are too far to the north, boys.  Turn around and follow the
+canyon."
+
+This they did until they had proceeded for something like half an
+hour, when the leader of the rescue party decided to get down again
+and examine the trees.
+
+"Here's a blaze.  Is that yours, kid?" he exclaimed.
+
+Tad examined the mark on the tree carefully, having first lighted a
+match to aid him.
+
+"Yes, yes; I did that."
+
+"Then we've gone by the place.  There can't be anybody there or we
+would have seen the camp-fire."
+
+"They must be there!  Let's go back over the ground!" exclaimed Tad.
+
+The men turned about without another word.  After a few moments had
+passed Tad began calling loudly.
+
+Soon a shout just ahead of them told the party that at last they had
+found that which they were in search of.
+
+Tad uttered a glad cry.
+
+"Where are you?"
+
+"Here," answered the voice of Stacy Brown.
+
+Tad put spurs to his pony and dashed up to where he thought the voice
+had come from.
+
+"Where are the rest of the boys?"
+
+"Got anything to eat?" asked Chunky, rousing himself to full
+wakefulness.
+
+"Yes, plenty.  But where's Ned and Walter?  Are they asleep?"
+insisted Tad Butler half fearfully.
+
+"I don't know."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Ned went off to hunt some game because we didn't have anything to
+eat.  He hasn't come back.  Walt got crazy about it and I guess he
+went out to look for him, though he didn't tell me he was going to--"
+
+"What time was that?" interrupted Tad.
+
+"When Ned went away?"
+
+"No, when did Walter leave?"
+
+"I don't know.  It was somewhere about sundown when I saw him last."
+
+"Which way do you think he went?"
+
+"That way, I guess," replied Chunky, pointing.
+
+By this time the men had lighted the fire.
+
+"Give that boy something to eat right now," commanded the leader the
+moment he set eyes on Stacy.  "He's half starved.  He can hardly
+stand."
+
+They opened the package of food at once, giving the once fat boy a
+little at a time at first and compelling him to eat slowly.
+
+"Then there is not one of them here but Chunky," muttered Tad.
+
+"No--nobody but me and the mules," answered Stacy quickly.
+
+No one thought of laughing.
+
+"Are we not going out to look for the others now?" asked Tad.
+
+"Yes, I reckon we might as well," decided the leader.  "We'll leave
+your friend here till morning.  One of our men will remain here with
+him.  At daylight they will start for the Red Star.  If anything has
+been heard there of the folks we are looking for, they can then send
+word back to us so we don't spend the rest of our lives hunting for
+them."
+
+His plan seemed a logical one to Tad.  The party was to spread out,
+covering a large area, literally dragging the mountains with a human
+net, it being agreed that when one made a discovery he was to inform
+the others by shooting twice into the air.
+
+After having received their instructions the men quickly rode away.
+The moon had come out, lighting the way and making their journey much
+easier.
+
+Stacy gave no further heed to the miner who had been left in charge of
+him, and promptly went to sleep on a full stomach.  He had not
+experienced that agreeable sensation for some time.
+
+The night was well advanced when two sharp reports from the south told
+the searchers that some of their party had gained tidings of the
+absent ones.
+
+Each man wheeled sharply about and raced for the camp as rapidly as
+the rough trail would permit, arriving there about the time their
+leader rode in with Walter Perkins.  He had found the lad less than
+half a mile from camp.  Beyond being very badly frightened, Walter
+seemed none the worse for his experience.  Instead of having followed
+the direction in which he had started, Walter had gradually worn
+around to the north until finally he was headed back toward their
+original starting point.
+
+In a short time he realized that he was lost.  He called loudly for
+help, but as there was no one to hear his cries, he had at last thrown
+himself down on the ground in despair to wait for morning.
+
+It was there that the leader of the rescue party had stumbled upon
+him, Walter having heard and answered his hail.
+
+"That's one.  Spread out again, boys.  We'll rope the rest of the
+youngsters before morning.  They can't be far away.  The Professor, as
+they call him, has a horse, and there's no telling where he is by this
+time."
+
+But the task they had set for themselves this time, was not quite so
+easy of accomplishment.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+THE ROUND UP
+
+
+Some miles from the camp the searchers next morning came upon an
+abandoned camp where there had been a fire and where, from the bones
+found there, they decided some one had eaten a rabbit.
+
+"We're on the trail," said the leader.  "We'll get him yet."
+
+An hour later one of the men reported that he had picked up a
+repeating rifle with the magazine empty.  When Tad joined them later,
+he identified the weapon as having been the one used by Ned Rector.
+
+The course he was taking, if followed, would eventually take him out
+of the mountains into the open country.  Perhaps through some
+instinct, the boy understood this and was seeking to gain the open
+where he would soon get food and directions for continuing his
+journey.
+
+They found no other trace of the one they were looking for, however.
+
+All that day and the next they drew the net slowly over that portion
+of the Ozark range that cut through the southwestern part of the
+state.
+
+"I guess we shall have to give it up," confided the leader to Tad.
+
+"Oh, no, we can't do that," objected the lad hastily.  "We simply must
+find Ned and the Professor."
+
+"If you can show me the way how or where, I wish you would then.  We
+are only a few miles from the mining camp.  I'll wager a jack rabbit
+couldn't have gotten through our lines, so we'd have been pretty
+likely to have rounded up a man on a pony or a boy on foot.  Don't you
+think so?"
+
+Tad was forced to admit that this was true.
+
+"It's my idea that neither of them is in the range now, at all.  If
+they are, they're below the Red Star--gone by the place entirely."
+
+"That may be, but I do not see how it is possible."
+
+"You went by her, didn't you?"
+
+Tad colored.
+
+"I guess so.  But it was different in my case."
+
+"Ah, that's it.  It's different with them, too.  If it wasn't, we
+would have found them long before this."
+
+"Then you are going to give it up?  Is that what you mean?"
+
+"Don't see as there is anything else we can do. If we don't come
+across them this afternoon, we won't at all.  See, there's the Ruby
+Mountain already."
+
+"The Ruby Mountain!  I've heard of that.  What a peculiar formation it
+is. Almost blood red in spots.  What is it--isn't there some
+superstition about the rock?"
+
+"Well, you might call it that. There are those who declare they have
+seen strange lights appear on the face of the rock after dark."
+
+"Have you?" queried Tad.
+
+"Well, that's another story," laughed the leader.
+
+"What makes it look so red?"
+
+"That's the quality of the rock.  It is red only when the sun or
+bright moonlight is shining on it.  Isn't really red, you see."
+
+Tad did not see, but his mind was too full of his own troubles to
+permit him to interest it deeply in the subject of the Ruby Mountain.
+
+Continuing on their journey, the searchers eventually rode into the
+Red Star camp.  By this time the entire camp was interested in what it
+was pleased to call "the man hunt."  Somehow they were unable to free
+their minds of the idea that the disappearance of the members of the
+Pony Rider party was due to the mysterious band that had been
+terrorizing that part of the country for a long time.
+
+Tom Phipps, assistant superintendent of the mine, had awaited the
+return of his rescue party with an impatience that he made no effort
+to conceal.  He met them, mounted on his pony, as they entered the
+mine property.  At first he was inclined to make the men turn about
+and go over the ground again, but after learning from the leader of
+the party the precautions they had taken, he decided that further
+search to the north would be futile.
+
+What to do next he did not know, and in the absence of Mr. Munson, who
+had not yet returned, he was considering sending another party out to
+cover the territory south of the mining camp.
+
+Stacy Brown had come in with his guide and the mules, and having
+satisfied his appetite, was in as good humor as usual.  If he worried
+about the disappearance of his companions, he kept his trouble well to
+himself.  Nevertheless he was waiting for Tad and the rescue party
+when they rode in.
+
+"Hello, Chunky, any news?" called Tad on espying him.
+
+Stacy shook his head.
+
+"Have you any?" asked Chunky.
+
+"No.  We found where Ned had been, but we didn't see anything of him."
+
+"That's too bad."
+
+"Yes, you do seem to feel sad over it. I believe they are all right,
+however.  Mr. McCormick, who has charge of this party, thinks so too.
+He believes they have succeeded in getting out of the mountains."
+
+"So do I," cut in Tom Phipps.  "Otherwise you could not have missed
+them."
+
+"Yes, sir.  But what would you advise doing now?"
+
+"Should we hear nothing from them by morning I'll start a party for
+the open country to the west, and send another through the mountains
+south of here.  I do not believe there will be much use in doing so
+to-night.  Come over to my shack, you and your friend Brown, and we
+will talk the matter over while we are having our supper."
+
+"Thank you. I guess I am pretty hungry.  Has Mr. Munson returned?"
+
+"No.  I cannot imagine what is keeping him."
+
+Turning his pony over to Mr. McCormick, Tad and Chunky followed the
+young mining engineer to his one-roomed cabin where the host had
+prepared an appetizing meal.
+
+It was Tad's second meal in the place.  This time, however, he found
+himself too much disturbed to eat heartily.  His appetite seemed to
+leave him all at once.
+
+"As I was saying just after you arrived," began Mr. Phipps--
+
+"Hark!  What was that?"
+
+Tad raised a hand for silence.
+
+"I heard nothing."
+
+"It was somebody shouting, I am sure," answered Tad in a voice of
+tense expectancy.  "Yes, there it is again."
+
+"You're right," answered the miner, springing up and hurrying to the
+door.
+
+The shouting now became general all up and down the street.
+
+"What is it?" asked Tad.
+
+"I don't know.  Seems to be a party coming into the camp.  It's
+Munson, that's who it is.  There are two people with him on foot.  I
+can't make them out in the twilight.  Come on, we'll hurry down and
+find out what the uproar is about."
+
+Instinctively Tad and Tom Phipps set off at a jog-trot, followed more
+leisurely by Stacy Brown.
+
+Tad soon observed something familiar in the movements of the two
+figures who were walking beside the superintendent's pony, and in a
+moment Tad made out through the gloom the well-known form of Professor
+Zepplin.
+
+"There they are!  There they are!"  he shouted.  "They've got back.
+Hurrah!"
+
+"Rah!" echoed Stacy Brown, flirting one hand lazily.
+
+The meeting was a joyous one for all concerned.
+
+"All hands come over to my shack," glowed Tom Phipps.  "I want to hear
+about this mystery.  Thought you were riding a pony, Professor
+Zepplin?"
+
+"He was," laughed Dick Munson. "Some other people wanted the animal
+more than he did and helped themselves."
+
+At this point, Walter, who was staying in another cabin, having heard
+the noise, had hurried over and joined the little party.
+
+"Now let us hear all about it," urged Phipps, after all had gathered
+in his shack.
+
+"There is not much to tell," smiled the Professor.  "I did exactly
+what I had been warning my young men against.  I lost myself.  Then
+the next thing that happened, I lost my pony."
+
+"How?" interrupted Mr. Phipps.
+
+"I don't know."
+
+"Stolen," nodded Dick Munson.
+
+"Same old game," muttered Phipps.  "Yes, what next?"
+
+"Then in a most miraculous way I found Master Ned.  I had gone to
+sleep, worn out and discouraged, not caring much whether I got back or
+not, the way I felt then.  Along toward morning I woke up.  I thought
+I had heard something.  I listened, and then all at once realized that
+some one was snoring not far from me."
+
+"And it wasn't Chunky this time," cut in Walter Perkins.
+
+"Chunky doesn't snore on an empty stomach," laughed Tad.
+
+"I called out, 'Hello, who's there?'  The snorer woke up calling out
+something that I could not catch."
+
+"Who was it?" asked Stacy in a hurry to learn what the Professor was
+getting at.
+
+"Well, when he woke up he said his name was Ned Rector and that he was
+lost."
+
+The Professor smiled grimly as the boys shouted with laughter, in
+which Tom Phipps joined.  Even the rugged face of the superintendent
+relaxed into a broad smile.
+
+"Yes, it was I," nodded Ned.  "We had been sleeping within a rod of
+each other nearly all night and didn't know it.  I had stumbled along
+after the Professor got to sleep.  In the darkness of course I did not
+see him, and in his sound sleep he did not hear me."
+
+"That's the funniest mix-up I ever heard of," chuckled young Mr.
+Phipps.  "What did you do for food?"
+
+"Master Ned, it seems, had shot two rabbits which he intended to take
+back to our camp.  When he found that he too was lost, he built a fire
+and cooked them.  What he did not need at once he wrapped up in his
+handkerchief and carried along with him--"
+
+"Yes, we found the remnants of the jack rabbits," Tad informed them.
+"We picked up your rifle later, as well."
+
+"Good," brightened Ned.  "I had to throw it away.  I had about all I
+could do to carry myself."
+
+"Well, the rabbits saved us from starvation."
+
+"Yes, but how did you happen to find Dick Munson, or he to find you?"
+queried Phipps.
+
+"We wandered out of the mountains and lost ourselves in the foothills.
+How we got so far south I do not know.  This morning we saw a horseman
+and shouted until we attracted his attention.  The horseman proved to
+be the very man we wanted to see--Mr.  Richard Munson himself."
+
+"I--I am the only one who didn't fall in," piped Stacy, which caused
+everyone to laugh.
+
+"We heard you shooting," said Walter.  "I wish we might have had some
+of that rabbit meat.  We nearly starved up there."
+
+"Yes, let's hear how you boys got along," spoke up Ned.  "We have told
+you all about our experiences.  Now we want to know about yours."
+
+Tad related in detail all that occurred to them since the Professor
+left them in pursuit of the elusive camp-fire.  The Professor's eyes
+glowed appreciatively upon learning of Tad Butler's heroic tramp over
+nearly forty miles of rough mountain trail in the desperate effort to
+find food for his starving companions as well as help to rescue them
+from their perilous position.
+
+But Munson, while complimenting Tad, was more deeply interested in the
+loss of their stock, about which occurrence he asked many questions.
+
+"If we had a few men with your courage and resourcefulness we should
+soon put a stop to this wholesale thieving," he said.
+
+"I'm going to find my pony before I leave this place, Mr. Munson,"
+announced Tad firmly.  "At least I am going to try pretty hard--"
+
+A knock on the door of the shack cut short what he was going to say.
+
+"McCormick reports that two ponies are missing from number two
+section," said a voice outside the door.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+THE VOICE IN THE ROCK
+
+
+"The thieves are getting bold!" was Dick Munson's comment.
+
+"Seems to me they not only are getting, but have been for some time,"
+laughed the Professor.  "The condition of my feet proves that."
+
+The Number 2 section to which the superintendent's informant had
+referred, was a quarry mine, off among the mountains in the vicinity
+of the red rock that had attracted Tad's attention as they neared the
+camp.  He made a sudden resolve to visit the place on the following
+day.
+
+Borrowing a pony next morning, and without telling anyone where he was
+going, Tad rode away with the Ruby Mountain as his destination.  The
+trail was an easy one to follow and, besides, he had so recently been
+over it that he would be able to find his way there and back.
+
+Just why he felt such a keen interest in the place the lad did not
+know.  Perhaps it was that the miners had thrown such an air of
+mystery about it in speaking of the red rock.  Aside from its color
+there was nothing about the pile of stone to distinguish it from
+almost any other rocky formation in the Ozark range, unless it were
+the slight resemblance that it bore to the form of a church.  The lad
+had observed this the first time he saw it.
+
+After riding around the pile, Tad dismounted, and, tethering his pony,
+proceeded to examine the place more carefully.
+
+The rock was rough and uneven, with little spires running up here and
+there.  The lowest of these was a considerable distance from the
+ground.
+
+"I'd like to climb up there if I knew how," decided the boy, looking
+for an advantageous place to make the attempt.
+
+"I have it.  I know what I'll do.  I'll rope the rock."
+
+Tad laughed gayly at the thought as he ran back to where he had
+tethered the pony in the shrubbery.  Tom Phipps had seen to it that
+the outfit was fully equipped, having added a lariat, because Tad had
+jokingly inquired where this necessary equipment was.
+
+"Glad I happened to think of that.  I'll never ride out without a rope
+again, even if it's up and down Main Street in Chillicothe."
+
+Fetching the rawhide rope he skilfully cast it up and over the
+pinnacle of rock nearest to him.  It was now a comparatively easy
+matter to climb by going hand over hand up the rope and bracing his
+feet against the side of the rock at the same time.
+
+Once having reached the point where the rope had been fastened, the
+rest of the way was less rough.
+
+The lad sat down to look about him, noting that the formation was a
+peculiar one, and that the reddish shade of the rock disappeared when
+one came into close contact with it.
+
+"Why, it's just a plain, ordinary pile of stone," laughed Tad.  "The
+idea that there could be anything mysterious about it!  I'll climb up
+to the top and see if there is anything more interesting there."
+
+There were frequent narrow crevices that the young explorer discovered
+on the way up.  These appeared to reach down to a considerable depth,
+but having no weight to attach to the end of his rope he could not
+sound the depth with any degree of certainty.  One of these crevices
+was large enough to admit his body.
+
+The place fascinated him.
+
+"I'm coming out here prepared to go down in that hole and investigate
+it," he said to himself.  "I'll bring the boys--no, I won't either.
+I'll explore it all myself and maybe I'll find out something."
+
+The lad was coiling his rope, preparing to descend when a low chuckle
+caused him to pause in sudden surprise.  Startled, the boy looked
+about him.  He was alone as he had been before.
+
+"That's strange.  I was sure I heard some one.  Sounded as if it were
+right here beside me.  I must have been wrong of course.  Believe I'm
+losing my grit.  After all the shaking up my nerves have had on this
+trip--"
+
+"Hello!"
+
+This time there could be no doubt.  It was a human voice beyond all
+question.
+
+"Hello," answered Tad, when, an instant later, he had in a measure
+mastered his surprise.  "Where are you?"
+
+"Guess."
+
+"I can't.  I am not a good hand at guessing."
+
+Getting to his feet the lad began searching about, peering into
+crevices, looking over the edge of the cliff, becoming more and more
+perplexed and mystified as the moments passed.
+
+"No, I can't find you.  Come out and show yourself, whoever you are,"
+he commanded, with some impatience.
+
+A low, mocking laugh answered Tad's irritated command, yet the owner
+of the voice still remained hidden.
+
+"Who are you, anyway?  I know you are a girl, but--"
+
+"But what?" tantalized the voice.
+
+"That's all I know about it, and all I shall at the present rate.
+Come on, it's not fair to expect me to talk with you when I can't see
+you--"
+
+"Aren't you afraid of ghosts, boy--"
+
+"Ghosts!"
+
+Tad uttered the word in a startled voice.
+
+"Wha--what ghosts?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"No, I'm not," he answered sharply.  "But if it were night I think I'd
+run.  Pshaw! you're no more ghost than I am.  You're just a girl and I
+am going to find out where you are right now."
+
+Acting upon his resolution, Tad began searching for the owner of the
+voice again.  But when he had crawled to one side of the rock, the
+voice appeared to be on the other, where he had just been.
+
+After a time Tad gave it up.  He no longer heard the mysterious voice,
+so he clambered down, and after examining the rock from the ground
+once more, mounted his pony for return to camp.
+
+Arriving there, his companions wanted to know where he had been, but
+Tad managed to evade their question without giving them a direct
+answer.
+
+He was determined to return on the following day, when he would go
+about finding the owner of the mysterious voice in a different way.
+
+When Tom Phipps came in from work, Tad drew him aside at the first
+opportunity.
+
+"I've been over to the Ruby Mountain to-day, but please don't tell
+anyone."
+
+"Saw something, did you?" laughed the assistant superintendent.
+
+"No, that's the trouble.  I didn't."
+
+"What happened then?"
+
+"I did not see, but I heard."  Tad then related all that had occurred
+on his visit to the strange mountain.
+
+Phipps did not laugh.  He remained silent and thoughtful for some
+moments.
+
+"That's strange.  A miner prospecting there came back with a similar
+story a few months ago.  Nobody believed him, though many strange
+things are said to have happened in the vicinity of that rock."
+
+"What?"
+
+"That's the trouble.  One cannot get them to tell what they saw.  You
+have come the nearest to doing so."
+
+"Only I just missed it by about a mile," laughed Tad.  "But you do not
+think it's--how shall I say it?"
+
+Phipps bent a keen glance on the young man.  "You mean through any
+supernatural agency?"
+
+Tad nodded.
+
+"That's what I wanted to say, but didn't know just how to put it."
+
+"No, I am too practical to believe any such trash as that.  My idea is
+that some one of a humorous turn of mind is trying to play tricks on
+people.  You say it was a girl's voice?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"That's strange.  I'm going to look into that."
+
+"Let's you and I go over there together to to-morrow, then," urged Tad
+enthusiastically.
+
+"I'll do it--that is, if there is nothing on hand to detain me.  I'll
+let you know later whether it will be possible or not."
+
+"Very well.  I have been thinking--wondering whether--"
+
+Tad hesitated.
+
+"Wondering what?"
+
+"Whether that rock has anything to do with so many horses and things
+being stolen in the range."
+
+Tom Phipps laughed heartily.
+
+"I never thought of it in that light.  Don't see how a rock could
+possibly have any connection with it.  Guess we shall have to look for
+something more human than a pile of stone."
+
+It was decided, therefore, that on the morrow the two should visit the
+Ruby Mountain, when they would make a careful examination of the place
+in an effort to solve the mystery.
+
+But they were destined to delay this trip for some time, and to pass
+through some exciting experiences before they solved the mystery of
+the Ruby Mountain.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+WHEN THE DARK HORSE WON
+
+
+"Professor, Mr. Munson says there's going to be a roping contest and
+horse race near here, this afternoon.  May we go over to see it?"
+asked Ned Rector early on the following morning.
+
+"Well, I don't know about that.  Haven't you boys had enough straying
+from home for a time?"
+
+"We can get some one to go with us and show us the way," urged Walter.
+
+"Yes, let the lads go," said Mr. Munson, coming up at that moment.
+
+"Where is this place?" asked the Professor.
+
+"At Jessup's ranch.  It is about ten miles to the southeast of here,
+just outside the foothills of the range."
+
+"I am afraid they would never find the way there and back," objected
+Professor Zepplin, shaking his head doubtfully.
+
+"That is easily taken care of.  I will have some one go with them.
+Why not go yourself?"
+
+"I?  No, thank you, not without a guide.  I have had quite enough
+experience in trying to find my way about in these mountains," laughed
+the Professor.
+
+"Then I'll have Tom Phipps go with you.  I understand the boys are
+fond of anything in the horse line, and they usually have a great time
+over at Jessup's.  He is a cattle man and, besides his own men,
+cowboys from neighboring ranches for twenty miles around ride in to
+take part."
+
+"But, we have no ponies."
+
+"I think we can arrange that all right.  Here, Tom, I want you."
+
+Mr. Phipps approached the little group, the superintendent, informing
+him in a few words of the plan he had in mind.
+
+"Of course I'll go with them," smiled Phipps.  "I'll be glad of the
+chance to get out in the open once more.  We had better get started
+pretty soon if we are going."
+
+"How about it, Professor?" queried Mr. Munson.
+
+"I do not object if Mr. Phipps accompanies them."
+
+"Hooray!" shouted the boys.
+
+"Wish we had our own ponies," added Ned.
+
+"So do I," chorused the others.
+
+"You will come along, won't you, Professor?" urged Walter.
+
+"No, I think not.  I've had quite enough for a time.  Think I will
+remain and study the geological formations of the strata hereabouts."
+
+"There's plenty of it to occupy you for some time," laughed Tom.  "The
+most important zinc mines in the world are strung along this range.
+And besides, there's lead enough hereabouts to supply the armies of
+the world if they were all engaged in active warfare."
+
+Arrangements were quickly made for the trip to Jessup's, and the boys,
+full of anticipations for a pleasant day in the saddle, donned their
+chaps and spurs, and began practising with their ropes, while the
+ponies were being saddled and made ready for the journey.
+
+"Do we take our rifles, Professor?" asked Stacy.
+
+"You do not," answered the Professor, with emphasis.  "What do you
+think you will need with guns at a horse race?"
+
+"I--I don't know but that we might meet some wild animals," stammered
+Stacy.
+
+Everybody laughed.
+
+"Why, there are no wild animals of any account here," laughed Tom.
+
+"Nothing bigger than a jack rabbit," said Ned.
+
+"And Ned Rector got all there was of them," added Walter.
+
+Laughing and joking, the lads mounted their ponies and set off for a
+day's pleasure.
+
+The entertainment at the ranch was scheduled for the afternoon, so
+they had plenty of time in which to make the journey.  They arrived
+shortly before noon, just in time to see the preparations made for a
+barbecue.  A large Texas steer had been chosen for the occasion and
+roasted in a pit, and they were making ready to serve it.
+
+Stacy's eyes stuck out as he saw the cook with a knife almost as long
+as a sword, cutting off slices as large as a good-sized platter, and
+serving them on plates scarcely large enough to hold the pieces,
+without the latter being folded over.
+
+The fat boy managed to get an early helping by pushing his way through
+the crowd of hungry men that had gathered about the savory roast.
+When there was anything to eat, Stacy Brown would always be found in
+the front rank.
+
+Just as they got started with the meal, a volley of shots sounded up
+the valley and a band of half a dozen cowboys, yelling, whooping and
+shouting came racing down on the Jessup ranch.
+
+With a wild "y-e-o-w!" they circled the roast ox, then bringing their
+ponies up sharply, threw themselves from their saddles and greedily
+attacked the portions that were quickly handed out to them.
+
+This barbecue and day of sports was one looked forward to by the
+cowmen with keen anticipation.  Two a year were given on the Jessup
+ranch, one after the midsummer round up, and another late in the fall.
+
+"This is great," confided Tad to Tom Phipps, as the two seated
+themselves on the grass to eat the good things set before them.
+
+"It seems so to me.  I don't get out of the mountains very often.  I
+wish I could ride the way you boys do.  You ride very well."
+
+"We have to.  At first some of us came a few croppers," laughed Ned,
+who had overheard the conversation.  "Chunky had the most trouble, his
+legs being so short that it's difficult for him to reach the
+stirrups."
+
+"I fell off," interjected the fat boy.
+
+"That's a habit of his," laughed Ned.
+
+"I wonder if they would let us take part in some of the games this
+afternoon," inquired Tad.
+
+"Why, of course they will.  I'll speak to Mr. Jessup about it,"
+answered Tom Phipps.
+
+When the owner of the ranch passed them later on, Tom called him, and
+after introducing the boys to him, told the rancher what they desired
+to do.
+
+Mr. Jessup looked the lads over critically.
+
+"It's a pretty rough game, boys," he smiled.  "But you look as if you
+were able to take care of yourselves.  Of course you may go in for the
+fun if you want to.  I'll tell the bunch."
+
+"Thank you," said Tad, rising.
+
+Mr. Jessup shouted to attract the attention of the noisy cowboys.
+
+"Hey, fellows, we have a bunch of tenderfeet lads from the East with
+us to-day.  They're taking a trip over the mountains and they want to
+know if they can join you in the fun this afternoon?"
+
+"Sure!" roared the cowboys. "We'll give the tenderfeet all the fun
+they want."
+
+Tad smiled appreciatively.
+
+"Don't let them disturb you," warned Tom.  "They mean all right."
+
+"Yes, sir; I understand cowmen pretty well.  Have spent quite a little
+time with them."
+
+"I guess they are getting ready for something."
+
+"Line up for the hurdle race!" shouted the ranch foreman, who was
+acting as master of ceremonies.  "Half mile down and back with a
+hurdle every quarter!"
+
+"Here's where you see some real fun," announced Mr. Jessup, nodding
+significantly to Tad and Tom Phipps.  "Are you boys going into this?"
+
+"Guess we might as well.  Will these ponies take hurdles, Mr.
+Phipps?"
+
+"You try them and see.  Every one trained down to the ground."
+
+"That's not the way I want to go," laughed Tad.  "I want to stay above
+it while I'm riding."
+
+Ned Rector already was tightening his saddle girths preparatory to
+entering, so Tad hurried to his own mount to get ready for the
+contest.
+
+When the contestants had finally lined up, the Pony Rider Boys were
+surprised to observe that Stacy Brown had ridden down to the scratch
+with the others.  He was sitting on his pony as solemn as an owl,
+industriously munching a sandwich that he had made for himself.
+
+"You'll break your neck.  You'd better keep out of this," advised Ned
+Rector.
+
+"Better look out for your own neck," retorted Stacy.  "Guess I know
+how to ride as well as the rest of you."
+
+"All right, it's not my lookout.  Remember I gave you good advice,"
+was Ned's parting admonition.
+
+Stacy's pony was a glossy black, the only one of that color among the
+contestants, and between pony and boy the cowmen were undecided as to
+which was the most conspicuous.
+
+"At the second shot of the pistol you will start," announced the
+foreman.  "All ready for the first?"
+
+"Yes!" roared the impatient riders.
+
+The foreman pulled the trigger and the ponies began to dance about.
+
+Bang!
+
+"Whoop-e-e-e!" yelled the riders, digging in the rowels of their
+spurs.
+
+A dozen ponies fairly leaped into the air under the prod of spur and
+quirt.  Away they dashed enveloped in a cloud of dust.
+
+"They're off!" roared the crowd.
+
+Stacy, still clinging to his sandwich, was well up with the leaders of
+the bunch when they got away.  He was riding with elbows up to a level
+with his shoulders, one hand grasping reins and quirt, the other
+holding the sandwich to his mouth.
+
+The spectators shouted with laughter at the sight.
+
+"There goes somebody!" cried Walter.
+
+One of the ponies had fouled the first hurdle and gone down, plowing
+the dust with its nose, while the cowboy made a fairly graceful dive
+through the air, landing on his head and shoulders.  The riders
+directly behind him were obliged to hurdle pony and rider, which they
+did without mishap to either.  Stacy, fortunately was ahead, else he
+too might have come a cropper.
+
+This left a field of eleven, all of whom were bunched, their mounts
+almost rubbing sides.  By this time the dust cloud was so dense that
+the spectators were able to make nothing at all of what was going on
+at the other end of the course.
+
+"I hope the youngsters are all right," said Phipps a little anxiously,
+for the race was one of the roughest he had ever seen, and then the
+young miner was not much of a horseman, which made the contest seem
+much more hazardous to him than it really was.
+
+"They're coming back," shouted a voice.
+
+The turn had been made, but at the expense of two riders, whose
+mounts, less sure footed than the rest, had gone down in the sharp
+whirl for the home stretch.
+
+The prize in this contest was to be a handsome telescope repeating
+rifle, and the rivalry for it was keen.  The battle would be a stern
+one, and it was a foregone conclusion that the best horse would win.
+
+Stacy Brown had not leaned far enough in at the turn, his saddle girth
+slipping a little as a result.  He felt the saddle give a little
+beneath him, but did not realize what had happened until the pony had
+straightened away on the home stretch.  The saddle then slipped still
+further under the weight of the rider.
+
+Stacy threw almost the whole force of his weight on the right stirrup
+to offset the list of the saddle on the other side, where the stirrup
+had gone down too far for him to reach.  And the first hurdle found
+the lad clinging desperately to the pony's mane with one hand, the
+jolt of the jump nearly dislocating his neck as the animal took it.
+
+The youthful rider, finding himself safely over, uttered a series of
+shrill yells and began urging on the pony with quick, short
+encouraging blows of the quirt, though the blows were not heavy enough
+to hurt the tough little beast at all.  It was used to much more
+serious treatment.
+
+Somehow the animal seemed bent on doing its best, though the more it
+strove to reach the goal, the greater was the fat boy's torture.
+
+Stacy Brown's grit was aroused.  He seemed to have come into his own
+at last.
+
+"They laughed at me," he muttered.  "I'll show them that Chunky Brown
+isn't a tenderfoot.  Even if I don't win the race, there will be some
+others who will finish after I get through."  He was reasonably
+certain of this from his present position.  "But I hope I don't fall
+in," he grinned.
+
+By this time the dust caused by their first trip over the course, had
+settled so that the spectators were enabled to get a view of the last
+quarter of the race. And they all admitted, without exception, that it
+was a real race that they were watching.
+
+Over the last hurdle went two ponies in beautiful curving leaps, ahead
+of all the others.  With their cowboy riders they took the obstruction
+neck and neck.  A full length behind them rode Stacy with the rest of
+the field strung out to his rear.
+
+The spectators were able to identify the black now from their point of
+vantage, and Stacy could hear their cheers, though unaware that these
+were for him.  Tad Butler, second to him in the race, was getting
+every ounce of speed from his pony that the animal possessed.  Yet
+instead of feeling chagrin over the fact that his companion was
+out-footing him, Tad was elated.
+
+"Go it, Chunky!  Go it!" he encouraged.
+
+"I am going," floated back to Tad faintly, causing him to laugh so
+heartily that he was nearly unhorsed when his pony rose to the hurdle.
+
+As Stacy's mount cleared the last barrier, the fat boy fell forward on
+the pony's neck, which he grasped wildly, for the saddle in that final
+leap had, with disheartening suddeness, given way beneath him,
+slipping clear down under the animal's stomach.
+
+Nothing daunted, Stacy, with his newly discovered grit, worked both
+spurs vigorously, eyes staring straight ahead of him over the head of
+his fleeing pony.
+
+They were almost at the finish.  Now the dust of the two cowboy
+leaders in the race did not smite him in the face as heretofore.  He
+was too close up with them for that.
+
+All at once the lad realized that he was gaining.  Excitement among
+the spectators ran high.  Observing his predicament and understanding
+full well the grit he was exhibiting, they were yelling like mad.
+Chunky began to yell also, uttering a series of shrill whoops, using
+voice and spurs incessantly, urging the pony to the goal.
+
+The black pony, almost gray with the dust that had settled on his
+sleek, glossy coat, forged ahead in a noble sprint with head on a
+level with its back, nose reaching for the finish.
+
+A roar of applause sounded in the fat boy's ears.  Yells, cat calls
+and shrill whoops rent the air.
+
+All at once a pistol barked, the black pony's feet plowed the dust,
+bringing it to a sharp halt.
+
+The suddenness of the movement caused Chunky's feet to rise straight
+up into the air. For a few brief seconds he was standing on his head
+on the pony's neck like a circus performer.
+
+Then, as the animal lowered its head, the rider toppled over, still
+clinging to the neck of his mount.  Such a chorus of laughter and
+shouting the Jessup ranch had never known before.
+
+"How is it, Mr. Umpire?" piped Stacy, releasing one hand from the
+pony's neck and raising it questioningly.
+
+"This isn't a baseball game, young fellow," jeered the foreman.  "This
+is a hoss race and you've won it.  The black wins and you get the
+rifle."
+
+The grimy hand that the lad had held aloft still clung to the remnants
+of the roast sandwich that he had carried throughout race.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+TAD WINS A ROPING CONTEST
+
+
+In their enthusiasm two of the ranchers hoisted Chunky to their
+shoulders and marched about singing.  Others fell in behind them until
+fully half the spectators had joined the procession.  Chunky leered
+down at his companions as he passed them and winked solemnly.
+
+"I didn't suppose he could ride like that," marveled Tom Phipps.
+
+"Neither did any of the rest of us," answered Walter.
+
+"I never saw a more plucky piece of work in my life."
+
+Tad came up to where they were, laughing heartily.
+
+"Doesn't that beat all, Walt?"
+
+"It certainly does."
+
+"Our friends who were defeated do not seem to appreciate the humor of
+it, though," interjected the young engineer.
+
+"No, not very sportsmanlike, is it?  Who is that fellow with whom
+Chunky's competitors are talking?"
+
+"Name is Cravath.  Queer sort of a chap."
+
+"Haven't I seen him about the Red Star?" asked Tad.
+
+"Yes, no doubt.  He is a checker at the mine.  He and his wife and
+daughter have a cabin out near the Ruby Rock that you are so much
+interested in.  I know very little about him--"
+
+"Don't like his looks at all," decided Tad.
+
+"No, I never warmed up to him very much myself.  I understand he is
+not very popular among the men, either.  But I guess that is because
+he wins their money in games of chance."
+
+"A gambler?" questioned both boys in surprise.
+
+"I wouldn't go far enough to say that. What are they going to do next
+here do you know?" asked the engineer, changing the subject.
+
+"I believe it is to be a roping contest.  That will be a lot of fun."
+
+"You are not going in it, are you?"
+
+"Of course.  Why not?  I don't know what they are going to rope, but
+I'll take my chance with the rest of them whatever it is.  Guess I'll
+ride over and ask Mr. Jessup. I see him over there now."
+
+Mr. Jessup when questioned informed the boy that it was to be a most
+realistic contest in which two men mounted were to try to rope each
+other.  One of the rules of the contest was that the roper, when he
+caught his opponent, was to drop the lariat instantly so as not to
+pull his victim from the saddle.
+
+As only two could meet for the prize it was decided that lots should
+be drawn from a hat.  The two who drew slips of paper with the word
+"rope" written on them, were to have the honor of meeting in a test of
+skill.
+
+The prize was a Mexican saddle, silver mounted, at which all the
+cowmen looked with covetous eyes.
+
+"Think you want to take a chance for the saddle, boy?" asked Mr.
+Jessup.
+
+"That I do," laughed Tad.  "That's the saddle I want--I always have
+wanted one just like it.  But I'm afraid I shall not get the
+opportunity to try for it."
+
+"They are getting ready to draw.  You had better go over," advised the
+rancher.
+
+Tad found that they were not only getting ready, but that most of the
+men had already drawn.  Only one "rope" slip had been taken from the
+hat, however, so there still was a chance.
+
+He rode up to the foreman, who was holding the hat from which the
+drawing was being done.
+
+"May I draw?" he asked.
+
+"Do you know how to sling a rope, kid?"
+
+"A little," answered Tad, with an embarrassed smile, for the cowmen
+were making uncomplimentary remarks about letting babies into a man's
+game.  The boy's face burned, but he gave no heed to their
+ungentlemanly remarks.
+
+The foreman held up the hat.  Tad leaned over and drew from it a slip
+of paper.
+
+"Next--who draws next?" demanded the foreman.
+
+"If it will save you any trouble, I might suggest that it isn't
+necessary to draw further," Tad informed him, with the suspicion of a
+smile on his face.
+
+"What's that?" asked the foreman sharply.
+
+"I have the second slip," was the quiet reply.
+
+The cowboys broke into loud exclamations of disapproval.
+
+"Fair is fair, boys," warned Mr. Jessup.  "You all had your chance and
+you lost."
+
+"Yes, that's right," agreed the foreman.  "You fellows will have to
+swallow your pills without making faces."
+
+The man Cravath was now talking with the cowboy who had drawn the
+other slip.  He was one of the men Chunky had won from, though Tad did
+not know it at the moment.
+
+Tom Phipps pushing his way up to the lad informed him of this fact,
+and drawing Tad to one side whispered something to him.
+
+"Is that so?"
+
+"Yes, Cravath owns one of the ponies that came near winning the race.
+He is not a very good-natured man and I imagine they are putting up
+some plan to get even with you boys," warned Tom.
+
+"I'm not afraid.  They won't let them do anything unfair," said Tad.
+"Besides, I ought to be able to take care of myself, by this time,
+though I haven't been doing much with the rope of late.  Is that chap
+an expert roper?"
+
+"I couldn't say as to that.  But he's big and strong--"
+
+"Which doesn't count for very much in this sort of a contest," laughed
+the boy.
+
+"Very well, you know best.  But keep your eyes on him."
+
+"Are you gentlemen ready to begin?" called the rancher.
+
+"I must go now," said Tad hurriedly.
+
+"Good-bye and good luck," breathed Mr. Phipps, as the lad rode away at
+the same time straightening out his rope which he allowed to drag
+behind his pony while he recoiled it, working it in his hands to
+limber the rawhide.
+
+"It's a good rope," decided Tad.
+
+The foreman halted them for final instructions.
+
+"Now, gentlemen, understand that the rope must go over the head and be
+drawn taut, after which you are to let go of it.  You are to take your
+places some distance apart--I'll place you--and start at the crack of
+the pistol, not before.  Understand?"
+
+Tad and the cowman opposed to him nodded, the latter with a sarcastic
+grin on his face.
+
+The miner had lost the rifle which he coveted, and the cowboy did not
+propose to have the same luck in the case of the saddle, which was
+very valuable.
+
+The cowboy had his rope in hand ready to begin, while Tad's had been
+hung over the saddle horn.  The lad was sitting in his saddle easily,
+with a quiet smile on his face, and the spectators noted that he was
+not in the least nervous.
+
+"I guess that boy knows his business," muttered Mr. Jessup, who had
+been observing him keenly.  "At least he's got the pluck and will give
+a good account of himself, though he never will be able to win against
+a professional rope thrower."
+
+In the meanwhile, the foreman had started to place the
+contestants. Tad had the sun in his eyes, but he made no protest,
+knowing that he could change his position as soon as they got the word
+to go.
+
+"Are you ready?"
+
+"All ready," answered Tad cheerfully.
+
+"Yes," said the cowboy shortly.
+
+Tad's rope was now held in his right hand.  Both men put spurs to
+their mounts almost before the report of the revolver had died way.
+The ponies leaped forward and the two opponents rode straight at each
+other.
+
+They passed at racing speed, neither making an attempt to cast.
+
+No sooner had they cleared each other, however, than the cowboy pulled
+up his horse sharply, wheeled and dashed after the Pony Rider Boy.
+Tad, having foreseen the movement, had likewise stopped his mount, and
+turned about.  But instead of spurring on, he stood still.
+
+The cowboy had hoped to come up behind Tad and rope him as he raced
+away.  He was slightly disconcerted when he noted Tad's position.  But
+the smiling face of the boy angered him, and the cowman's rope
+squirmed through the air.
+
+Tad ducked, allowing the lariat to shoot on over him.  It fell
+harmlessly on the other side of his pony and a quick pressure of the
+spurs took boy and pony from under it.
+
+With a "yip-yip" Tad rushed at his opponent.  The latter had had no
+time to gather in his own lariat, but he began shortening it up
+intending to swing it from where it lay on the ground.
+
+His opponent gave him no time for this.
+
+Tad made a quick cast.  The cowboy threw himself to one side, but the
+loop of the lariat that had been thrown true reached his broad
+sombrero, neatly snipping it from his head.
+
+The spectators uttered a yell of approval.  They shook out their
+revolvers, sending a rattling volley up into the air.
+
+Tad Butler had scored first.
+
+His opponent was angered almost beyond control.  That a mere boy could
+thus outwit him, which Tad had neatly done, was too much for his fiery
+temper.
+
+With a growl of rage he drove his horse straight at the lad.  It was
+plain that it was the fellow's intention to ride him down, which Tad
+circumvented by standing still until the man was nearly upon him, and
+then driving his pony out of the path of the oncoming horseman.
+
+Each began a series of manoeuvres, the purpose of which was to place
+the rider behind his opponent, but each proved too wary to be caught
+in any such way.
+
+The contest was growing hotter every moment, and the spectators were
+getting worked up to a high pitch of excitement.  They had never seen
+a more interesting roping exhibition than this, and that a boy was one
+of the contestants gave their enthusiasm an added zest.
+
+The two were, by this time, working far out on the field.  Tad
+realized this and sought to get back nearer to their starting point.
+He did not, however, understand that his adversary had any object in
+getting so far away, though the man had a distinct purpose in so
+doing, as Tad eventually learned.
+
+The foreman was shouting a warning to them, which Tad tried to heed,
+although his adversary prevented his doing so by blocking the way each
+time.
+
+Whenever the opportunity presented itself the cowboy would bump his
+pony violently against the one that Tad Butler was riding, in an
+effort either to so jar the boy that he could rope him or else
+possibly to unhorse the lad.
+
+"See here, you stop that!" shouted Tad after the third attempt.  "What
+are you trying to do to me?"
+
+"I'll show you, you freckle-faced tenderfoot!" yelled the cowboy,
+making a vicious rush.  At the same time his rawhide shot out.
+
+Tad narrowly missed being caught that time, and in turn the cowboy was
+nearly caught by Tad's loop.  A lucky sweep of his arm brushed I the
+lariat away not a second too soon.
+
+Tad observing that his adversary, who was about to cast again, had him
+at a dangerous advantage, threw himself down on the side of the pony's
+neck.  Both animals were running almost neck and neck at the moment.
+
+With a whoop the cowboy let go.  His loop closed around the boy's
+ankle which from his position on the pony's side, was sticking well up
+in the air.  Tad's opponent, suddenly braced his pony, while the boy's
+mount raced straight ahead.
+
+The result of this move was that Tad Butler was torn from his saddle,
+fetching away the stirrup box on one side with him.  He struck the
+ground violently, and for a moment lay still, while the cowboy sat
+grinning, making no effort to learn how badly his adversary was hurt.
+
+The foreman and several others were rushing to the scene.  By the time
+they reached it, Tad was scrambling to his feet.
+
+"I roped the kid," announced the cowboy, as if it were all finally
+settled.
+
+"You roped me by the foot," retorted Tad.
+
+"Yes, that was a foul," said the foreman.  "I saw it myself.  How'd
+you come to do that, Bob?"
+
+"Mistake," answered the cowboy, thus admitting that they were right.
+
+Tad turned on him sharply.
+
+"Did you say it was a mistake?" he asked with a world of meaning in
+his tone.
+
+"We will award the prize to you, Butler," announced the owner of the
+ranch.  "That's the usual way when a foul has been committed."
+
+The cowboy glowered angrily.
+
+"I couldn't think of accepting it, Mr. Jessup," answered Tad,
+straightening to his full height.  "I'll go on with the contest, but
+he mustn't do that to me again or there will be trouble."
+
+Some of them laughed at the boy's veiled threat.
+
+"There certainly will be trouble," agreed Mr. Jessup--"trouble with
+me.  I want you two to keep up the field further so we can see what is
+going on.  Are you hurt, boy?"
+
+"Shaken up a little that's all.  Guess my saddle was worse used than I
+was."
+
+The contestants lined up for another bout, amid the most intense
+excitement.  So closely had the spectators gathered about them that
+the ropers had no room in which to work, and the foreman found it
+necessary to urge them back before giving the word to start.
+
+The Pony Rider Boys could scarcely contain themselves.  They, too,
+were worked up to a high pitch of excitement.  But Tad Butler, dirty,
+with clothes torn and grimy, appeared to be the coolest one in the
+crowd.  If he was angry no one would have imagined it from the
+pleasant expression of his face and almost laughing eyes.
+
+"All ready!  Go!"
+
+They went at each other again, the cowboy ferociously--Tad easily, but
+keenly on the alert, narrowly watching every move of his opponent.
+
+Round and round circled the pair, neither making an effort to cast for
+at least ten minutes, ducking, side stepping, or as near to this
+latter as a pony could get, and with movements much like those of
+boxers in a ring.
+
+The crowd was offering advice and suggestions freely, but both men
+turned a deaf ear to all of this.  Their whole beings were centered on
+the work in hand.
+
+Once both men cast and their lariats locked, the cowboy's loop having
+slipped over Tad's.
+
+The foreman called a halt while he untied the tangle.  The instant
+this had been accomplished, Tad drew in his with one hand, coiling it
+at the pony's side.
+
+"Remember, I haven't called time," warned the foreman.  "You are still
+roping."
+
+Tad knew that, but he did not wish to take an unfair advantage.
+
+The cowboy looked up with a startled expression on his face, but
+nodded and began hauling in his rope when he noted that Tad was making
+no move.
+
+His rope was in.
+
+"All ready," he said.
+
+So was Tad.  The boy's lariat shot gracefully through the air, landing
+neatly over the cowman's shoulders where it was quickly jerked taut
+before the other fully realized what had happened.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+WRECKED IN AN ORE CAR
+
+
+It was all the ranch owner could do to keep peace after Tad Butler had
+so cleverly outwitted his adversary in the rope throwing contest.
+Yet, though the defeated man was fairly beside himself with rage, the
+cowboys generally favored fair play.
+
+Their companion had been beaten in a fair contest, principally because
+his opponent had been quicker witted.
+
+Tad and Chunky, one bearing a rifle, the other a handsome saddle, were
+proud boys when they rode home with Tom Phipps and their companions
+that night.  The Pony Rider Boys had carried away the real prizes of
+the cowboy meet.  Chunky had few words.  He was so filled with
+self-importance that he could only look his gratification.  When part
+way home, however, he rode up beside Tad, and leaning from his saddle,
+whispered, "I didn't fall off, did I?"
+
+The news of triumph spread about the mining camp quickly.  When the
+miners learned that Cravath's pony and his man had been defeated, they
+shouted for joy.  From that moment the Pony Rider Boys became persons
+of consequence in the Red Star mining camp.
+
+It was suggested that evening that the whole party spend the next day
+in the mine.  Tom Phipps had permission to devote the day to them if
+they wished to go underground.
+
+"That will be fine," cried Tad, to which sentiment all the rest
+subscribed, except Stacy.
+
+"I'm going hunting," he announced.
+
+"Hunting?  What for?" questioned Ned.
+
+"Anything I can see."
+
+"Then, I'm glad we are all going to spend the day underground.  It
+will be about the only safe place around this part of the country."
+
+"Remember, Chunky, that's a powerful weapon of yours and long range,"
+warned Tad.
+
+"And remember to watch out that you don't fall off your new saddle and
+break your neck," retorted the fat boy.
+
+On the following morning the boys, with the exception of Stacy,
+reported at Tom Phipps's shack ready for the day's sight-seeing in the
+zinc mine far underground.  The assistant superintendent had made
+ready a large basket of food, as the party was to dine in the mine.
+
+Professor Zepplin was enthusiastic.  It was an opportunity that he had
+much desired.
+
+"I understand," he said, fixing Tom Phipps with a stern glance of
+inquiry, as they started for the mine, "that Silurian species have
+been found in the limestones hereabouts.  Also that others believed to
+be Cambrian have been discovered.  Is this in accordance with your
+experience?"
+
+"I think I understand to what you refer," answered Tom gravely.  "I
+can't say that I am familiar with the species, however."
+
+"If Chunky was here he would want to know if it were something to
+eat," laughed Ned.  "I'm not very certain myself whether it is or
+not."
+
+"You'll be wiser by-and-by," said Tad.
+
+Entrance to the mine was gained through a shaft leading straight down
+for a great many feet.  A windlass and bucket was employed to carry
+the miners up and down, while through another and larger shaft
+automatic buckets raised the zinc ore to the surface.
+
+All of the party could not be accommodated in the passenger bucket at
+one time, so it was necessary to make two trips, Mr. Phipps returning
+with the vehicle to see that the rest of the boys got down safely.
+
+Descending into the cool, damp darkness was a new experience for them.
+And while the sensations were not particularly pleasant, they agreed
+that it was the most interesting journey they ever had taken.
+
+"How far down do we go?" asked Walter.
+
+"About fifty feet," answered the miner.  "Of course the mine is not
+that far underground all around.  Some of the strata of rock we work
+lead almost to the surface in places."
+
+"Why don't you begin at the top and work down then?" questioned Tad.
+
+"Some of the mines do that.  In this case it was deemed best to sink a
+shaft.  Here we are."
+
+From the darkness the boys had suddenly been plunged into a blinding
+glare of light.  It was so intense that at first they were unable to
+see anything.
+
+"Good gracious," blinked Ned.  "This is brighter than the opera house
+at Chillicothe.  It's enough to put a fellow's eyes out.  What is it?"
+
+"Electric lights," laughed Phipps.  "We don't have many conveniences
+above ground, but down here we are right up-to-date, as you have
+observed."
+
+"As I perhaps shall observe when I am able to get my eyes open once
+more," added Ned humorously.
+
+"Why, the place is full of tunnels!" exclaimed Walter.
+
+"Regular checker-board under ground," agreed Tad.  "Where do all those
+tunnels go to?"
+
+"Under where you have been tramping since you have been in camp."
+
+"To the Ruby Mountain?" inquired Tad meaningly.
+
+"Yes, most probably that far, or pretty close to it, I should say; but
+I have never made a measurement with that in view, so that I am unable
+to give you a definite answer.  We should have to bore through some
+pretty solid rock to get under the little red mountain, I'm inclined
+to think."
+
+"I'd like to go over that way."
+
+"All right, we will visit that part of the drift later," replied
+Mr. Phipps.
+
+What Tad's motive might have been in wishing to get under the Ruby
+Mountain, perhaps he himself did not know.  But he did know that
+somehow he felt that before leaving the mining camp he would solve the
+mystery of the place.
+
+They first followed the drifts to the west where here and there a dull
+distant report told them the miners were blasting out the rocks with
+dynamite.  After being broken up into large chunks the ore was placed
+on little cars and run along tracks to the hoisting apparatus from
+where it was quickly shot to the surface.
+
+It was a busy scene that the Pony Rider Boys found--a different world
+from the one they had just left above them.
+
+"Do these mines ever blow up or catch fire?" asked Walter a bit
+apprehensively.
+
+"No, we have no fires of any consequence.  We have never had an
+explosion and I trust we never shall," answered the assistant
+superintendent gravely.  "You see there is not the same danger in this
+sort of place that you find in a coal mine.  I would prefer to work
+digging out dynamite to mining coal."
+
+"Dynamite?  Do you keep much of it down here?" interrupted the
+Professor.
+
+"Oh, yes, we have to.  There is enough down here at this moment to
+more than blow up the Ruby Mountain.  The greater part of it is stored
+in what is known as the Ozark drift, the drift running to the
+southeast.  I'll show it to you when we go that way."
+
+Now they were nearing the more active operations and the metallic
+click of the steam drills filled the air as they bored their way
+through the solid rock, necessitating the raising of voices that the
+boys might make themselves heard.
+
+"Would you like to take a ride in one little cars?" asked Mr. Phipps.
+
+The boys were quite certain that they would enjoy such a trip.
+
+"Pile into the next car, then.  We'll send it through without any ore
+this time.  There would not be room if we were to load the car.  I
+think it will be a novel experience for you."
+
+And Tom Phipps smiled significantly.
+
+Directing the switch man to shift the car back to the return track,
+the mining engineer told the lads to climb in and sit down on the
+floor, which they did promptly.
+
+Only the tops of their heads projected above the sides of the ore car.
+
+"Under no circumstances must any of you straighten up unless you wish
+to get your heads smashed."
+
+"Why, there is plenty of room for our heads here," replied Ned.  "We
+could stand up and yet have some to spare."
+
+"Right here, yes.  We shall go through some places that you would not
+want to stand through, I imagine."
+
+"Are you ready?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+Tom Phipps climbed over into the car.
+
+"All right, Jim," he called.
+
+Immediately the car began to move and in a few moments had attained a
+high rate of speed.
+
+"Now, boys, remember your heads," cautioned their guide.
+
+Instinctively each crouched lower as their vehicle was all at once
+plunged into sudden darkness.  Drops of water now and then spattered
+down on their bare heads.  The noise of the car in the dark was
+deafening.  The sound was as if many ore cars instead of one were
+crashing through the dark tunnel.  The lads experienced a strange
+thrill when the realization came to them with its full force, that
+they were shooting through the earth, far beneath the surface at the
+speed of an express train.
+
+"Why don't you have lights in here?" asked one of the passengers.
+
+"Not necessary," said Mr. Phipps.  "It is seldom that anyone has
+occasion to go through this tunnel--practically never unless something
+happens to a car in here.  There are lights along that may be turned
+on if necessary, but it would be a needless expense to keep them going
+all the time--"
+
+"What's that loud noise?" asked Tad.
+
+His ears had caught a booming roar that was a new note in the
+terrifying sounds of the underworld through which they were traveling.
+
+The boys started uneasily.
+
+"It's water," shouted the guide.  "A cataract in an underground water
+course.  These courses have cut channels all through the limestone
+rocks in the Ozark Uplift."
+
+This somewhat calmed the nerves of the lads, though not wholly so.
+Faster and faster rolled the car and louder and louder grew the roar
+of the cataract.
+
+"Are we almost out of here?" demanded Walter uneasily.
+
+"Yes.  We shall be clear of it in five or six minutes now.  You notice
+that we strike little grades occasionally, which cause the car to slow
+down considerably and for that reason the journey seems longer than it
+really is."
+
+"If we have slowed down at any time I have failed to observe it,"
+laughed Tad.
+
+"What if we should jump the track in here?" suddenly suggested Ned.
+
+"But we won't," answered the guide. "We--"
+
+A grinding, crunching sound cut short his words.  The car appeared to
+pause and tremble throughout the length of its frame; then followed a
+deafening crash, accompanied by the sound of breaking timbers and
+splintering wood.
+
+A deep silence, broken only by the roar of the cataract, settled over
+the scene.  The ore car lay a broken, twisted, hopeless wreck.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+A MESSAGE THAT THRILLED
+
+
+Out of the silence came the voice of Ned Rector.
+
+"Help, I'm pinned down," he groaned.  "Get me out of this awful hole."
+
+"I'm coming as soon as I can get free of what's on top of me,"
+answered Tad.  "Is everybody else all right?  W-a-l-t!  Mr.
+Phi-ipp-s!"
+
+Tad struggled desperately and in a brief time succeeded in freeing
+himself.  What had happened to the guide and to Walter he did not dare
+to think.
+
+First upon getting clear of the obstruction that pinned him down, he
+rushed to Ned Rector and succeeded in releasing him without great
+difficulty.  Neither boy was hurt much.
+
+"Where's the other two?" cried Tad in a voice of anxiety.
+
+"I don't know.  Don't know where I am myself," groaned Ned.
+
+"Hurry, help me find them."
+
+Together the boys groped about in the black tunnel.
+
+"I've got one," called Ned.
+
+"Which one?"
+
+"I don't know.  Yes, yes, it's Walt.  He's breathing.  What shall I
+do?"
+
+"Drag him over to one side.  I've got Mr. Phipps here.  I'll have him
+over there in a minute."
+
+Tad began tugging, with hands under the shoulders of the guide,
+understanding instinctively that he must get him where they could work
+over him and try to bring him back to consciousness.
+
+Something whizzed by in the darkness, the rush of air nearly knocking
+both boys over, and leaving them trying to catch their breaths.
+
+"Wh--what's that?" gasped Ned.
+
+"I--I don't know," answered Tad.  "Yes, I do too.  It--it was a car
+returning on the other track for a load of ore."
+
+The lad's knees went weak under him when it came to him that he had
+only a second before dragged the unconscious figure of the young
+engineer from that very track.
+
+Now still another sound startled them.  It was a roar heavier than any
+that they had heard before, and as near as they could tell, it was
+from the direction that they had come.
+
+"Hurry, Ned!" shouted Tad Butler fairly electrified by the thought
+that suddenly flashed over him.
+
+"What is it?  What is it?"
+
+"I--I don't know, but I think it's a car of ore rushing down the grade
+toward us."
+
+"We're dead ones, then!" cried Ned.
+
+"Be quick, Ned!  Grab Walt and run as you never ran before!
+
+"On, on! Keep to your right so you don't get on the return track.  Oh,
+Hurry!"
+
+Tad had already gotten into action.  Once more grasping the guide by
+the arms, the lad ran backward with his heavy burden, with almost
+marvelous speed under the circumstances.
+
+He was none too soon.  Back of him he could hear Ned stumbling over
+rails and ties with his burden.  Then came the heart-rending crash.
+
+The car of ore had plunged into the wreck of their empty car, hurling
+rocks in all directions.  Had they remained where they had been, there
+would have been none left to tell the story of their experiences.
+
+"I guess it's all over," shouted Ned. "But, there will be more, soon,
+and some of them may hit us."
+
+In obedience to Tad's command, Ned dragged Walter along a few rods
+further, where on a curve both boys laid down their burdens.
+
+Tom Phipps under the rough treatment that he had received was stirring
+and making an effort to sit up.  Tad helped him along by slapping him
+vigorously between the shoulders.  Ned was shaking Walter almost
+savagely.
+
+"Wake up, Walt!  Wake up!  What's the matter with you?"
+
+Walter groaned.
+
+By this time Tom Phipps had partially pulled himself together.
+
+Tad's heart leaped with joy.
+
+"Walt will be all right in a minute, I guess," Ned informed him.
+
+"And so will Mr. Phipps."
+
+"Where am I?" asked the young engineer.
+
+"We've had an accident, Mr. Phipps," replied Tad.  "How do you feel?"
+
+"As if I had been put through the ore mill.  Did we have a smash?"
+
+"I should say we did?"
+
+"Who's hurt?"
+
+"Walter was knocked out too, but he is coming round now.  Ned thinks
+the boy is not hurt very badly."
+
+"No, I'm half scared to death, but I'm all right otherwise," answered
+Walter for himself.
+
+"Which track are we on?" demanded Phipps suddenly, trying to locate
+his position.
+
+"Our own.  You nearly got run over on the other.  I pulled you off
+just in time."
+
+"I'll thank you later.  There must be a cross cut near here.  If we
+can find it we'll be able to get to a point where I can telephone them
+to hold back the cars.  They'll fill the tunnel before they know
+anything has happened, if I don't get word to them at once."
+
+"I should think they would miss the cars."
+
+"They should," answered the engineer.  "Is your friend able to walk?"
+
+"How about it, Walter?" called Tad.
+
+"Yes, I can run if it will take me out of this terrible place any
+sooner."
+
+"Then we'll run," decided Tom Phipps.  "I must have gotten an awful
+hit on my right leg, for I can scarcely bear my weight upon it."
+
+"Shall I rub it for you?" asked Tad.
+
+"No, we haven't time.  We must look for that cross cut, which leads
+into the number eleven drift.  Keep to your right, boys.  We are safe
+here now, but not on the other track."
+
+"I know that," answered Tad.  He shuddered as he recalled the black,
+projectile-like object that had whisked by him just after he had
+pulled Mr. Phipps from the return track.
+
+There was still another reason why the assistant superintendent was so
+filled with anxiety to reach a place where he could notify the
+terminals to stop the cars.  He did not confide this to his young
+friends, not wishing to disturb them any more than they had been.
+
+All hands started on a trot, now stumbling, now falling, but without a
+single murmur, or protest.
+
+"You are a nervy bunch of boys.  Never saw anything to equal you,"
+gasped the engineer.  "I can't forgive myself for getting you into
+this wretched mix-up."
+
+"You never mind us.  We're all right," answered Tad brightly.  "I'm
+sorry you got knocked out so."
+
+"Here's the cross cut," cried the miner.  He had paused and was
+cautiously feeling his way along the wet, slippery wall.
+
+The boys breathed a sigh of relief.
+
+"Now run as if the Indians were after you.  I'm in a bigger hurry than
+I ever have been in my life."
+
+And run they did.
+
+The boys had no idea what Tom Phipps's reasons were for urging such
+haste upon them, but they knew they must be urgent ones.
+
+Tad found himself wondering what new peril might be facing them.  He
+decided that the assistant superintendent must be seeking to protect
+the company's property by stopping the sending of more cars through
+the tunnel.  Yet, if this were so, why had the guide urged them to
+such haste.
+
+"No," said Tad to himself, "it's something that we don't know anything
+about.  But unless I am greatly mistaken we are going to find out
+pretty soon."
+
+In this the boy was right.  They were to find out what it was that Tom
+Phipps feared, and in a manner that they would not soon forget.
+
+The narrow cut through which they were now rushing was little higher
+than their heads, and was very narrow, so that by raising their elbows
+they could barely touch the sides and keep themselves in the middle of
+the passage way.
+
+"Look out for a turn just ahead," warned Phipps.  "After that it is
+straight away."
+
+The turn which they made a few seconds later, Tad imagined, led back
+toward the place where the car had started from.  But they came to the
+end of the passage abruptly.
+
+They caught a faint click, and instantly they were surrounded by
+dazzling light.  As soon as they became used to the brightness they
+discovered that they were in a sort of chamber which looked as if it
+had been worn out by constant and long action of water.
+
+Instantly upon switching on the light, the young engineer sprang to a
+telephone on the wall.  Tad observed that the wires from it followed
+out into the passage through which they had entered.
+
+The assistant superintendent was telephoning now, and the lads
+listened intently.
+
+"Hello, hello!" called Phipps in an impatient voice.  "Yes, who's
+this?  Acomb?  Say, Acomb, there's been a wreck on the number one
+track just west of here.  Two cars smashed, one loaded the other
+carrying myself and some young men, guests of the company.  Don't let
+any more through until the wreck is cleared away.  Send an empty along
+with the wrecking crew so we can get out.  What's that?"
+
+Tom Phipps shuffled his feet about nervously on the stone floor.
+
+"Hurry then, hurry!  Yes, we're all here, but hurry!"
+
+The boys instinctively drew near.  They imagined that they could hear
+each other's hearts beat, so tense was the silence.
+
+He turned halfway around to glance at the boys.
+
+"Is it anything serious?" asked Ned in a strained voice.
+
+"I hope not.  I can't tell you just yet.  We shall know in a minute...
+Well, send some one for him," he snapped, answering something the man
+at the other end of the line had said to him.  "Hello, hello!  That
+you, Bob?  Did Acomb tell you of our predicament?  Yes.  What I wanted
+to say was don't for goodness' sake send out the red car while the
+line is blocked."
+
+"The red car," repeated Ned and Tad in one voice.  Neither knew what
+it meant, but impressed them just the same.
+
+"What, gone? gone?" groaned Phipps.  "Are you sure?  How long ago?
+Ten minutes?  Shut off the current!  Quick!  I hope so."
+
+The assistant superintendent hung up the telephone deliberately and
+turned toward them.
+
+The boys observed that his face was white and drawn.
+
+"What, what is it?" asked Tad.
+
+"There's a car of dynamite coming through the tunnel on the number two
+track," announced the young engineer calmly, thrusting both hands deep
+into his trousers pockets.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+IMPRISONED IN A MINE
+
+
+"That--that's the track that the empty cars go back on, is it not?"
+asked Tad, after an interval of tense silence.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"The wreck was on the other track."
+
+Tom Phipps nodded.
+
+"Then what harm can the red car, as you call it, do?" interrupted Ned
+Rector.
+
+"That remains to be seen.  The chances are that the number two track
+was blocked when the car of ore was spilled out."
+
+"Which means?" questioned Tad.
+
+"That there may be another collision," smiled the assistant
+superintendent.  His was a wan smile, however, and failed to enliven
+the Pony Rider Boys.
+
+"Will the dynamite explode?" asked Walter half fearfully.
+
+"Probably not.  I hope not.  But you can't tell anything about these
+high explosives.  They're very freaky.  All we can do will be to
+remain here and wait for the car either to stop somewhere after the
+power has been turned off or to rip its way through the wreck we just
+left.  At any rate we are safe in here."
+
+The boys breathed a sigh of relief.
+
+"Then, there is no danger to us?" asked Ned Rector.
+
+"The danger is minimized."
+
+"How far are we from where we started?"
+
+"Probably a couple of miles."
+
+"My! the Professor will be half scared to death when he hears what a
+fix we are in," half laughed Ned.
+
+"The foreman, Mr. Acomb, said he would telephone to the other end of
+the drift telling them we were all right and not to worry about us,"
+said Phipps.  This relieved the boys' minds of one source of worry.
+
+"Hark!" cautioned the young engineer.
+
+The lads ceased their talking instantly and listened with straining
+ears.
+
+"What is it?" breathed Tad.
+
+"It's a car going through the tunnel."
+
+"Is--is it the red car?"
+
+"I don't know.  It's a gravity car--traveling along down grade by its
+own weight, so it must be on track two."
+
+"What can we do?" asked Ned.
+
+"Not a thing, my boy, only keep cool.  It will not help matters any to
+get excited."
+
+"We are not!" replied Ned firmly.  Each of the other two boys
+protested that they had never been less excited, which brought an
+approving smile from their guide, who was filled with admiration for
+the plucky lads.  The fact is, his admiration had been steadily
+growing since he had seen their achievements from the time Tad Butler
+had first staggered into the Red Star mining camp a few days before.
+
+"I guess the car is going through safely. I am glad--"
+
+Tom Phipps did not finish the sentence. He was interrupted in a way
+that shook all the speech out of him, as it did from the rest of the
+party.
+
+There occurred a sudden sharp tremor of the rocks about them; then the
+stones beneath their feet seemed to heave up and down.  Their little
+universe was being turned topsy-turvy, it seemed to them.
+
+At the first tremor, the Pony Rider Boys were thrown prone upon their
+faces on the rocky floor, partially stunned by the sudden shock.  A
+distant boom, like the report of a cannon sounded in their ears, then
+all at once a terrifying rending of the rocks about them, accompanied
+by loud crashes.
+
+"Are you all right?" shouted Mr. Phipps after the deadening effect of
+the shock had passed.
+
+"I'm all right," returned Ned Rector.  "Can't anything kill me now.
+I'm proof against bullets, wrecks and earthquakes."
+
+"Was that an earthquake?" questioned Walter weakly.
+
+"Dynamite.  The red car exploded when it was wrecked," explained the
+mining engineer.  "That was what I feared.  Is Master Tad hurt?"
+
+"No, he's all right, I guess," answered Tad for himself.  "All the
+lights have gone out.  Can't we turn them on again?"
+
+"I'm afraid not.  The wires undoubtedly have been torn and twisted
+apart in many places.  There will be no more light in this drift for
+some time to come, I reckon."
+
+"Think anyone was killed?" asked Walter apprehensively.
+
+"Oh, no.  There was no one near the explosion, except ourselves, and
+luckily we are safe and sound.  I'll try the telephone."
+
+Mr. Phipps spun the handle of the telephone, but without result.
+
+"Like the lights, it's dead," he said.
+
+"What was that crashing noise in here?  Was that what did it?"
+questioned Tad.
+
+The miner struck a match.
+
+"Look!" he exclaimed.
+
+In the center of the chamber was a heap of rocks, weighing probably a
+ton or more.  These had been wrenched from the roof of the place and
+dropped into the room where Phipps and the lads were waiting.
+
+"Somehow, I'm feeling a goneness under my belt," spoke up Ned.  "Let's
+get out of here."
+
+"My goneness is in my knees," Walter Perkins informed them.
+
+"Either place is bad enough," returned Ned.
+
+"Do you think it safe for us to leave here now?" asked Tad.
+
+"I have been waiting until I thought it was," answered the guide.  "Of
+course, I have no means of knowing how much the explosion has loosened
+the rocks further out, near where the blast was fired."
+
+"That's so," agreed the boys.
+
+"We may have to face still other dangers, but I think we had better
+make a start.  I am not sure that these rocks over our heads are any
+too secure, either.  Have you boys any matches?"
+
+"Yes, I have some," replied Tad.
+
+"I'll use mine first, then.  We'll need all we have before we get out
+into the car tunnel," said Tom.  "Are you getting hungry?"
+
+"To tell the truth, I for one haven't had time to think about my
+appetite," laughed Ned.
+
+"Yes, I guess our minds have been so full of other things that our
+stomachs have not had a chance to make their wants known," said Tad.
+
+"How about you, Walt?"
+
+"What I want most of anything in the world just at this minute, is to
+see daylight.  Isn't night outside yet, is it?"
+
+"No, it is only just past noon," the miner informed him.
+
+"Always have a total eclipse of the sun down here," muttered Ned
+humorously, but no one paid any attention to his feeble joke.
+
+"If you are ready we will be going now," announced their guide.  "Fall
+in behind me and go very carefully.  You are liable to stumble over
+fallen rocks and break some bones.  That's almost as bad as being hit
+on the head by one, eh?"
+
+"Well, hardly," laughed Ned.  "I've got that experience coming to me
+still, and I'm in no hurry to meet it."
+
+"Keep as far to the side of this chamber as possible," directed Mr.
+Phipps.  He proceeded ahead of them, lighting the way with matches,
+which served to relieve the darkness a little, casting weird,
+flickering shadows on the damp walls and ceiling of the narrow
+passage.
+
+To the miner's gratification, the tunnel appeared not to have been
+harmed at all, not a stone having been jarred loose so far as he was
+able to observe.
+
+"I guess we are in luck, boys," he said in a relieved tone.  "All
+clear so far.  We shall be out in the main tunnel in a few minutes
+now.  There will be a car along to pick us up very shortly after we
+get there."
+
+"Hurrah!" shouted the lads joyously, hurrying forward in their anxiety
+to be clear of the place as quickly as possible.  "Can you see the end
+of the place?"
+
+"No, not yet."
+
+They had just rounded the bend in the tunnel and were heading for the
+exit into the main cut.  Drawing near to it, they observed that Tom
+Phipps hesitated, then began picking his way along with more caution
+than before.
+
+"Anything wrong?" asked Tad, who was close behind him.
+
+"I don't know.  Be careful.  There's a lot of rubbish under foot
+ahead.  I don't like the looks of it at all. Stand where you are."
+
+After proceeding a few paces, their guide halted, holding a match high
+above his head.  He turned toward them slowly.
+
+"The rocks have caved in, boys.  There's a solid wall in front of us."
+
+"Which means," asked Tad hesitatingly.
+
+"That we are imprisoned far under the surface," answered the miner
+impressively.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+THE BOYS FACE A MYSTERY
+
+
+"Then how are we going to get out?" asked Ned Rector as the guide's
+match went out.
+
+"That depends upon how long it takes to dig us out," answered Mr.
+Phipps.
+
+"Then they know we are here?" questioned Tad.
+
+"Oh, yes.  Luckily for us, they do."
+
+"Will they have to dig far--is that pile between us and the railroad
+very thick?" stammered Ned.
+
+"It looks so.  Of course I am unable to say what has taken place on
+the other side of it.  The entire main cross cut may have tumbled in
+for all I know."
+
+"If it has, what then?" demanded Tad.
+
+"It will take that much longer to get us out.  That's all."
+
+"How long?"
+
+"Master Ned, I don't know.  No one can answer that question.  Perhaps
+hours--perhaps days," said Tom solemnly.
+
+"But we'd starve in that time," protested Walter.
+
+"One can go without food much longer than one would imagine.  People
+have fasted for more than a month, as you probably are aware.  No,
+boys, they will get us out in time.  The only thing that troubles me
+now is the air," said the engineer.
+
+"What about it?"
+
+"Well, we can't live without air, you know.  It seems to be fairly
+fresh now, but how long it will continue that way there is no knowing.
+I'll examine the barrier, but keep back out of the way while I am
+doing so."
+
+The young engineer climbed over the heap of broken rock in front of
+him, and made a careful inspection of the cave-in that had so
+effectually imprisoned them in the drift.
+
+He found nothing to encourage him.  The condition of the collapse was
+even worse than he had anticipated.
+
+"Can you pace--measure off by taking a series of long steps?" he
+asked.
+
+"Yes," replied Tad promptly.
+
+"Then please go back to where the bend in the cut begins, and pace
+down to where I am."
+
+Tad did so promptly, glad to be able to do something to occupy himself
+as well as to help relieve the tension for the others.
+
+"Exactly forty paces," he informed Mr. Phipps.
+
+"One hundred and twenty feet, eh?"  The engineer made a brief
+calculation in his mind.  "One hundred and twenty feet.  H-m-m-m."
+
+"Is it as bad as you thought?" questioned Tad.
+
+"Worse."
+
+"Tell me what you have found?"
+
+"Only forty feet of cave-in between us and freedom.  That's all."
+
+"I should say that was enough," muttered the lad.
+
+"Ample."
+
+"Is there anything we can do, Mr. Phipps?" spoke up Ned.
+
+"Not a thing.  All any of us can do at present is to wait.  Knowing we
+are here, they will lose no time in attempting to get us out.  I wish
+the telephone were working so we might let them know we are all right.
+We might as well go back.  I'll make a trip out here occasionally to
+learn if they are making any signals to us.  They will do this as soon
+as they can get near enough to the obstruction to make themselves
+heard."
+
+"Make signals--how?" questioned Ned.
+
+"We use a code, a telegraph code.  They will rap with a hammer then
+we'll answer them."
+
+"But you have no hammer--"
+
+"No, I'll use a rock to pound with if they get near enough.  There's
+no hurry, however.  It will be a long time before there's any occasion
+to communicate."
+
+Turning back, Tom led the way through the passage to the large chamber
+which they had but recently left.  Arriving there, he directed each of
+the lads to light a match at the same time so he could make a survey
+of the room to determine whether it were safe for them to remain there
+or not.
+
+"See that hole up there?" he exclaimed.
+
+"Yes, what is it?" asked Tad.
+
+"It's a check.  You see there must have been a weakness in the strata
+at that point--perhaps it had already started to check there, when the
+force of the explosion split it wide open.  The opening is large
+enough to admit a man's body.  Hold your lights down here while I
+examine this rubbish that has fallen through."
+
+They did so, and Mr. Phipps dropping to his knees sorted over the
+stones and dirt that had fallen from above.
+
+At a muttered exclamation from him, the lads crowded closer.
+
+"Queer, very queer," he mused.
+
+"What's queer?" asked Ned.
+
+"Why, this stuff.  It appears to be surface material mixed with pieces
+of rock of about the same quality as that of which the Ruby Mountain
+is composed."
+
+"I don't understand--"
+
+"I mean that this material that has fallen in here did not all come
+out of the solid rock."
+
+"What does that mean?" asked Ned.
+
+"Perhaps nothing so far as we are concerned.  I was thinking that if
+they could not blast through the drift, they might as a last resort,
+drill down through the surface from above and pierce this chamber."
+
+"How could they locate our position close enough to do that?"  asked
+Tad.
+
+"That would not be difficult.  From the maps of the mine Mr.  Munson
+could work out our position as closely as a captain does that of his
+ship at sea."
+
+It was a ray of hope which the boys grasped eagerly.  They tried to
+forget that they were practically entombed many feet underground, and
+that days might elapse before they were rescued.
+
+"I'll bet Chunky will hug himself with delight when he finds out
+what's happened," suggested Walter.
+
+"Yes, he'll probably think it's very funny, our being bottled up or
+rather down in a corner underground," said Ned somewhat dolefully.
+
+"I didn't mean that.  He'll be glad he went hunting instead of coming
+along with us," corrected Walter.
+
+"Yes, I guess he will," agreed Tad.  "He'll have a right to
+congratulate himself that he has missed an opportunity to fall in."
+
+The lads forgot their predicament for the moment in the laugh that
+followed.
+
+"I wish we had a light," said one.
+
+"We might build a fire.  What's the matter with burning up our hats?"
+suggested Ned.
+
+"No, we should be suffocated.  Don't you know we are sealed up,"
+objected Tad.  "We don't want to make any additional trouble for
+ourselves."
+
+"Yes," agreed the guide.  "But it is peculiar that there is so much
+fresh air here.  Now and then I can almost imagine I feel a draft,
+though I know that is not the case."
+
+"Could we not get a draft through that large crack in the rocks up
+there?"
+
+"I don't see how, Tad. There is nothing but solid rocks above it."
+
+The lad stepped under the opening, holding up a finger which he had
+wet between his lips.  For a full moment he stood poised like a statue
+while the other two boys lighted matches that they might the better
+see what he was doing.
+
+"I don't care what you say, there is air coming from somewhere.  There
+can be no doubt of it.  I feel it plainly.  Try it and see if you
+don't agree with me, Mr. Phipps."
+
+The engineer stepped up and went through the same process that the boy
+had gone through.  He repeated the experiment twice more.
+
+"You're right," he exclaimed, letting his hand drop to his side.
+"Your good sense is worth more than all my technical knowledge and
+training."
+
+"The next question is to find out where the draft comes from.  It must
+be from the outside somewhere," said Tad hopefully.
+
+"Not necessarily, my boy.  Of course it may be drawn down through
+crevices covering many feet of solid rock before reaching us.  Then
+again, the air may come from some subterranean water course.  As you
+know the mountains are full of them, channel upon channel, some high
+and broad enough to drive a coach and four through."
+
+"Oh.  I hoped--"
+
+"Never mind regrets, boys.  Wherever the air comes from makes little
+difference so long as it really is air.  It is saving our lives."
+
+"From what?" demanded Walter.
+
+"From eventual suffocation.  Were it not for that we would stand a
+good chance of dying before they were able to reach us."
+
+The boys were thoughtful for a few moments.
+
+"Hungry?" questioned the engineer.
+
+"Somewhat," admitted Tad.
+
+"We might be more so if we had a chance to think about it," added Ned.
+
+"I've got a package of chewing gum here.  Help yourself," offered
+Mr. Phipps.
+
+The lads were not slow to do so, and in a moment were chewing
+industriously, laughing and talking at the same time.
+
+"Beats all what a little thing will make a fellow forget his
+troubles," said Ned.  "Now, I remember--"
+
+"Hello, boy!"
+
+"Who said that?" demanded Tad Butler springing up from the pile of
+rocks on which he had been sitting for some time.
+
+"Said what?" snapped Ned.  "I was talking when you interrupted me."
+
+"I thought I heard somebody say 'hello,'" confirmed Mr. Phipps.
+
+"So did I," added Walter.
+
+"And I know they did," said Tad emphatically.
+
+"Hello, boy!"
+
+This time all sprang up, startled.
+
+"Who's playing tricks?" shouted Ned.
+
+"Heard it that time, did you?" asked Walter.  "It wasn't I."
+
+"Nor I," chorused Tad.
+
+"Then it must have been Ned or myself," said Phipps.  "I'm sure that I
+am no ventriloquist."
+
+For the moment Phipps wondered if they were all losing their senses.
+He had heard of men, imprisoned under similar circumstances, imagining
+they heard voices.
+
+Tad Butler, however, knew that imagination had played no part in this
+voice.  He had heard the voice before.  He informed his companions of
+this fact.
+
+"Heard it before?  Where?" exclaimed Ned.
+
+"On top of the Ruby Mountain yesterday," answered the boy.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+IN THE RUBY MOUNTAIN
+
+
+Tom Phipps nodded.  He recalled his conversation with Tad upon the
+other's upon his return from his visit to the Ruby Mountain, and the
+lad's description of the mysterious voice he had heard there.  Mr.
+Phipps did not give very serious consideration to that part of the
+boy's story at the time.  Now, however, he was startled beyond words.
+
+All of them were startled.  To hear a strange voice many feet down
+under the ground, when all supposed they were far beyond the reach of
+a human voice, was enough to give almost anyone a start.
+
+Yet Tad was not as much surprised as were his companions, for it will
+be remembered he already had been through the experience that was so
+new to the others.
+
+"Who are you?" demanded Mr. Phipps almost sternly.
+
+There was no reply to his question.
+
+"Tad, are you sure that is the same voice?"
+
+"Positive.  There can be no doubt.  And, besides, she has used the
+same words."
+
+"But it's impossible," insisted the young engineer.  "No one, let
+alone a woman, could get near enough to this chamber to be heard as
+distinctly as that."
+
+"I--I think it must be somebody who can go right through a rock,"
+stammered Ned.
+
+"Ghosts," nodded Walter.
+
+"That's what I thought at first.  But I knew it couldn't be after I
+had time to think twice.  And I--"
+
+"He-l-l-l-o-o-o!"
+
+"There it goes again," fairly shouted Tom Phipps.  "I'm going to find
+out what this means before I'm another minute older."
+
+Hastily lighting a match he made a tour of the chamber, every corner
+of which he examined carefully, ending by a long, critical survey of
+the hole in the roof.
+
+"It is just as impossible for anyone to be up there as it is to expect
+to see some one walk through the solid rocks here beside us," he
+decided, throwing the spent match on the floor where it glowed briefly
+and went out, leaving the darkness more dense than before.
+
+Tad struck a fresh match.
+
+"Hello, what's this?" he cried, reaching for a small package that lay
+wrapped in a piece of newspaper on the floor near him.  "I didn't see
+that before."
+
+"Doughnuts!" shouted Ned, who had been peering curiously over Tad's
+shoulder as the latter opened the package.
+
+"Yes, and they are real," exulted Tad.  Already one of them was in his
+mouth, and the others of the party quickly helped themselves.  There
+was just enough to go around.
+
+"I don't care who you are, but we're much obliged just the same,"
+called Ned in a muffled voice.
+
+"Yes, there's nothing ghostly about this 'bear sign,'" added Tad.
+
+As for their companion, Tom Phipps, words failed him.
+
+"I'm sure I'm going crazy now," he said.  "If you are real, for
+goodness' sake tell us who you are and where you are?" he pleaded.
+
+A merry, chuckling laugh answered him.
+
+"She's up there!" said Tad Butler sharply.  He had been listening with
+every sense on the alert, determined to locate the owner of the voice
+when next she spoke.  Now he was sure that he had succeeded.  "I know
+where you are but I don't know how you ever got there."
+
+"Do you know a way out of this?" interjected Walter.
+
+"Of course," answered the girl.
+
+Tad nodded to his companions.  They were burning up their matches very
+fast now in an effort to catch sight of the owner of the voice.
+
+"How did you suppose I got there if I didn't know the way?"
+
+"No ghost about that, I guess," said the boy.
+
+"Will you help us to get out of here?" asked Tom.
+
+"Can't."
+
+"Why not?" demanded Ned.
+
+"Can you climb up here?"
+
+"No, certainly not."
+
+"Well, that's the answer."
+
+They laughed in spite of themselves.
+
+"Will you tell us how you got where you are?" asked Mr. Phipps.
+
+"That's a secret," replied the girl.
+
+"And I presume your name is a secret too?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"We'll find out who you are when we get out of here.  I promise you
+that," threatened the assistant superintendent.
+
+"Then good-bye."
+
+"No, no, don't go!  Don't go!" begged Tad.
+
+"Say you won't tell on her, Mr. Phipps.  Don't you see--"
+
+"All right, girl, I'll promise to keep your secret."
+
+"You'd better," retorted the girl.
+
+"How did you know we were here?" asked Mr. Phipps.
+
+"I didn't.  I heard about the explosion, so I came in here to see if
+my cave had been harmed any."
+
+"You knew we were right under it, then?"
+
+"Of course.  How stupid you are!"
+
+"Where is your cave?"
+
+"I'm in it."
+
+"Yes, I understand that, but where?"
+
+"You ask too many questions."
+
+"Say, young lady, can you find a rope that will reach down to us?"
+asked Tad, who had been turning over a plan in his mind.
+
+"I guess."
+
+"Please do so then.  And hurry, won't you?"
+
+"You will ask no questions?"
+
+"Certainly not!"
+
+"You won't try to find out anything about my cave?"
+
+"No, no, of course not," answered Mr. Phipps impatiently.
+
+"And you will do as I tell you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"All right.  I'll be back in a minute."
+
+Mr. Phipps sat down nonplussed.  "I never was so mixed up in my life,"
+he grumbled.  "I can't understand it at all. How did she ever get
+there?"
+
+"She says it's a cave," suggested Tad.
+
+"But I know of no caves about here."
+
+Tad shrugged his shoulders.  That there was one and through it a
+prospect of their being liberated from their unpleasant and perilous
+position, was enough for him to know.
+
+"Hello," shouted the girl after a few minutes.
+
+"Yes, did you get the rope?" called Tad excitedly.
+
+"Uh-huh."
+
+"Then drop the end of it down."
+
+A heavy coil hit Tad on the top of his head, nearly knocking him down.
+He scrambled from under while from above there sounded a peal of merry
+laughter.
+
+"I don't care, so long as we have the rope," laughed the boy.
+
+"Can you fasten the end of the rope to something up there?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Oh, pshaw! that's too bad," grumbled the boy.  "But wait a minute."
+
+Striking a match and shading his eyes with one hand, he peered up to
+the hole in the rocks.  He noted a long narrowing crevice extending
+back from the main opening.
+
+"I'll tell you what to do."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Draw the rope into that crack as far as it will go, then tie a knot
+in the rope so it cannot slip through.  I'll climb up--"
+
+"You couldn't get up here.  The end of the crack is too far from the
+place you see.  Hold on, here's another crack just like it, right here
+in the rocks by me.  I'll fix it.  You all promise not to tell on me?"
+insisted the girl.
+
+"Yes, yes, yes, we promise.  We'll promise anything just now," laughed
+Ned.
+
+An interval of silence followed while the girl was adjusting the end
+of the rope.  Then she called down to them:
+
+"All ready?" asked Tad.
+
+"Yes, try it."
+
+Tad grasped the rope, and swinging himself clear of the floor, jounced
+up and down several times.
+
+"I guess it will hold.  I'll go up first to see that the rope is
+secure; then the rest of you can follow me up."
+
+"Why, I couldn't climb that rope to save my life," objected Mr.
+Phipps.
+
+"I'll fix it so you can.  I'll tie some knots in it, then climbing
+will be easy."
+
+With that Tad once more swung clear of the floor and went up hand over
+hand with amazing rapidity.  By the light of their matches they saw
+him disappear through the hole in the roof of the chamber.
+
+"It's all right, fellows," he called down to the others.  "I'll just
+haul up the rope and fix it for you."
+
+This he did, letting the rope down to them a few moments later.
+Walter was the first to try the climb.
+
+"I can't do it, Tad. I just can't," he cried, slipping back to the
+floor where he landed in a heap.
+
+"Hold the rope down for him, then he ought to be able to make it,"
+directed Tad.
+
+Walter, however, had apparently lost his courage and declared that he
+could not do it.
+
+"Take a hitch under his arms, good and strong.  I'll pull him up," he
+commanded.  They did as the boy above directed, then Tad began his
+pull.  It was a fearful task.
+
+"Grab hold of me, put your arms around my waist and brace yourself,"
+he commanded, and the girl with quick wit comprehended what he wished
+her to do.  Slowly, foot by foot Tad hauled the dead weight up.  The
+last few feet of the rope seemed a mile to him.
+
+With a final desperate effort, just as his muscles seemed to be at the
+breaking point, Tad, hauled his companion safely to the flat rock
+beside him, then fell on the floor of the cave, gasping for breath.
+
+"Le--let the r-rope down," he said faintly.
+
+The girl obeyed.
+
+Ned shinned it with little difficulty, Tom Phipps insisting that the
+lad should precede him, though Ned wanted him to go first.
+
+Tad was on his feet again.
+
+"Can you make it?" he called down.
+
+"I don't know.  I'm going to make a big attempt at it," answered the
+miner.  They heard the rope creak and knew that he had thrown his
+weight upon it.
+
+"I'm afraid I can't get all the way up.  My arms are giving out," they
+heard him gasp.
+
+"Don't let go!  Don't let go!"
+
+"I'm afraid I can't help it, my muscles won't stand the strain."
+
+"Twist the rope about one leg and rest.  You can hang there all day if
+you'll do that," snapped Tad.  "How is it!"
+
+"Yes, that works fine.  My arms are all a-tremble.  I didn't suppose I
+was so weak?"
+
+"You are not used to it, that's all.  That's right; come along.  I'll
+strike a match to light the way."
+
+Little by little and with frequent rests, Tom worked his way up and up
+until within reach of Tad's strong arm.  The lad grasped him by the
+coat collar and pulled him clear of the hole, dropping him flat on his
+back safe and sound on the rock where he had previously dumped Walter.
+
+"Good gracious!" breathed Mr. Phipps.  "Boy, you must be made of cast
+iron.  You--you pulled me up here with one hand."
+
+"You're here, that's all we need worry about just now," answered Tad,
+breathing heavily.  "Now, Miss, will you please tell us how to get out
+of here?"
+
+"Come," she said, taking Tad by the hand.  She turned away, the others
+following in single file.
+
+Almost at once they emerged into a high-ceilinged cave, dimly lighted
+as if through stained glass windows.
+
+The lads uttered an exclamation of amazement.
+
+"I know you now.  You're Rose Cravath, Tom Cravath's daughter!"  cried
+Phipps, striding forward and grasping the girl by the shoulder.  "I
+demand to know what all this means?"
+
+Tad stepped between them, pushing Tom aside.
+
+"Remember your promise, Mr. Phipps," he warned.
+
+"Yes, but do you realize where we are, boys?"
+
+"No, and I don't care."
+
+"We're in the Ruby Mountain."
+
+"Look!  Look!" shouted Tad excitedly, grasping the arm of Phipps.
+
+With this, he dashed away to a distant part of the chamber that lay in
+deep gloom.  Phipps looked in bewilderment.
+
+A few moments later, Tad emerged from the darkness leading a broncho.
+
+"Didn't I tell you?" he asked triumphantly.  "I knew I'd get him some
+day--this is my stolen broncho."  And then patting the pony's neck
+affectionately, he added: "Good old fellow.  I'm glad to have you
+again."
+
+He had indeed recovered his pony.  Probably awaiting the departure of
+the Pony Riders from Ruby Mountain, the desperadoes had kept the
+pony--with two others--secreted in the mountain chamber.  The other
+two ponies did not, however, belong to the Pony Rider Boys, much to
+the disgust of the latter.
+
+"Just Tad's luck," growled Ned.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+CONCLUSION
+
+
+Before the Pony Rider Boys had an opportunity to voice their
+astonishment, Rose held up a hand for silence.  Voices were heard
+approaching.
+
+"Hurry, hurry!" she whispered excitedly, leading the way through a
+low, narrow opening into another part of the cave.
+
+Tom Phipps's hat was knocked off by the low archway, but not realizing
+the loss of it, he did not stop.  As they entered the second chamber,
+which was even more brightly lighted than the one they had just left,
+they heard the sound of water, but were unable to locate the stream
+which they knew must be near by.
+
+The voices died away to a low murmur and the girl who had been
+trembling violently, began creeping cautiously toward the opening to
+reconnoitre when all at once she started back with a little cry of
+alarm.
+
+Before the eyes of the astonished boys there suddenly appeared two
+men.  Mr. Phipps's hat had warned the men of the presence of strangers
+in their stronghold.  Their faces, therefore, reflected anger instead
+of surprise.
+
+For a few seconds the newcomers stood glaring at Phipps and the Pony
+Rider Boys.
+
+"Tom Cravath!" exclaimed the assistant superintendent.  "So, you are
+the mystery, are you?"
+
+"Poaching, eh?" sneered Cravath unabashed.
+
+"What business you got in here?" snapped his companion.
+
+"I might ask you the same question, you fellow and Tom Cravath?"
+retorted Mr. Phipps, holding the two men with a level gaze.  "And
+what's more I think your peculiar doings will bear looking into.
+There's something mighty queer about this business.  I shouldn't be
+surprised if we found we'd solved a greater mystery than we thought--"
+
+"You'll solve nothing!" shouted Cravath, suddenly drawing a revolver.
+His companion did likewise, both men quickly covering Tom Phipps and
+the boys with their weapons.  "You'll find it ain't profitable to
+meddle with other folks' business."
+
+"Pity you hadn't learned that lesson yourself," jeered Tom.
+
+"It's over the cliff for the whole blooming bunch of you.  I'll give
+you all the mystery you want."
+
+"Father, father," protested Rose, horrified at her parent's
+cold-blooded threat.  "They haven't done anything. They--"
+
+"You shut up!" roared the miner.  "Get out of here!  Get in under the
+arch there!  I'll attend to you later!"
+
+The girl hesitated, then crept away sobbing as Cravath made a
+threatening move toward her.
+
+"Now, I'll settle with you and your bunch of meddling tenderfeet,"
+announced Cravath sternly.  "Right about face!"
+
+They hesitated, then turned in obedience to his command.  There seemed
+nothing else for them to do, for both men were fingering their weapons
+suggestively.
+
+"These boys have done nothing to harm you, Cravath," protested
+Mr. Phipps.  "And no more have I.  Mark me, you'll pay for this
+indignity, and dearly too."
+
+"You don't say?" sneered the miner.
+
+"I suppose this is where you hide the ponies you have been stealing,"
+said Phipps boldly, a sudden thought having come to him.
+
+"Forward march!" roared the enraged miner.
+
+"Not--not over the cliff--you--you can't mean it?" begged Phipps, his
+face going suddenly pale.
+
+"That's what I mean.  You fellows are supposed to be buried in the
+mine down there.  It'll take 'em months to blast into the place where
+they think you are, and when they reach the place you all will be gone
+a long time."
+
+Cravath laughed harshly.
+
+"Come now, over you go, unless you prefer to stand there and take your
+medicine."
+
+"Hold on there a minute.  I guess if anybody does the leap for life,
+it'll be you that does it," shouted a voice behind the two desperate
+men.
+
+A second dynamite explosion could not have surprised them more.  The
+men wheeled like a flash.
+
+From the shadow of the archway, through which they had just entered,
+protruded a rifle barrel.  The Pony Rider Boys who had also turned
+sharply at the interruption, observed that the gun barrel had a
+telescope attachment.  Their eyes following further back, observed
+something else, too.
+
+"Chunky!" gasped the lads in one voice.
+
+Cravath made a move to level his weapon at the boy who had interfered
+with his plans thus unexpectedly.
+
+"You stop that, now!  I've got six bullets in this gun.  If you get me
+excited I may press too hard on the trigger, and--well, maybe you'll
+think you've stepped into a hornets' nest.  Drop those pistols!"
+
+The muzzle of the repeating rifle never wavered.  Behind the sights,
+the eyes of Stacy Brown had contracted into two narrow slits.
+
+The desperadoes hesitated, measuring their chances shrewdly.  They
+must have considered that these were not worth the taking, for they
+permitted their fingers to relax, the weapons falling to the floor
+with a clatter.
+
+Chunky lowered his rifle ever so little, and the Pony Riders uttered a
+yell of triumph.
+
+For one brief instant Chunky was off his guard.  In that second he
+lost his prisoners.
+
+With a bound the two men cleared the intervening space that lay
+between them and the cliff.  They reached it at a point near the
+corner of the chamber some distance from where they had attempted to
+drive the boys over.  Throwing themselves flat on their faces, they
+wriggled over the edge and disappeared.  A faint splash below, a few
+seconds later, told the lads that their desperate assailants had
+reached the water.
+
+"They'll drown, they'll drown!" cried Walter.
+
+"No such luck," growled Tom Phipps.  "They've got away, that's all.
+They know what they're doing."
+
+Chunky swaggered to the edge with rifle dropped over his left arm, and
+peered over.
+
+"Guess I'll hurry 'em along," he announced, clearing his weapon for
+action.
+
+Tad sprang forward and forced the barrel up.
+
+"Chunky, Chunky!" he warned.
+
+"I was just going to scare 'em, that's all," grinned the fat boy,
+lowering his rifle.
+
+At that moment the boys fell upon Chunky, fairly hugging him in their
+delight. After the keen edge of their excitement had worn off, they
+pressed him for the story of how he had happened to find his way into
+the Ruby Mountain at that time.
+
+The lad explained that having been hunting in that vicinity and
+becoming tired out he had sat down to rest.  While thus engaged the
+men had come along.  They were talking of the explosion, and from them
+he learned that the drift in which the Pony Rider Boys were imprisoned
+was immediately beneath their hiding place in the Ruby Mountain.
+
+Interested at once, the lad followed them into the mountain.
+
+"But, how did they get in here?" demanded Tom.
+
+"Through a hole in the rocks, that went straight in."
+
+Phipps insisted on being taken to the place at once.  He found that
+entrance had been made through an abandoned shaft that extended into
+the mountain a short distance on the level.  A door had been skilfully
+constructed, shutting off the entrance to the cave itself.  Years
+before a notorious band of outlaws had been known to have a hiding
+place somewhere in the vicinity.  Tom Cravath and his associates had
+come upon it and used it for their own nefarious purposes.
+
+"I think we'll find we've come upon a very important discovery,"
+decided Mr. Phipps after listening to the fat boy's story.  And so it
+proved.
+
+Cravath had been at the head of a band of thieves, who made way with
+their plunder through the Ruby Mountain.  A large quantity of it was
+found there on the following day.  As for the stock which they stole,
+this was led into the mine entrance, down into a subterranean water
+course along which it was directed for several miles along towards the
+Indian Territory where it was eventually sold by other members of the
+gang.
+
+No trace of any of the desperate band was ever found.  Eagle-eye, the
+missing Indian guide, was discovered bound and gagged in a remote
+chamber in the Ruby Mountain, weak from loss of food.  He had caught
+some of the band stealing the ponies and they had taken him prisoner.
+
+It was proved, however, that neither Rose Cravath nor her mother had
+any knowledge of the transactions of the desperate band.
+
+Great was the rejoicing in the mining camp when the news of the
+discovery became noised about.  The lads were made heroes by the
+enthusiastic miners.  But this did not bring back the lost ponies.
+Rather than purchase others for the brief time they would be in the
+Ozarks, it was decided to close the trip and continue their
+journeyings amidst other scenes.
+
+On the second morning after their exciting experiences in the mines
+they rode away, bound for the nearest railroad station, all
+anticipation at the prospect of a sojourn on the great Nevada desert,
+of which they had heard so much.  How they lost themselves there,
+their efforts to extricate themselves from the desert maze, attended
+by a remarkable series of strange happenings, will be told in a
+following volume entitled, "THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE ALKALI."
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Pony Rider Boys in the Ozarks, by 
+Frank Gee Patchin
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