The Pony Rider Boys in Montana; Or, The Mystery of the Old Custer Trail

ame for your going int

ding over the s

dn't I?" grinn

in. My, but that

ecollection of his icy bath came ba

cook the breakfast, and it wasn't

ned Stacy, "I'

ed Ned, uttering

urself down thoroughly and put on a dry suit. I can't have

d. "It takes more than a bath in a

hought once or twice that I was a goner while I was holding to that rock. I could not ma

en, down with this coffe

ch he wrapped in blankets and tucked in their beds. Chunky was the only one of the boys who did not protest. Ned and Tad objected to bei

e lads seemed to be any the worse for his exciting experiences in the creek, much to the

g back and forth a few times, stirred up their circulation, afte

ly of bacon and potatoes and

mouth as if he we

irst boy who yawns to-day gets into trouble. And Stacy Brown, if you fall in the riv

ding up a piece at the end of his fork. "Kind

s going to say,

to it? It's as black a

fellows think you can do any better, you just try it. Cook your own meals if you d

has a grouch on th

ree with him to tak

, but I object to havin

decided Professor Zepplin, sni

face f

to give it that pecul

to wash it off, then laid it in

ire?" sho

cooked it?" demanded the boy irr

er'n that myself

e the spider?"

n't know you used

in the fire,

shall have to elect a new cook if you cannot do better than that. However, we'll manage to get along very well with this meal. If we have to g

out for the foothills, after first having consulted their compasses and decided upon the course they w

the saddle once mor

hey had gotten

ed, I take back all I said about the bacon this morning. You did me a good turn last night. If it ha

I," interject

im a withe

in, but when it comes to getti

rveled Walter, shading his eyes and

ss characters in there, too,

hear that?"

ng about it in the ho

all you hear. W

These men are a kind of outlaws, I believe. They steal horses and cattle. Probably sell the hides-I don't k

Ned. "The country is full o

eating Ned Rector's own words, and the latter's mut

sa. Before them lay the foothills of the Rosebud, rising in broken mounds, some

bin," said Tad, halting and looking abo

wait there. I imagine he will be w

d our course by the c

ad followed the hanks of the East Fork for several miles. This served to throw them off their course and when they

they were entering the foothills themselves; and so it continued until they fin

e continue any farther," decided the Professor. "This is a nice level spot wit

he Rockies," replied Ned. "We shall be forgetting ho

ne by twelve feet tent, which they proposed to use for a dining tent in wet weather, as well a

ving their packs. Stacy Brown began industriously tugging at the

shouted. "What kind of hitc

quaw hitch. Ever hear

a

hitch is a squaw h

to tie up their wives with when

to fasten the packs to the ponies. Mr. Stallin

ning the hitch, thus allowing the canvas

fessor Zepplin with Stacy had started off

h the parlor tent set up to the rear some few rods, b

to be in plain view of the boys in case of trouble. Profiting from past exper

ed and the boys stood off to

military cam

We might stack our rifles outside her

it." sug

together in front of the small tents. Not being equipped with bayonets the guns refused to stand a

ag? Somebody get that and I'll cut a

e and the boys, doffing their hats, gave three cheers and a tiger for

my hat to that beau

azing up at

own country's fl

homage to our country and our flag, supposing we consult our own bodily comfort by ge

of our skipping a meal when we

Professor. "It wag less than two months ago, if I remember correctly, th

as Chunky now," chuc

n their breakfast. They ate it under the trees,

quite proficient. By this time, even Stacy Brown could be trusted to

asked Ned, while he was refilling

plied the Professor. "There i

t ki

tain lions a

interesting. May we

one with us who understands the habits of the animals. As you have l

experience in hunti

I guess I

ld they were unable to locate him. Nor did they dare stray far from the camp for fear of being unable to find their way back. The

or Zepplin said, while they were eating their supper. "We must be a long

e of independence that they had not felt before. They were alone and enti

mp-fire stirred up to a bright, cheerful blaze, all h

plin was poring over an old volume that he had brought with him, while the boys were discussing

e rear of the tent, where he sat leaning

ghten up and brush a hand

ed. "Imagines he's rolling

ed by the fat boy's voic

orously rubbing that part of his anatomy

" laughed Ned. "We are not both

me up," answered the fat boy, settling back and closi

ing heeded the laughter of his com

d they been looking they might have observed one of his hands being drawn cautiously behind him, as if he were reaching fo

ren't tickling my neck? I'll show you S

s turned about on his hands and knees, intently ga

re!" called Tad. "Anybody would think y

with fear, were fixed on the flap. What he saw was a long black snout poked th

help. Knowing instinctively that something really serious had happened, the others sprang up, peering at the other end of the tent. For a moment, they co

rom the tent in a single leap, followed almo

object he saw entering the tent at the back, and bolted through the fr