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

the others were doing likewise. "It's a bear, I think," replied the Prof

still," answered Ned, h

ther tent pole do

place. That's too b

ll in there?" asked t

y tent, where I took them from

her away, young gentlemen. We had better get near trees so we can make

," announced Tad, with

s," ordered

t," cri

u? I will get

t tent there with th

n there, too," added Walte

better take to the tre

pp

et out right away. See, he has

life," nodded Ned. "I hope he neve

ould be heard under the heaving canvas as the black bear plunged helplessly a

he threshed about, and the crash and bang of

that light?" e

ried the

on fire!"

t water!"

ut out the bear

the tent collapsed the lantern went down with it, and in his floundering a

lor tent. That sett

two boys

ne?" wailed Chunky, pee

suppose is making it hump up in the middle, if he isn't there? And the tent's o

that I did, too. I would have been in a nice fix if that tent had come down on me

B-e-a-r," spelled Ned, with strong

I did, honest," he muttered. "And it

ly moved further

could not repress a shout of laughter over Stacy's funny wo

ou didn't yawn. The bear migh

ar would have got to yawning at the same time, and yawned and yawned un

er a full meal. I guess our bear over there hasn't had one lately or

break out at any time. He is a small bear, but there is no telling

afraid," an

ves with clubs, prepared to do battle with the

here in the bushes?" deman

s," answered Ta

he presence of the bear in camp and were ma

are having a fit. I can't manage all of t

are they afraid?" c

They'll get away from

orts, the boys rushed to the aid of Tad B

one of them!

y. Tad, leaped on the bare back of his own pony, first havin

r the open and Tad was able to overhaul h

it was an easy matter to drop the l

," growled the boy, cinching the rope a

ing the other plunging bronchos, more rope having been brought for the purpos

Professor, as they turned back toward the camp, where the b

ed Professor Zepplin hurrying to his

think of my revolv

kill him with t

an try. It's a thi

d. "I've read lots of times that

and fired at the spot where the

a series of sudden explosions followed, see

e Professor, lowering his

hooting at us," sug

what it is

w?" dema

ire from the lantern has got at those paste

er away from the danger zone, though the Professor told them the bullets could n

The tough canvas resisted the bear's efforts, and the fire was burning slowly. However,

distance to the right of the others, now dancing

animal had succeeded in forcing hi

led Walter Perkin

A mass of flame separated itself from the ruins of the tent. With sn

n fire!" shou

screamed

ts eyes, the animal not seeing the lad, lurched heavily a

ike a flash, running from the fearful thin

too bad!" ex

t rather to the sufferings of the animal. Tad felt a deep sympathy for any dumb animal that was in

have your revolve

at

brute out of his

no more she

eye. Hurry, hurry! Can't you see how

Zepplin, sharing something of the boy's own feel

turned when Tad came d

he? Do you

the fire in the bushe

me the gun,"

go with yo

epplin. "Some of you will surely be shot. Thadd

urs to Pink-eye, the animal leaped from

" announced the Professor, with a doubtful shake

t ahead of him. The beast was down rolling from side to side in a

e could get. Then he saw that the bear had become entangled in the guy ropes, and that he was pulling along wi

lunging, bucking and squealing so that t

dy, Pink-eye,

ceased its wild antics an

an

heavy revolver and

in and the lad gripped its sides with his l

razed it. I wish I could kill the brute and put him out of his misery," said the

up a steep bank. Tad noticed that the bear's rolling had extinguished some of the fire

to get closer," decided the boy. "Pink-e

head and rattled th

, old chap

ed, righted himself and digging in the slender hoofs fairly lifted himself up and up. In the meantime Mr. Bruin was making better prog

the bear would throw himself down, and with snarls and angry

ght he was near enough

the pony's neck, he steadied the hand t

too bad. I'm only adding to his misery. Next ti

y's speed. Pink-eye responded as best he could, and began climbing the hill that had now

keep that up. Steady now. Don't slip or you'll tumble me do

an

ad could not resist taking another shot at it.

mation of disgust and

complained. "I'll begin to practise with this gu

ly difficult animal to kill, and that frequently one of them could

of where he was going nor how far from camp he had strayed. His

than at any time during the chase. He drove the p

n at the beast's head, holdi

uick, firm pressure. A s

d to one side. The lad, leaning over from the saddle, was taken unawares, and making

sed to obey. The pony uttered a loud snort and plunged into the bushes. The

g of the bullet served only to anger the bear still further.

rs, the fall partially stunning him. For an instant, he pivot

king figure standing over him, its hot breath on his face. His r

Tad Butler's ears, then sudd