The Pony Rider Boys in Texas; Or, The Veiled Riddle of the Plains

t's

, I r

wn were being attacked. Ju

war, I can't say. But

uestions absently. After a careless glance up the street, he turned to resume his study of

ise. But what i

uly, Ned. Do

t it is a different sort of racket from any I've ever heard up N

e I don'

wild Indians were tearing down on him. Her

national holiday, and the inhabitants for many miles around had ridden

o utter the exclamation of alarm. As he did so, he whirled his pony about, urging the little animal into a side s

ed from the protectio

for the sidewalk, crowding those already there over yard fences, into stores and stairways in an effort to get clear

m the exacting work of the range, were sweeping down on the t

throngs that were hurrying to cover. Nor did he appear to be alarmed when, a moment later, he found himself almost the sole occ

heir discovery of the Lost Claim, which gave each of the boys a little fortune of his own, as narrated in the preceding volume, "The Pony Rider Boys in the Rockies," the Pony Riders had turned toward Texas as t

as B. Miller, had purchased a large herd of Mexican cattle, which he decided to drive acro

e of Texas. The boys were awaiting the arrival of the herd at San Diego on this Fourth of July morning. Though they did not suspect it, the Pony Rider

wed to graze and rest for the day, while the cowmen, or such of them as could be spared, were given leave to ride into town in small

, a shouting

to look a

ace of Tad Butler reflected only mild curiosity as he gazed inquiringly at the dashing hors

le-faced boy most was the

ploded the foremo

ang! Ba

aped into the air from the revo

in a mighty yell, letting go at

-e-e

tting on his pony, the cowboys swung into line six

sending volley after volley into the street ahead of them, the leaden missiles viciously kicking up

n to show signs

ees firmly against the animal's sides. The prancing pony was quickly maste

" yelled a cowman, espying the b

er did n

ked the band in a se

vers began to bark spitefully, flicking up a semicircle of dust about th

The boy brought his quirt down sharply on the pony's flank, at the same time pres

rearing and plunging, for the wiry little animal was wholly unused to such treatment.

ly divine their purpose, though he knew that their intent was to frighten him into giving them the street.

ed a mome

the two cowboys held their course, their eyes fixed on the of

s sharply to the right, and, digging

r game, is it?"

going to r

yet still he made no move to p

houted. "Don't y

r the hoofs of his pony. It seemed to the lad that the powder from their weapon

was coming, gathering the reins tightly in his rig

nsmen. But just when it seemed that the lad must go down under the rush of beating hoofs, Tad all but lifted his po

s struck the boy and his horse a glancing blow. For the moment, Tad felt sur

boy the cowboy had ut

ce on the rump of the kicking cow pony, who

hing happened-that is, u

ar to the left in his saddle when Tad struck his horse. The pony, under the sting

r managed to free his left leg from the stirrup; but, quick as he was, he was not quick enough to save himself wholly from the forc

w the unhorsing of their companion by a mere boy, while the

he angry cowpuncher would visit his wrath upon

rage he scrambl

had been wrenched from his

as he started

y, now realized that he must act qui

as formed

ng the little animal smartly on its side, the lad

that

y brought his quirt down across the cow

ang at him, but the blow aimed at