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

. He caught the angry cowman by the collar. From the way in which the newcomer

!" he th

newcomer with an angry snarl,

t the cub!" he cried, makin

a mighty fist was planted squarely betwee

nded the man wh

his feet, standing sulle

you that I'd 'fire' you if you got

wboy n

ommend do you suppose Boss Miller will give you wh

askin' any recommends.

ack to the camp for yours. Let Bert come in your place. Yo

, the cowboy, walked down the street, jerking his po

on the fellow.

o Tad, glancing up at

've got nerve-more

to let the man stay. He wo

ur pony away from here. First thing I know you will be mixing it up with some of the res

yone else. If those are your men I should think you migh

the other. "You don't know the

scuer st

couraging nature, though it was difficult for him to believ

Rector, riding up beside his companion a few minutes later. "

ngs? Wh

he cowboys with w

llows that tried to cr

re the boys," said

m. They will have no love for me after what h

pplin says it's about four

o we jo

ith the Professor now. He was telling the Professor about your mix-up with Lumpy Bates. That's the name of

did he

o. He says we can't use

ked Tad, look

re not trained

. Have we got to

hem for anything we care to, except around the cattle. We s

lling off," laughed Tad. "

N

w more about them

to go over and see Mr.

, come alo

for their journey with Professor Zepplin, while Stacy Br

tler, Mr. Stallings,"

man before," answered the fo

involve yourself in trouble so soon

no fears of any future trouble. The bunch will be given to understand that the young gentlemen are

eat?" interrupted Stac

he laugh at the

a wonderful thing, Mr.

, but he knows how to get up a meal. I believe, if he had nothing but sage grass and sand, he could make

icker?" dema

r blanke

ose at Austin," answered Tad. "Any

n't carry gu

in shook his he

ithout them. We have rifles in our kit, but I imagine t

remember in the old days, when we used to have to fight t

e rustlers?"

the old days have passed. Such a drive as we are making now

t?" ask

e put the old cow tr

ils?" won

trails. That's what they are in reality. Professor, do yo

ious to begin their life as cowboys. I understand that'

opes. There is too great a responsibility on a night man to trust the boys alone with that work now. But they can begin if they w

after supper, if you will have some one t

You boys need not be afraid of Big-foot. He's not half

x o'clock. Leading his pony across the sidewalk, he po

ithin hearing of his voice to start up in

e Miller outfit?" asked the P

anders. I'm lookin' for a bunch of year

r. Sanders. They will ride their ponies around fr

e of th

a sort of companion, you

e hard boiled hat you're wearin' or the boys'll be for sh

oving his derby hat. "Thank you. I shall profit

ch got hard

e their sombreros," a

Zepplin did not know. The cowpuncher threw himself into his saddle

rom the stable at the rear of the hot

is Tad Butler," anno

o!" he said after a sharp glance into the f

ed Rector, and the young gentleman at your left is Walter Perkins, all mem

further command. The Pony Riders followed immediately, Tad riding up beside the big, muscular looki

s the country in a straight line until finally the cowman point

e met the inquiring gaze of the boys. At fir

ide, observing that th

doing, Mr. Sand

my name. Never expect to. They're grazing. Be rounding t

ook hi

on a hunting trip. This is my

and plenty comi

answered the lad promptly

ack from town. The foreman don't allow the fellows t

cowboys, urged their ponies into a brisk gallop and drew up well into line with Tad and B

e of having a lot of tenderfeet with the outfit on a journey such as they were taking now. They were bent on grim and serious business-man's wo

American boys, though they were to realize it fully before th

a brave showing of horsemanship, and sprang from their s

foreman, was the

u about," was Bob's introduction. "Where's Lumpy

wagon," answered the cowboy of

ellowed th

unpleasant meeting, earlier in the day, came f

er. Stick out your fist

y di

t scarcely loud enough f

d up at him g

Tad. "Maybe I was to blame after all. I'll apologize

e noticed that the cowpuncher ha

ings," grunte

y the cow boys, when Chunky came rolling along. In the excitement of the meeting the boys had forgotten a

his sombrero and

nts that were always occurring to him. His galloping pony

however,

s, his intention having been to pull his pony up sharply to show

ramatic instinct, yet few things ever c

described a half curve in the air, his own head

ver in a struggling heap, wi

r, and to the utter undoing of one of them, for the boy's head had