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

e funny sight of the fat boy

ad back by the collar, while Lumpy was allowed to get up when he got ready. He did

foreman. "I hope you won't dismount in that fashion around th

rinned s

ntinued the foreman, "I've known of such a thing as a herd being stampede

rs no

clumsy lout," he answered, refer

es are divided, after which you can go out wi

curiosity aroused. "That's funny. I di

guard is on duty from that time till one o'clock in the morning; the third, from that hour till half past three, while the fourth remains out until relieved in the morning. He us

like ping-pong. I used to pl

even if he is a Chinaman," laug

me spoken, was peering inquiringl

to the group, his weazened,

men, Pong. They will be with us for

ng, clasping his palms together and

," laughed Stallings. "He always shakes hand

ke into a loud laugh, at

," he muttered, abashed by the

have for breakfast," said the foreman. "Pong, what are yo

ckly turning to his questioner, at the same time rap

looked at each

s informed them with a hearty laugh. "Pong is not much of a talker. That's about

glanced up

g on your own ponies, but keep well back from the cattle. Those of y

cattle were moving slowly about, but not grazing much. They had

asked Chunky, gazing

of you," answ

tion on which the old dry grass of the previous summer's gr

are there in the

p a few stray cows. We will be cutting those out in a day or so, when you

they had practically surrounded the herd. They began circling sl

m, for they had been on the road several nights already. Besides,

ir liking, the animals beg

to their knees in hundreds, then dropping on their sides, contentedly

outside there-those fellows wi

to bed as you see," the foreman informed him. "You will notice after a while that they will lie down outside

ad "bedded down," and those of the cowboys who w

out on the first guard; Walter Perkins on the

of the cowmen exchanged ponies with

had remained out for a while to give Tad some instruction in the work before him

rods from the edge of the herd, they began lazily circling it, part going in one direction and part in another. In

t," smiled the foreman. "Make no s

ver run?"

eer to set the pace. Those fellows can run faster than a horse-at lea

e Rockies. I know something

g like the idea of what it means. In that case, unless you know your business you had better get out of the way as fast

I know when

will hear them. If you should not th

way from the herd. After some little ti

ndings; then the loneliness of the plains came over h

darkness settled d

he hardy little animal, with nose almost touching the ground, began its

t appeared on the eastern horizon. Tad

moon," h

his lonely vigil. Just ahead of him he s

Red Davis, one o

boy in passing, but no wor

scrambled to their feet and had begun grazing a little way outside the circle. The rest of the herd

on was to call to some of the other guards. Then, remembering the

decided after watching them for a few moments in silen

e pony, Tad headed for the steers, that were slowly

well outside and h

to nose it around. The animal resisted and swung its sharp horns perilously near to

himself. He knows how and I don't," m

hich the pony whirled and went after one of the others, turning this one,

llow. I told the gang back there t

ot Sanders, who, sitting on his pony, had been watchi

owman all right,