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

ected plunge, it chanced that neither cow

new of h

ick hitch around his right wrist, so that when the rope drew taut, and the

s kind, it wheeled about the instant it felt the tug on the rope and dashed for the main herd, Tad's body ploughing

was unable to see where he was going. He had sl

!" cried Wa

t?" cried

the steer i

n't k

ng out there alone," added Wal

ll be killed! Watch this herd, I am going after him!" shouted N

its human burden, rushed in among the o

frightening the cattle. However, he was waving his hat and ex

busy to give a

the struggling cattle with n

not belong to them. As it chanced, however, most of th

mething was wrong, though just what it was, he was unable to decide. Then his eyes caught the figure of Ned Rector, the cente

ass of cattle, lashing to the right and left of him with his ready quirt, the cattle resentfully shaki

fter he had ridden in far enough

's

abou

e," answered

What do

's the white stee

had seen the lad working with the un

id the boy rope him?"

no

ch, but the one in question was so much larger than the others that Stallings thought he would have no difficulty in picking out the animal. Not fin

he herd!"

s?" asked R

r the big, white cow.

erstood

e cattle, big and little, fell away before his plunging pony and ready quirt was an

driving his pony here and there, an

d, suddenly espying the a

he

o the rig

nt found himself within reach of the white beast. However, there

hen the great loop squirmed out over the backs of the c

bout the pommel of his saddle and the pony braced its fore feet. When the shock came, the cattle over whose backs the rope l

ked to one side. A swing of the rop

re!" roared

any of the others to the animal, and to him fell t

im, having seen a cowboy hold a steer

n and leaped

lf on the neck of the struggling animal, whose

m his pony and run to the lad's assistance, l

served the form of Tad Butler doubled up, l

him up, quickly c

" he commanded. "Look out that

?" called Ne

ny, which he mounted taking the boy in his arms. By this time Ned

saddle. His face, with the sand and dust

is pony. By the time Ned reached them, Stallings h

urry!" he com

ancing about him, unde

wagon. Ride

s stirrup. With a sharp yell to the animal he sped away ov

day made those of the cowme

he came in sight of the wagon, which,

gent, was filling a jug from the tap barrel by the time Ned

Chinaman, and unheeding Pong's chuckled "allee

ears as he realized that, even with

g hoofs and prodding horns without being at lea

fingers were stiff and numb from carrying the heavy jug, and the lump in his thr

their ponies. He knew they were looking at Tad. Stallings

be alive or there would be no need for the liq