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

me!" said th

nd, was up like a flash. Realizing its danger, the little animal gave a snort and plunged into the mesquite, leaving i

. His first instinct was to run, in th

ure death," h

f he were to do anything to save h

amid the roaring of the storm and the thunder of the maddened herd. His hands touched a log. He found that it had so rotted away on one side as to

nakes in here," he tho

ke his chances with snakes, at that mo

azing it with their hind feet as they went over, s

d done before them. However, the steers were less fortunate. Before they were able to scramble to their feet, others following had tumbled over on top of t

d front had been broken at last, yet they continued on as wildly

w came down in drenching torrents, packing down the sand of the plain whi

he did not mind this. His thought, now, was to ge

tricating themselves from their predicament, each one giving v

ment he considered it safe to do so. As it was, he got awa

ny gone, and, with no sense of dire

f I can. I'll do it as long as I've got a leg to stand on," he declared, cautiously

he could dodge to get out of the way of the animals as they rushed toward him, nor was he able to see them when they did get near him. He was obliged to judge of the

rling him into a thicket of bristling mesquite. The thorns gashed his fac

lad sprang to his feet, stubbornly

lain, which he had observed in the light from a flash of lightning extended away indefinitely. Off to

able to overhaul them on foot, and even were he to d

him until he was gasping for breath, the lightning

en a flash disclosed an object to the right of him.

with more caution, shading his eyes with a hand that h

he shouted. "

with lowered head, gaz

alled with a long

gh with the cow ponies by this time to know that the animal was not likely to stand still and perm

usly forward, making a slight detour that he might come up from th

led to himself as he observed that the pony was looking str

t more than tw

sh died out, then ran on his toes straight for where he believed the ho

against the pony's sid

t of fear, springing st

g the command at that moment. It is doubtful if, in the fright o

d the pommel and cantle of the saddle, so that when the

on all fours, Tad threw

it went off into a series of bucks, twisting, whirl

first opportunity, however, he let go of the pommel long enough to reach

shouted Tad gleefully, giving a

e decided to

him and shook

tle, heading to the northwest, where t

rode straight at the leaders, bringing the quirt again and again across the noses of those nearest to him. This treatment served to deflect the line a little; yet, try as he would, T

lackening their speed. Discovering this, he untied the slicker or rubber blanket from the saddle cantle, and

m right away," he said. "But I'm going to

ting and the lightning flashe

ed much easier to keep them under control. Besides, it gave both bo

concluded wisely that they were growing tired of this and that they would quiet down. His judgment proved correct.

ied Tad aloud, searching about

after all. I paid only a dollar for it and I've had more than a dollar

In the darkness preceding the dawn he had no idea of the size of the bunch of

ind that he had milled the cattle into a compact bunch. Now the boy began galloping around the herd, speaking words of encouragem

llings will say to that. I don't believe Big-foot Sanders could beat that. The next questi

over the plain from the southeast, shutting out wha

h an experience as a stampede. It was useless, however, to attempt to dri

s belt was about the only whole thing left of his equipment. Scarcely a vestige of his trousers

artily as he s

shall need a whole new harness

sun to rise. Then, he might be able to

ng time in making it