The Pony Rider Boys in Louisiana

oy. At the moment when Tad first espied him, Chunky lay floating lazily on

n't had a satisfactory bath since he came into the woods. The guide had told him to dip up

after peering about to make sure that no one observed him, slipped on a pair of trunks and, barefooted, picked his way to the edge of the lake. Stacy

be a sight when I come out, but at leas

ut in circles, for a time casting an occasional apprehensive eye in the directi

thought to the fact that these were reptile-infested waters, waters literally alive with death-dealing monsters. Perhaps he did n

the lake were to be seen. These circles were widening. It looked as if one might have carefully dropped a st

Tad. For once in his life, But

u?" drawled Stacy. "I'm ha

ors!" sh

r. He seemed to have lost all power of movement. Tad might have leaped in

Lilly!"

on the surface of the water some thirty feet from where Stacy lay tre

canes all down the line. There was a sudden and terrific commotion in the water where the black spot

ach now rapidly drawing nearer to whe

ad as Ned Rector sp

y forward from his stooping body, alert and ready to shoot. Ned did not wait. He took a running jump, land

f this!" r

ed the fat boy. "

cumstances, for it stirred Stacy to sudden activity. With a yell, Chunky threw himself over on his stomach

e water a few feet behind Ned. All this had occupied only a few seconds, but they had been active seco

the Pony Rider Boy had not missed once. With the third and last shot, Stacy's fingers clutched a

that!" commanded Tad

Ned, himself losing no time

ling Chunky at the entrance of the tent. Stacy, perceiving that he was going to be caught, found it convenient to stumble. Ned was upon him, but not before Chunky had

black stuff. Unfortunately for Ned he had opened his

lone," jeered Chunky. "I gues

guide was actually pale. "Why, did

his trunks and get into his clothes. He knew very well that, as soon as Rector was able to see

aching. Stacy slipped out under the rear of his tent. He carried a rope with him. Making a bee line for a birch, he shinned up it a

raged Ned. "I'll skin him alive on

red the guide. "I shouldn't be surprised a

s tent a few minutes

ta

al times, but Master Stacy

sor," advised Tad. "You will find that he is in hiding

y face," complained Rector. "And to think he woul

?" agreed Tad. "What were you t

im to give him

can you? By the way, Mr. Lilly, there are three dead

we won't d

ny way of gett

of your companions out of difficulties. Please d

't int

y in the eye every shot. I'm pretty good with the gun myself, but fo

ebody would have been killed

would. But where

ral paces to one side of the spot where he had been standing. Both men held the same thought. They thought it was a reptile that had dropped from the tree. Th

t tree. Watch me shoot him out,

shoot! It's I, Stacy,

?" stammered the guide

ooting him," answered Tad, in a v

there?" demanded Lil

see me fly? Why, I am a bird

the point where I'll believe almost anything

had climbed, for the rope already lay at the foot of the tree,

yelled Ned, catching sigh

?" demanded

," laughed

commanded Pro

Rector away

down and then I am going to give h

me down," declar

ys to make you

ow

ou on the ground-something that ha

ut a troubled expressi

y?" asked Tad, chuckl

That's a dark secret. Are y

t, Neddi

e all the rest of the

ator out there. Pass me up a gun and I will shoo

ing to stampede us down to the lake, then you will clamber down and make a get-awa

ith the black," answered Stacy in a jeering voice.

e I will,

get a kick in the fac

y boots on. You

e up here and try me. I dare you to come up! I double-dare you to

laughing. Ned's

et you down. We shall see whet

later with an axe, Stacy in the meantime followin