The Pony Rider Boys in the Grand Canyon The Mystery of Bright Angel Gulch

hat mountain?"

fraid of a mountain, a

f anything, but I'm d

out fifty pounds up the side o

rticles as would be needed for the night. Taking their blankets and their rifles, together with foo

ony Rider Boys had gotten over this rough stretch, they were ready to sit down and rest. Nance would not permit them to do so. He said they would have barely time to reach the crater b

around the edge and hurling huge rocks to a considerable distance. As they climbed the mountain proper they found tha

torture. Tad was the first to stand on his head as his feet went out from under him. Stacy, in a fit of uproarious laughte

at boy. "I didn't come up here

Stacy," said Tad, smiling and nodding towar

mea

rse I m

. I'm not quite so

get into trouble you know your frie

But this is a

The Professor's face was red, and unuttered words were upon his lips. Jim Nance was gri

t will get enough of it

chuckled

ter you all the time. What shall we c

ing yo

we call you Whiske

ked the Profe

rant. He's harmless. Call me Wh

erfoot," pro

eturned the guide, whereat

r you'll have to be our dad for

providing it suits the

ng too much trouble to keep right side u

called Tad. "You know how a switchback railroad work

ad. "You'll get there quicker,

ed from black to a brick red. They began to understand why the peak of Sunset always presented such a rosy a

he region of perpetual

fes

halt to sit down. He slid back seve

m of the crater while they still were able to see. What his reasons were the boys did not know. They took for granted that Dad knew his business, which Dad did. He had spent many years in this rough country and knew it well. The Grand Canyon was his home. He lived in it the grea

seemed literally to be able to translate the mysterious moans and whispers of the wind as

w nothing as yet. It was all

over the country t

sked Tad, eager for a vi

. You'll know the place when you get to it

nto the crater

u get down

" answe

, but what's a

va," answered Tad. "What would

tacy Brown in one, and I'm

the sharp incline. He was followed by the boys with shouts of glee. They went tumbling head over heels, laughi

them by and by," he co

tried it. Remember, they are young. We are old men. Of course, it is different wit

see abo

tler far below them. "I'm at the bott

t. There'll be thre

mean," l

had soon

from the surface

re in the bowels of the mountain f

in. I'm afraid it will have a bad

gher mouthfuls than you are," returne

e as good as you s

tter for us," nodded Tad

acks. This is where you are

uarter of a mile across. Here, in ages past, the forces of Nature had been at work with fearful earnestness. Weird shadows, mysterious shapes, somewhat resembling moving figures,

The call to supper put an end to their explorations. They sat down with keen edges to thei

ee upon our work for t

fes

Chunky, opening

ing to be all play

to do our shar

Walt and Stacy, though there was n

in cooking the meals, say one boy to cook for an enti

ed the guide. "No tenderfo

ok, Mr. Nance," expl

note of finality in his tone. He glanced up at the sky, hel

it?" aske

g to snow,

glancing at h

n June?" ques

t you are a good many

or info

t I was down

up and down,

anding on my feet then on my head," ret

then roll up in your blankets," di

od many different kinds of beds, but this i

ecy, the snow came

ore the beds get to

l. They had been sleeping in real beds too long. After a time the snow

ath tub," he declared. "Think I

le Stacy, grumbling and growling, fussed about until

s perhaps you will give us a chanc

ole in the mountain. The rain came down harder than ever, but by this time the Pony Rider Boys

nearthly yell woke the echoes of the crater. Yell upon yell followed for the next few seconds,

mself free of his blankets and leaping