The Pony Rider Boys in the Ozarks

he Professor had awakened. They took keen satisfaction in calling him for breakfast. O

been keeping late hou

Re

ered the scientist goo

ly one of this

were fully aware. Tad had said nothing of his experiences of the pre

that there was some one prowling about thi

e Pony Riders in

and myself chased him around

plate that they might not observe the grin that was spread

urged Walter Perkins. "What w

een an 'Or What,'" sugg

at's here at the table. The rest of him is in bed asleep," jeer

ound here in our pajamas until we found eac

s it?" insi

was

ky. You are supposed t

superior wav

to so very much. Probably some prowler curious to know what sort of camp he

d Chunky,"

fat boy sharply, turn

e were told in Sprin

at?" asked t

ausing considerable excitement in

had forgotten that," no

orses and o

es

to think they would b

ything that th

lter, with emphasis. "I guess we had

be necessary," smi

?" asked Ned. "Didn'

was away

's so. I had f

l him about it," suggested Tad,

epplin nodd

you come here, pl

e, strode over to them with his almost noiseless tread

night, Eagle-eye," Tad infor

awnee

you knew nothing about it, but to-nigh

ow," answere

emanded the Pr

st night," was the s

hat, Eagle-eye? You me

back. But that i

ook his head

India

ompanions as if to

know more than he had

bout it, E

noe on river at sun-up," a

away in an indistinct gurgle when he found the eyes of his companions fixed sternly upon him.

said the Professor. "You say you foun

es

cy that it is a most remarkable place to find

rose to

I sho

y were eating their breakfast, and followed

pointing a long, bronzed fi

, examining the

ht," he said, turni

now? What hav

for yourself. It i

demanded Stacy,

trail is ever so faint, but it is unmistakably there. See how it broade

acks," grunt

ed Walter, a

ian, pointing up the bank

t each other in w

he meaning of the visit

fes

shrugged h

y hun

uld an Indian have for a visit at that hour? There is no cause for alarm. But I wish if any mor

e," laug

yawned Stac

e yet," growled Ned. "Let's

tting all about the inner man. And it is time we were getti

hile they were doing so the guide stoically busied himself with packing the cooking kits and loading th

so that they had become really expert in the work. And, besides, they had learned to get together a fairly satisfying meal out of not much of anything.

led the way, leading the mule train, and his pace was so rapid that the pack animals were put to their b

hey finally came out on a high elevation that gave

take in the m

the 'Ozark Uplift,'" the

ed, gazing off at the deep gorges and jag

ssor waxe

subject to uprising or downsinking. In all sections of its ar

blow the mountains up into such sha

ynamite. Dynamic was th

asting a withering g

tacy ex

re called the

y, though it is doubtful if he understood w

nected with this region. You will all be interes

ircle, meantime allowing their pon

" urg

ift is said to have been the first land to app

ean-" stam

ove the water when this continent was all an o

cle. His face was flushed and he evidentl

ter Stacy?" aske

this was the

it has be

st have been where the Ark l

nt. Then the lads broke out into a shout of laughter. Even P

lace where the ancient craft ran aground

t?" persist

to life some time after the event you s

uttered

ad better be

h the Red Star M

to ask Eagle-ey

point, said the Red Star Mine lay

necessary to move with extreme caution for fear of plunging over one of the many ab

hanged his course, skirting the canyon until a turn in its windi

met with such peculiar formations a

this trail in the ni

far," laughed Tad. "You'd be wal

pack mules had lagged behind, and with head lowered almost to the ground appeared to have gone sound a

animal with as much caution as possible. It was Stacy's intention to give the beast th

s pony, hunted about until he found a stick long enough fo

he long-eared animal's rump with a whack that, while it

he air, while the beast with a short, sh

mule tearing through the bushes to the left of the trail. Leav

was t

tand on his head, his hind feet beating a tatt

rried up, and just in time to see the final scene in

s?" demanded the Profess

!" exclaimed the Indian, with a

as taken a header over that rock

that," added Tad. "It looked to me as

l down, fall down,"

had quickly scrambled into his own saddle and

id not understand h

ng up courage and riding up beside the Profes

oys could not but laugh at the boy's rueful countenance

you my anger vanishes instantly. The next question is, how ar

m d

t's

m gone Happy H

ean he has b

is hands sharply together to convey the impression that the mule had hit

e in a fix

y walk and use his pony for packi

ck," answered Tad. "Most of it is down ther

sped. This, indeed, wa