The Pony Rider Boys in the Ozarks

fternoon now and their predic

ly one way out of the

after a lit

Professor?"

for help, dist

sor, we have help in plenty right here and a lazy

and nodded their

ope, not more help.

d have put it that

rope?" suggested Chunky. "I wou

l in somewhere

ly would forget to com

er we are

tion is the most practicable o

ake two days for him to ride to Springfield, and that much more t

is down there with plenty of food, but he cannot get up here. On the oth

he'd be even better off th

right in that event

le-

beyed the co

place as fast as you can. Get a rope, one long enough to reach down

o got

o show your face back here unless you bring a rope, sir. If you get back befor

my gun you are trying to

t you think it's worth that much to get M

Sure, give the lazy Indian my gun, give him anyt

tion. "You give Indian gun?" he asked. "

. "We'll take for granted that you'll d

nies leaped into the saddle, plunging over the rough, rocky t

cks. But he certainly i

lt

until he returns with a rope. I d

ng to say, even of an

fes

it. I'll just thin

alter. "You must have patience, for it m

did yo

n," interjected N

to be a week before he

d do, and after talking back and forth for a time, the boys settled do

of the cliff as if by some invisible forc

ctor had hau

. I can't be bothered to watch yo

enough," replied Stacy, th

ver. He was chuckling with glee. First he would throw one, peer over to watch the

g that what he heard dropping about him was

e lad fairly on the top of his head and bounded off, he sprang up

y upward. He was gratified a moment later by a si

yi!" explod

eyes over toward Stacy and, seeing that something unusual

Anything the matter?"

on't tie Chunky to a tr

a

l attend to the young man," answered the Profe

es over at him," answe

if I hear any more such complaints. Do you know that you might have seriously injur

his pockets walked away, after which there was p

ed the boy. "I'll show them some of these days that Stacy Brown is

ith the hope of saving his companion from a terrible fall.

at?" he asked, app

to go hungry,

ould, whether he dese

lt

bag. I carried them along in case we should become se

hat in the air. "I guess we won't s

cook them in?

hat. Our cooking outfit is

answer the purpose," suggested the Professor. "But first, I would suggest that you unpa

to him if we don't succeed in

without throwing down the rest of our stuff?" sniffed Ned. "You must think we

and folding cots placed where they belonged. The next task was to cut some tent poles, which was quickly accompli

ring firewood. He had trouble in finding enough dry stuff to answer their p

o fetch it as soon as we ha

have enough here to

ing, Walter Perkins ran off to get the wood for the night fire

drawn a small package

t and utter

not," he laughed, waving the conte

found?" asked

all of us and per

y off after all, Master N

ent down

tea a

butter or lard. We shall have to cook the bean

them. That will furni

ac

Ned. "I'll do it. Go

few minutes returned with his sombrero

e want to drink out of that old hat?"

he pail you want to find

do you

he bottom of the moun

ac

hat thoroughly. I suppose we shall have to use it for a w

acy. "Think I'd bring you w

it down," said N

can

y n

n the water will all

ugh supper," growled Ned, turning to the fire

en with an exclamation poured the water on the ground,

h hands into his trousers pockets and strolling over to the other side of the

didn't give you any s

agree not to find fault with t

d. I'll

around several times, succeeded in smoothing it out. He coul

rried off into the brush, returning shortly,

-lee!" annou

eady," shouted Ned, p

answer. "I'm eating mine no

ust be somethin

uld you say to

o you think of that? I didn't know th

a cook after all. It's lucky for us you didn't

se canned peaches we'll ever see. Come, fall to.

d the spiderful of beans an

eat with a spoon-a

do that, but I presume you can if you want to. Chunky doesn't need any. We will divide

Stacy calmly took from his pocket two sharp sticks that he had cut and trimmed just before supper. On one of thes

burst out

ticks!" exclaimed Ned. "I always

d the Professor, a broad grin on his face. "I t

one into his mouth and extende

the scientist. "I think

ut his plate, finally spearing and conve