The Pony Rider Boys in the Ozarks

down. It seemed as if nothing but trouble had overtake

ndian rode in on Ned's mount, whi

st to detract their atten

" taunted Ned, noting the flecks of f

grinned t

ied the Professor dry

ut seeing you, but we want that

got

nearly twenty-four hours and have not f

rsisted the g

mself, for he was more wrought up tha

shrugged h

y, with sudden new-found courage,

insisted the Indian, ges

t, why not?" urg

fi

ou could no

eans," sneered Ned. "He's

ternly. "Rub him down well. After you have done so, re

" announced Ned. "No washing dishes

at," agreed the Professor.

at the moment what the

s got away last n

but without exhib

ou kno

kn

e Professor, with

cks. Me see um

me sense after all,"'

suppose th

get

t do you mean?" a

get

d Ned disgustedly. "Now you say they didn't get away. If

th

y're not. Then

al um," announced

was like an elect

at what you mean?" sho

es

with all of us sleeping within

stole," insis

o you

s, then not s

infer from that-w

indicate that the feet of the missing ponies had been bou

anded, striding off towar

around him as he picked up

um? No,

he ropes ha

grunted in gu

silence fo

dian as he'd have us belie

rail them?"

ee shook

y n

trail. S

greed the Professor. "Have you any

s shoulders as indicati

om you found fooling about the camp

was thinkin

to me that I might send some one on to Mr. Munson, superintendent of the Red Star

o we are?" asked

nson is expecting us, and is to en

from there now

r, Eagl

o s

Perhaps we may find Tad some time to-day. I believe he will return, as I said before. If he does, we can start

t it. I presume the other animals are safe. The thieves c

re," affirm

t in and look for Master Butler. You'll have to find a way

s git u

t of the question. You

," said Ned. "He may sa

, with a firm closing of the lips. "I have tri

itement about?" demanded

!" shouted the

re was a regular football scrimmage, with Tad Butler at the bott

nion. But Tad did not mind it at all. Throwing them off with a prodigious effort he s

thrust the other boys

s ha

taking such a chance," he said. "How did you get out? Y

me way out, for I found a moccasin track down t

eyes to find a moccasin tra

s dark. I made the d

out it," ur

le-eye's evil spirits down

hould have been glad o

" spoke up Chunky. "I-I came pret

am. When the moon came up, not being able to sleep, for some reason-I guess it was on account of the water that made such a racket, I th

go?" interrupte

the sligh

great change in the to

ed good-n

led up some fifteen feet I discovered that I had struck a trail. It had been in use not long since. W

find your way bac

while I saw the smoke from your camp-

had been myself I should have been down there yet, or else

Tad. "My appetite this morn

eaten," replied Walter. "I guess yo

fellow who has filled up on canned peaches

e to the trail. We can all then work into the gorge leaving the ponies on top. It will be an

swered the Pro

t something like real food to eat. Licking a frying pan won't satisfy my long

them curiously. They

ively that something

ick to catch

u are as solemn as a lot of owl

er n

s, Master Tad," the P

es? Are they hurt?" exc

," answered Pr

matter? Don't ke

rowled Ne

he

have been stolen-your pony and Chunky's. The t

the animals had been tethered when he went over the cl

you think of

his trousers pockets. "But I'm going to get my pony back