The Pony Rider Boys in the Ozarks

tered a cry

can't mean they ha

d Ned's ponies are gone. See, the ropes have been u

uch too excited to

. That is one thing to be thankful for, anyway," s

camp all the time. They followed us here,"

s," sugges

Ned, turning on him almost

ules left, haven't we," q

or. "I'll have the law on them whoever

" returned Tad. "It seems we were not misinformed when

t was as bad as this. They certainly

t I do know that we have bee

ok anything else?" de

nything else is mis

N

ome reason. I'm glad of that. By the way, did they get

ddle in my tent,"

tion is-"

what has become of Eag

fes

d forgotten abou

r questioningly. The same th

t suppose-" m

it! It's Eagle-ey

very irritating, I know. But let us be slow about placing t

stolen. To-day we leave him halfway down the rocks and upon our return, two more ponies are missing,

ntion to the fact that the animals had been stolen last night.

so," agr

had no hand in the theft, why should he ru

is guiltless. I am simply counseling caution. Wait. We shall soon be at the mines, and from there, we can set

we going to get

to ride the mule

iver if you wish-I'll

to do," laughed Tad. "Glad th

ood," remi

new you had your appe

e

where the animals had been taken from camp, but, as in the case with the loss

for the west. We are sure

re traveling along ahead of us. In either case we can't follow them. Do you not think we

d I," added the lads,

e we going to find our

lost, Professor,"

-cannot g

N

glared th

tacy impressively, "because we d

anything else to put the boys in a better frame of mind-unle

Master Stacy's logic," replied the scie

untains run in a southeasterly direction. If we follo

ian Territory or some o

ct

yons in the Ozark range follow the same general direction. We have one right here by

man, even if you do take long chances and do foolish things now a

the back of Professor Zepplin's mount, while each o

took one of the mules, Ned Rector the other, leading them by short ropes, and star

one to watch their undignified progress. However, leading a mule and riding a pony were two distinctly different operati

tow, and used his crop rather too freely to suit the long-eared

g, Ned was obliged to gather up the pack in sections and strap it in plac

ldn't kick after twelve o'clock," s

ve o'clock at night that

sleep then,

d to be,

swered the fat boy s

they had advanced they did not know. Shortly before sun

. Ned confessed that he was nearly fagged. Tad, on the oth

h, after all, probably wouldn't be any harder than trying to lead a stubborn mule. I think I'll tie a string around th

our big-toes?"

ponies, I said-I mean

lighted up ap

can use," he said. "I'll f

wouldn't you? No, thank you, I'll furnish

ound the camp-fire, where they remained until bedtime, which on that particular nigh

r remaining stock. The Professor took the first half of the night, Tad g

r breakfast and once more the outfit started out on the trail after having discussed the advisability o

ad deep washes and narrow draws. It was trying work, but the lads kept up their spirits. So inured

ange the course and try to find their way out of the mountai

ory to making a start in the new direction, when Tad

ied the Professor, prepare

ee s

t realizing the importance of the announcement to them.

t some human beings at last? We haven't seen one, outside of our own party, in seve

queried the Pr

to the s

t is smoke. I

studying the wisps of vapor that were curli

get in touch with them at once, for they no doubt wil

egan bustling a

et there with our old local freight train," objecte

ong at your leisure. Even if they do not wish to wait for the rest of our party, I shall be

mount, and in a few moments he was jogging away as rapidly as the uneven ground

follow as fast as w

our pockets for while Rome is burning?" shouted Ned Rector. "Hurry u

g to do while I'm doin

he job. What did you sup

own stuff. You can leave yours here for all I care," laughed the f

so," advised Ta

Chunky with a club. I just say those things

t morning, and the pack mules loaded so rapidly that

Chunky," announced Ned Rector

t is

behind with a sharp stick and prod th

er twelve o'clock to-nigh

ad of an hour, more than two hours had passed before they finally came within hailing distance of the camp-fire

the Professor to let them know the Pony Riders were com

was not as it should be, growing in their minds. They soon came upon

deserted,"

mselves was within si

oo, had di