The Pony Rider Boys in the Rockies

rked convulsively as he sou

You cannot mean that Walter h

m only telling yo

r the love of manhood, do-" exploded

o the boys, who were now fully dressed. They assented by vigorous nods, then promptly fe

had seen Walter Perkins disappear, they halted, the guide making

ded refl

any of you observe even a broken twig that I have mi

re convinced was Lige Thomas that his

is knees, in which position he caut

runted t

made some sort of a discovery,

ding on the very edge of the jumping-off place? Get down and crawl

guide, lying down flat on his stomach, and

firm hold

anything," br

fter a little, as they became more accustomed to it, he bega

shiv

idn't-d

clined

me in this suspense a

bly. "What have

back to his feet, leading him to a safe

rail as plain as a cougar's in winter. He must have steppe

you think-y

eet below," added Lige solemnly. "Nothing short of a miracle c

d trust his voice to speak. It was some moments before the Profess

we do?" he as

pt go down and

t h

to leave the ponies and go down on foot. Not being experienced, I'm afraid to trust them. Only

e, struck off over the hack trail. It was a silent group of sad-faced boys that followed the mountain gui

and miniature gorges, Lige called a halt while he took careful account of their surrounding

e file. But everybody keep close to the rocks at your right ha

h above his head, that the light might not flare directly in their eyes, he began the descent, followed cautiously by the others of th

escent, and, turning sharply to the right, picked the

he camp, until observing a faint light in the sky som

p fire. We are getting near th

r Zeppli

imbs, all of which he bound into torches, and, lighting them, passed them to the ot

p their eyes on the ground, remaining fully a dozen paces

ow, their nerves keyed to a high pitch, they began the sa

to be almost directly beneath the spot where Wa

u are, please,"

veral rods, Lige turned and made a sweeping detour, fanning th

eathed the Professor as Lige

thi

What does

y's not here

ad not been dashed to death on the rocks at the bottom of the gulch, then there still was hop

added. "I am afraid we shall have to go back and wait for daylight. But

t?" asked th

iving to the ground, and rising with a round stone in his h

ofessor Zepplin. They knew that in some mysterious way it must be connected with

Professor. "I understand that you have picked

st have dislodged it when

t see why yo

it followed coming down," continued Lige, elevating the torch that

they were unable to find the tell-tale mar

ad better do, sir?" ask

should like to leave

you wish," offe

here you might get into more difficulties, even, than your friend has. No; we'll go back together. It is doubtful if we could do anything for poor Master Walter now

tion not being so great on the return, most of the way being up a steep declivity, they

cident, and the boys slipped away to their ten

however, sat down by the camp fir

threw himself on his cot, b

can't!" he exclaimed after

ront of the tent, with hands thrust deep into his trousers pockets, manful

ought occur

earing the scene of the accident, crept cautiously along on all fours. He flattened himself on the gr

ow and then his slight figure shaken by

e. I wish it had been I instead of Walt," h

elf sharply and

thing," he breathed. "I

intently a

he mountain night were the faint calls of the nig

e-l

a blow. Never had the sound of a human voice thrilled him

that it was not a delusion

e the ca

el

elf, and the men back there by the camp fire started to their feet in sudden alarm

What is it?"

s from which the sound had seemed to come. He was followed quickly by the others. Both the guide and Professor Z

hrough the underbrush toward him,

lowed the guide i

's down there!