The Pony Rider Boys on the Blue Ridge

of their provisions, for the "chuck" had been suspended from the crotch of a sa

tion of Stacy Brown, were getting the other equipment together for a hurried move. Billy Veal, in the present emerg

commended Chops to you,

at Asheville

be a judge and have that banker come up

Professor. "Were there a reasonable chance for him to ge

nning up to them, now fully clothed, with o

re. Hurry with the tents. Strike the

the lightning will do th

essor's stern command. "This is a ti

piped th

various boys. The lads worked like tentmen striking circus tents when looking forward to a long run to the next town. The result was that th

eady," announced Butler final

me plan in mind. However, so long as you have asked

ay," advised Tad. "Guide, is there any place

ssi

ood. How

mart pie

emanded Tad

smart

ng out of him," grumb

smart,' Chops?" i

t smart

mil

ssi

mil

ssi

of the shoulders. "We can expect no help from

or nodded r

o go down rather tha

es this we shall be beating against the flood instead of going with

ut the difficulty is that we don't know

et started the better. We'll be swept off from this camp ground pre

o downstream. G

eady," c

ered Stacy. "I-I've g

ong when he gets ready. We don't propos

. Ned, you follow along at the rear with a second lantern. In that way we shall b

rofessor Zepplin. "You have a w

s pony and wading it cautiously into the rapidly moving

Veal riding in after Ta

ask before them. Chunky had trouble with his mount and for a moment it looked as though the fat boy would be d

me. At first they had held their feet up, to keep them out of the water. But now they were riding with feet in stirrups, well down in the w

raised above the roar of t

he right!"

none too soon. A great tumbling shape went tearing by, raking the legs and sides of the horses. Billy Veal, not having got o

and taking a stiff brace on the right stirrup reached down

g won't help you

had come and gone almost before the Pony Rider Boys realized what had occurre

let go," threatened Tad. "Yo

't want him," shout

shall let go," gritted Tad, holding

that he might be unhorsed. Chunky had sense enough to know what that would mean to him, but h

ut as wet as it was possible to be. It was not the wetness that they feared, however, but the swift current that nearly took the ponies off their feet, sure-footed as the tough little animals were. Some fur

ift for yourself," declared Butler. "We have about all we can

yass

red Rector. "Are we all right

ied Tad. "Forward, all!

ll hands keep watching the bank on

at. You may all help,

the stream, that Tad was obliged to follow the current, rather than take the more direct

and the roar of the flood making necessary loud talking if one hoped to have his voice reach his companions. Chops was the only one who really acted as if he were afraid. Tad Bu

d, who, as the reader knows, was bringing up the rear of th

at it is,"

n't know," answe

rned in the saddle waiting

t, Ned?" h

u hear th

ring?" as

es

onds," answered Tad, his face drawing down into sha

at

a torrent, Ned. This is where we get it. Ev

it another tree?"

it won't last long and perhaps it may endure for half an hour or so. Hug the wall ov

legs of the ponies, causing the little animals to rear and plunge and snort, and to make frantic efforts to get out of the way. This made

tern!" yelled Ned.

apprehensively. Just then a piece of wood hurled against his own lantern shattered the globe, at

over the roaring scene, and above the

assir!" mo

left. Quit your fo