The Pony Rider Boys on the Blue Ridge

you can. Crowd c

wed up in the darkness of the night in Smoky Pass, the boys were quickly separated. One had pulled this way in fighting with his pony, another

e burden the boy slipped off, taking a hitch of his rope about his waist, securing the rope

" he called to

" answered

in demanded Tad at t

current, clinging desperately to the saddle. There was no need to try to swim. He was traveling fast enough without attempting to go

all Tad knew the guide had been drowned. Now and then a tree or a heavy trunk would graze the body of the lad. Lightning was still flashing at

been hurled against him, striking the lad on the head. The rope that had been secured about the boy's waist slipped up under his arms under the added weight put upon it. Tad's head drooped, but not far eno

of the pony. The animal was standing dripping and trembling, but, as the Pony Rider Boy quickly discovered, the horse was on solid ground. The roar of the swollen stream was sti

h a feeble hand. The boy was still too weak to do more than lie back, breathing har

ly shake to pieces if I r

lled himself up and relea

d Tad with all

as no r

ure something terrible has happened to them. How I wi

to a narrow, sandy strip of land at the base of the wall. The ground was wet, indicating that the water had but recently

n is, what hit me? I don't suppose it would help if that question were answ

r's waiting. By that time his pony had recovered itself sufficiently to warrant Butler in climbing to the wet, slip

he creek. To the boy's relief the

I don't know whether the others are below or above me, but I'm goin

uld shout. At last there

?" cried the

unk

unk

ir," answered

e are

y was when he was chased

tacy had grabbed at a limb that had struck him in the face, and then sw

down," be

are the

me just after I l

wondere

ho

st of them?

d all I could do to look after myself, and

way. What beca

wn into the water. I reckon that would have been the end of Stacy Brown. Then the papers at home would have had something to talk about. 'Our di

ers may be drowned. I wish you had your pony. I don't know what I am to do, but

this tree?" wailed Chunky,

es

. Don't you ever accuse me of not having any feeling,

t the pony's pretty well played out

a yell. He thought he was going to be drowned, but was surprised when he found that the water did not rea

bering lummox

you wouldn't have let me fall.

may ride if you want to. I'm not goi

for a moment. Tad slipped

you don't let my pony ge

won

won't

n't g

n so that

w it by this time. No, sir; I don't do anything of the

alk," answered

and I'm

ed splashing along beside the pony, each with a hand on the brid

il his voice gave out, bu

yell for a wh

say?" asked Ch

Make a noise. That's all. I wan

is alive. But is

t about it," ans

down a little. You're excite

he sort," protest

on't know it, that's al

d that last word always did have a sting in it. At present there were more important matters on hand. Soon after that Tad's hello was an

pony had found a strip of land on which they had taken refug

f Walter and the Professo

m sure it was they who swept past me just a

Jonah?" a

is Jo

be a guide, but who ought

Chops," la

particularly what has be

a human being just the same

downstream. If he did, I didn't see him go, nor hear him. Come to think of it, it seems to me that I did hear him yelling behind me after I started on my swim for life

agree

hold of that guide! W

rn first, Ned," i

you, by the way?

gator bait down in Florida. Do you know how t

rap?" questioned

-then lower him over the water. He yells-could you blame him? The 'gators, hearing the yell, and maybe getting a whiff of the kid, come up with open jaws with appetites that would break a hotel. No, they don't get the

story!" observe

better be getting downstre

Perkins, both sprinting up and down on a sandy beach to start their blood into circulation. So ludicrous did the two look that the boys shouted. They could well