The Pony Rider Boys on the Blue Ridge

with huge rocks and well wooded with second growth. It made

the right,"

't go by us and get lost

Stacy. Maybe it will teach him to be more watchful. Chunky would go to

and soon was well screened by rocks and foliage. It was

lled in a long-drawn

fully, and evidently not suspecting another trick, Stacy dashed down the incline at a perilous pace, leaping smal

up and sat pondering deeply. Even yet he did not think far en

maining chambers of his revolver, listening intently, then, w

to Hunt's Corners. I can get something to eat there. Yes, and the fellows will think something's happened to me and they'll be in an aw

ler was near enough to have roped Stacy. He thought of doing so, at one time, but decided that it would give Chunky too much of a fright. Then again, the fat boy might send a bullet Tad's way in case he were to make a mis

Has he discovered

oo? Well, if you do, you just go on. I don't ask any odds of a horse,

ound was so faint that it might have been caused by a bird alighting on a treacherous

ask of determining what had caused the slight sound. Chunk

red Tad. "I wonder if Ned has followed after me? No, he would

I'm waiting for something to turn up. Guess I'll tie the critter, then

ted. After securing the horse, he lay down

eally was creeping up on Stacy. From Tad's position he was unable to see what was happening on the other side o

little more speed. Perhaps some harm was intended the fat boy. If so

ion as he made the discovery. There, cautiously creeping up on the drowsy fat boy, was a man. The man's fa

" gasped Tad un

nd had been a witness to their running away from Brown. If so he had shown more clevernes

down on the sleeping fat boy. Tad Butler was thankful that he had thought to play a further trick on his companion. Perha

ly slipping his rope from his belt, straightening out the coils wholly by the se

row, he took a light grip on the honda, or sli

s taking a great chance, but

e was not more than six feet fr

y's keen ears caught a sound. He started to turn, then he uttered a yell and began

s side, then rolled to his back as Tad leaped

s heard. This time i

a-what is it

d. Stacy did not see the rope, but he realized at once that Griffin was th

owled the

was working out better than they had thought. Laughing and shouting they put spurs to their m

ng close after him, Walter Perkins and the grinning Billy Veal f

he gasped.

of his saddl

as Chunky began making threat

!" cried Tad, as Ned threw h

demanded the Professor, gazi

a surprise. This is our old friend, Smoky Griffin, otherwis

is?" demanded the incisive

made n

s this man tryi

know. I-I w

e. "Of course he was. He always is. I'm going

'cause we'll all be patient

y in the eyes of the Professor

with the stone. It is fortunate that I got here ahead

will first seek a more favorable location for campi

yassir. A

you find water return

ther be led to a lemonad

ot and cold water on t

already," a

u h

s plenty of cold water in the stream. Say, I've got a bone t

talking. At the same time the Professor and Tad were observing the p

take our chances of more trouble from him. If he were wanted by the authorit

But why wait until morni

. If we send him away in the morning we shall have an opportun

Zepplin. "It shall be as you suggest. Ha

ow, Professor,"

me it is a

nd water?"

ir, y

do you tra

d water," an

'd said 'yassir, nassir,' that woul

the problem, Ch

if the camping ground is suitable, prepare

ssi

forgot somethin

ssi

ir, 'n

ng ground, Professor," suggested Tad. "It is understoo

you thi

bully. Griffin started to walk aw

re not going to lo

you goin

h us for a time," smil

ot no right

try to shoot me, which you surely would have done had I not taken your pistol away. If you think we ought to le

ullenly by the side of the Pony Rider Boy, though he was not bound. He was as free as ever save that he knew any attempt to run away would meet with a quick, stern check. He had had evidence o

boys after they had reached the camping ground, which was on a gentle slope leading

. No one appeared to be giving the slightest attention

gs were stowed in the peak of the triangle formed by the rear of

me, Smoky?" chuckled Tad,

," grumble

like to have grouches around this camp. The fat boy is our

protested Stacy. "Say, I know now what that bone is I want to pi

rom you?" e

, and you nearly got me killed. That-that gentle soul over there was about to smash my head with

another gu

idn't run away from me?"

ready to go and we went,

ntly. "That means you, too," he added, turning to Griffin. "I'll have something to say to you also for wanting to smash me with a rock.

acy to keep away from the prisoner. About ha

join us," urge

supper," grunte

why you shouldn't eat. It will not impose any obligation on you. If you want to fight right afte

e bacon and the steaming coffee that so tantalized the prisoner as to cause him to be willing to sit down with his enemies and eat. At least Smoky's appetite ha

go on about his own business and give them no further trouble. Butler did not know Griffin. His hope was vain. Revenge deep and deadly was smouldering in the heart of the mountaine