Comrades of the Saddle; Or, The Young Rough Riders of the Plains

ked Tom, gazing in their direction as

here is said to be a rich silver mine in them somewhere that the Spaniards worked hu

Larry eagerly. "Do you suppose your father would let

plored them very much. The trouble is no one kno

" queried Tom, to whose mind a sil

en again," returned Bill. "They say the mine is haunted by the ghosts of the

s guarding the mine and despatching t

red Tom, a tone of scorn in his voice. "Who

d not make more of an impression on his friends. "We heard it when we came here. The cowboys a

the two brothers had been taught

ies to keep other people from going there. Maybe there are three

race. "If you'd heard Cross-eyed Pete tell about the night he was camping th

e willing to go and h

o

we go on a hunting trip? We needn't say anything about trying to find the

st nettled Bill and Horace, but they had always been keen to hear or see ph

rt, if father will le

, we'll

roping ponies, they turned back to

lost no time in laying their pla

, supple bodies of the boys, in whose eyes shone

nd the foothills. Bill, you remember the t

s,

of yourselves. Go and tell Hop Joy to put up some grub for you. You had b

ing on a hunting trip, the boy

he celestial when he had received the orde

ed Horace. "There's no

Jo

; no be too sure," g

him say

only waiting to see that Hop Joy put in a quantity of

ed to the piazza, they found the ra

been hunting for some time, and as everything is quiet

oray!" exclai

we won't have to worr

o clean their rifles and fill t

ves?" inquired Mr. Wilder

gold miner's presents and his advice about a

, you won't get into trouble. Still, I think it would be just as well for

he and Tom removed their buckskin money bags and

ting, what about the G

to learn the cause

ooked at one another in dismay. But th

on't reckon he'll be keen on hun

n a whisper. "He drives the grub wagon to

ught sight of the big white-covered wagon, called a prairie scho

le up and go and meet them. I'll make my pony dance an

d Mr. Wilder. "Brin

r for

athered the saddles, bridles, some oa

tered, closed it and then thr

nstructed Bill. "Sometimes they cut up, and if they get out on

pans. Watch Horace and me

wo Wilder boys began to beat on the pans,

corral browsing, lifted their heads and then came

they can hear the oa

though deciding whether they pref

k! Come, Buster

the ponies eyed them and then trotted up, the eigh

time," br

st into the ponies' mouths an

t Larry grabbed the reins

nd, as he smelled the oats, the pony grew

ts were devoured, all five were saddled with little trouble and the boys wer

oy had filled with food, tin plates, cups, knives and forks, cof

ge belts, slung their rifles acros

y, however, the grub wagon

the first one to discover th

suffusing his face

ho

ring that the boy had been made the b

to that lad, I shall

here i

his broth

ed Tom. "Did his b

ng nobody ever see before. The brother is going to

s had found his brothe

nd they lost no

ranchman. "We're going into the hills for a few days hunting, Ned.

t?" inquired the han

doub

ey can take care of themselves in the hills and on the Half-Moon, too," he added

head. "Say, you two are the only topic of conversation in Tolopah about now. Couple of passengers told what you all done, and now everybody's telling everybo

town," smiled Mr. Wilder, looking at the b

nly laughed, while

the Lost Lode t

, eh?" And shaking his bridle, the ranchman waved good-

e envious of the reputation their friends had achieved and the chums

er, and, as the ponies settled into

he saddle and on t

what?" que

eclared Larry. "Only, I say, Mr. Wilder, let's d

ed the ranchman, "b