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

hey dismounted, unbuckled the sa

select a place to hobble the ponie

harge of a camp before, so

utenant and I'll tell

all ab

runted Bill, "there's no doubt abo

to Horace's fondness for commanding,

nant. Only you must tell me what there i

t of the party would be deprived of most

, the food and dishes must be unpack

because I shall picket the horses where th

the place for us to sleep. I can see some pine trees yonder. Break off some limbs and spread them on the ground. T

r-not," declared Horace. "Gave me the meanes

, for the sight of the doughnuts and other good thi

uster on your arm and come with me, Tom," said Mr. Wilder. "I'l

im more than he led them, for he knew their

for in a few minutes the ears of the hu

he led the way to a spot where they found a fair-

allons, and this the ranchman directed Tom to fill

around the left ankle of each pony, making another noose round the hind ankle on the sam

hem to run or even walk very well," he expla

s. Always remember to hobble

ope ends?"

hich they can get bound, you can let them drag. When it i

s finished they he

coffee pot!" he shouted. "W

get it," repl

ard the camp fire, which was blazing cheerily beneath th

nd arranged the plates, knives and forks. In the middle he

e was busy frying eggs and bacon in a long-ha

Tom and the coff

s, put the coffee in the pot and set it in the fire.

is brother to bring the cups, he sent his aide for t

t Bill devoted their energies to hurrying the coffee and to such good

ailor fashion on the ground, each before his plat

er than anything I ever a

you a keen appetite," said

omment, and the meal progressed in silence til

ented Tom as he reached for another d

e way they are going, it's a good thing I went back

dishes? For your benefit and before my young brother gets a chanc

Tom, the cook always washes them. Tha

" declared the youthfu

approval, and because of the many

we are going to get a shot at any deer, I su

he pine boughs, Hora

ning. "I didn't know how many each of you would want, so I t

es!" shouted the othe

this time. Now, hurry a

oon came back, dragging a monster pile of fragrant pin

tuck each one in his bed or will they do that

r that," returned Tom with assumed dignity, and in rare good humor th

t it could not spread

turn in, and soon t

ride, Tom and Larry were so deep in slumber that though Mr.

rd his call and quickly cr

sleep," exclaimed their father. "Remember, they

ace was in the very act of yanking the youthfu

od, and Bill was just pouring the coff

Larry, sitting up and st

nder, you'll be court-martialed if you miss grub." And he

d with the meal, Tom and Larry quickl

forgot their ablutions in the b

n the rose glow of the sky the particles of moist

Tom, as though afraid if he spok

ed them to action, and in a few m

ry. "I didn't see any outlet, yet water k

eplied the ranchman. "There are two such subterranean rivers in

henomena was prevent

ll bring up the ponies whi

he time Mr. Wilder appeared with the horses everything was in the saddle

e bags and blankets, and just as the sun flooded the plains

d the base of the hills for a good m

he first deer they see, no matter how far out of range it is. For the benefit of you two," he added, addressing the brothers, "I will say that when you are riding a trail, and especia

pony into the run and the others followed in Indian

ing over rocks, now up such steep ascents that the c

ishaps and at last rode out onto a plateau from which t

in, rendering it impossible

disappointed

is a favorite drinking ground for deer. Under the cover of the mist we shall be able to g

queried Tom, looking

es here. Lively now and h

and quickly the hunters rode their horses to where the mountai

nchman. "The ground is wet and the rocks are slippery, and if y

un is with the muzzle pointed to the ground, the butt resting against the back

fashion th

tes' search Mr.

se. Steady now. Mind your

the lads slipped, but there was always a rock or a sapling at h

e mist, Mr. Wilder held up h

for some sound that might give him an i

, Horace moved away from the tr

a loud sneeze rang out fro

r was it that Horace

rom the mist and then vanished as quickly, only to reap

surprised it would be hard to say. For s

ght which makes it impossible for any one to hold a gun steady, and Bill was in such a position b

ck, and he hesitated, unwilling to risk a chance to get

ble situation. Of a sudden, with a snort of rage, he l

or the boy turned t

ne of comedy to one of possible tragedy sh

he occasion. Throwing his rif

ck threw up his head, stagg

with a lightning movement they both stooped, seized their friend a

narrowness of the escape that f

r rallied them

go three more deer up the valley. Come

f his fright, and in a thrice the boys had sigh

I did!" declared Bi

his father. "We have the adv

is time one of the deer gave a b

got another!"

e others are out of rang

one more," b

at a good hunter never shot when there

wo," said Larry. "I call

dit of hitting the second belonged