Rifles had been jerked from saddle boots as the boys swung to the left, sweeping down over the plain. Tad assumed the leadership of the party, as he usually did in emergencies.
"All hold your fire until I give the word. Keep your heads. Don't get excited!" wanted the lad.
"That is good judgment. But try to keep out of the fire," shouted the professor.
Ned Rector laughed.
"We might better have stayed at the camp if that is all we are going to do," he answered.
Tad saw that several men were riding around in a circle shooting at a fleeing horseman whose rifle spoke often and spitefully. The lad knew that the solitary horseman was the Ranger lieutenant.
"The cowards—-to attack one man that way!" gritted the boy. "Now, fellows," he called, slacking up slightly, "I want you, when I say go, to yell like mad. Whoop it up for all you're worth. Then when I say fire, every man shake out his rifle, but shoot high. We don't want to hit anybody unless we have to. We'll make those fellows think the whole troop of Rangers is turned loose on them. Understand?"
"Good! Excellent head work, Tad. I'm proud of you. But I do hope none of you gets hit."
"If you are afraid, drop back to the rear, Professor," suggested Stacy, whereat chuckles were heard from the others.
The bandits had not discovered the advancing horsemen in the darkness, though had they been less interested in seeking to kill Lieutenant Withem they might have observed the little band that was now sweeping down on them.
"Now! Whoop it up, fellows!" Tad raised his voice to an exultant shout.
Chunky's piercing voice punctured the atmosphere in a blood-curdling shout, a wild warwhoop.
"Yip! Yip! Hiyi! Hiyi! Kyaw! Kyeeaw! Yip! Yip!"
Despite the seriousness of the situation and the real desperateness of their position the Pony Rider Boys laughed so that they were unable to yell for a full minute. Then they let go their voices, to which the professor added his own. But his voice was almost wholly lost in the blood-curdling shouts of his young charges.
"Ready—-Chunky, aim at the moon or you'll be puncturing some of us.Now fire!"
A volley of shots followed Tad's command. Five rifles crashed out, but their leaden missiles went high, followed by another series of wild yells, whoops and scattering shots.
About this time the Border Bandits discovered the oncoming party of horsemen. All at once they turned their rifles on the Pony Rider Boys. At the first shot in the direction of the boys Tad turned in his saddle.
"Lie low!" he yelled. "Keep whooping and keep shooting. Look out that you don't hit any one. Ride straight at them. They'll give ground."
"I hope to goodness they do," shouted Ned Rector.
"If they don't it's me for the tall timber," cried Stacy, who had overheard Rector's remark.
The bullets sang so close to the boys that the lads could hear them plainly. Had the light been more certain some of them must have been hit, for those men out there knew how to handle rifles much better than did any of the Pony Rider Boys.
With wild whoops and yells, keeping up a continuous fusillade, the plucky band kept straight on.
"It's the Rangers!" They heard the words plainly, uttered by one of the bandits.
"Yip! Yip! Kyeeaw!" screamed the fat boy.
"Yip! Yip! Hiyi!" chorused the others.
"We've got 'em on the run!" yelled Tad, as the circling horsemen swung out into a straight line and began racing across the plains, turning in their saddles to shoot at their assailants.
"Can you see to let them have a few shots into the ground to hurry them along?" called Butler.
"Yes, yes," yelled the boys.
"Be careful," warned the professor. Bang, bang, bang, bang! answered the rifles of the Pony Rider Boys. The horses of the bandits fairly leaped into the air. Soon after that they faded into dark, uncertain streaks on the white of the plain. Now the rifle of the solitary horseman began to speak again. Joe Withem was not afflicted with any scruples against shooting to hit. He tumbled one man out of his saddle, but the fellow's companions scooped up the wounded bandit, carrying him away with them. Withem thought he saw a man go down, but he could not be sure.
The boys swept past him some distance to the left of the Ranger, still shooting, their purpose being to keep the bandits going until the latter should have been driven so far away that they would not be back that night.
"Swing back!" commanded Tad. The boys pulled their horses down, and wheeling began trotting back. A little beyond they saw Withem galloping toward them.
"You were just in time, fellows. They had me on the hip for sure."
"I'm glad of it," called Tad, "for—-"
"What's that? Who are you?" interrupted the lieutenant. Then he pulled his horse up sharply. "Well, I'll be jiggered, if it isn't you."
"That's who it is," laughed Tad. "Are you hit?"
"I stopped a couple, but it doesn't amount to anything. Just flesh wounds, that's all. And you boys put the bandits on the run, eh?" wondered the Ranger lieutenant. "That's another one I owe you. That's another one the Cap'n owes you too."
"Don't mention it."
"How did they happen to discover you?" asked the professor riding up beside the Ranger.
"That's what gets me. I don't understand it at all. They must have caught sight of me as I was riding out. They surely didn't know I had Dunk with me or they wouldn't have begun shooting at me. They'd have tried to pot the pony in the legs and get me afterwards, though I might have stood them off till daylight."
"Bad, very bad!" muttered the professor.
"I call it very good, sir. Those fellows have had a fright that will keep them going for some hours yet. They think it is the Rangers that's chasing them and they'll be hiking for cover at the rate of some miles an hour."
"You are sure you are not badly hurt?" asked the professor anxiously.
"If I never get any worse, I'll be satisfied. I'm a marked man, you know. Some day, when my gun sticks in the holster, I may get mine."
"Come back to camp with us. Surely you are not going on to-night?"
"Thank you, but I must be getting on. I've got to be at the camp by daylight."
"If you think there is danger of your being attacked, we will ride with you," said Tad.
"No, pard, I'm better off alone. I'll know enough to dodge them now."
"Speaking of danger, you don't suppose these men will come back and visit our camp, do you?" asked the professor.
"No, I don't think so. But were I in your place I think I'd put out my fire and set a guard for the rest of the night. It's always a safe thing to do. They won't touch you in the daytime; in fact, I think those fellows will be hiding. We'll set a couple of men on their trail just as soon as I get to camp; now that I know where the trail starts. They know I know, and that's what makes me think they won't let the grass grow under their feet."
"I am glad to hear you say so," answered Professor Zepplin. "I am afraid we should not have mixed up in this affair at all, though naturally I am pleased that we have been able to be of some service to you when you might have been killed."
"And some others with me," answered the Ranger grimly. "Well, so long.I'll talk with you to-morrow."
"Good night and good luck!" called the boys.
"Good night, pards," answered the Ranger heartily. Swinging his pony about he galloped away into the darkness, while the boys turned their own mounts toward their camp in the canyon. They had done a good night's work and Tad's generalship alone had won the battle for the Ranger lieutenant. But there were other equally exciting experiences ahead of them in the near future, in which the Border Bandits would play an active part.
It was rather a solemn party that took its way slowly back to the Pony Rider Boys' Camp in the mountains. The boys realized that they had taken a rather active part in what might prove for them a serious affair. If, by any chance, the bandits learned who had interfered with them, it might be necessary for Professor Zepplin and his charges to make lively tracks for the border and seek other fields of adventure.
The same thought was in the minds of all except Chunky, who held his head erect, his chest swelled out. He was full of their great achievements and was telling what he would do if any of the bandits came to visit their camp.
"I think we will put you on guard to-night, seeing that you are such a brave young man," said the professor with a twinkle.
"On guard?"
"Yes."
"Yes, that's the idea. Let him take the watch," approved Rector.
"You forget that I'm a wounded man. You forget I've been shot twice to-day. Huh! Some of you children take the trick. I've got to take care of my health."
"I guess if we expect to get any sleep we had better let some one else do it," agreed Tad. "Chunky will have us out on false alarms all night long."
They were agreed upon this, and by common consent Butler was given the watch for the night. The boys slept with their rifles beside them that night.
The night passed without incident, Tad Butler keeping a vigilant watch all during the dark hours of the night. He had plenty of time to think matters over. He realized that Dunk Tucker, the prisoner, had overheard all that had been said during their talk with Withem out on the plain. Tad knew that if Dunk ever got into communication with his fellows it would go hard with the Pony Rider Boys.
Soon after daybreak, Tad awakened his fellows. He already had a brisk fire going, but before lighting it, the lad had walked down to the edge of the canyon for a survey of the plain. He saw a solitary horseman far out over the rolling plain. After some study he made up his mind that the man was going away instead of coming toward them.
Breakfast finished the party packed their belongings and started out for their long ride to join the Rangers sometime late in the day.
About noon they made camp for dinner and a rest, not taking up their journey until about four o'clock in the afternoon. Darkness overtook them, finding them still without sight or sound of the Spring where Withem said they would find the Rangers' camp. A consultation was held and it was decided to continue on until they picked up the party.
About half an hour after night had fallen, they were riding along when suddenly they were stopped by a stern command.
"Halt! Hands up! Every man of you is covered!"
"Oh, wow!" gasped Chunky. "They've got us again."
"Who are you?" demanded the voice.
"Who are you?" returned Tad boldly.
"I reckon my question gits the first answer, seeing as I've got the drop on you."
Tad all at once realized that the sound of falling water was in the air. With it came the thought that these must be the Rangers.
"We're the Pony Rider Boys," he said, speaking confidently.
"The which?"
He repeated his answer.
"Wait a minute. Send for Joe," said the man in a lower tone. "You fellows stay just as you are if you don't want some daylight let through you."
"I—-I wish we did have a little daylight," stammered Chunky, which elicited a short laugh from his companions. "Yeow!" bowled the fat boy as a figure appeared beside him and a pair of iron arms grasped his hands pulling him down, nearly unseating him. "Yeow! Let go!"
"It's all right, boys," spoke up the familiar voice of LieutenantWithem. "I'd know this fellow in the dark as well as in the light.I'm Withem."
At the lieutenant's reassuring words the Rangers—-for the boys had stumbled upon the camp of the men of Captain McKay's command—-crowded forward, talking and laughing, three of them taking the horses as the party dismounted, then leading the way into the bushes and in among the rocks where the lads came upon a campfire, around which were seated five or six other Rangers.
Withem introduced the professor and his charges. There were, besides the Lieutenant, Pete Quash, "Dippy" Orell, Cad Morgan, Bucky Moore, "Polly" Perkins and several others, all of whom were introduced in turn, the Rangers solemn as owls, making low bows, sweeping the ground with their sombreros, causing Stacy to open his eyes in wonderment. Lieutenant Withem made the party feel at home at once.
"Just in time to have chuck with us. You see we have our chuck wagon here. Of course we don't carry it wherever we go. We usually have some central point where we make headquarters. But we have to keep changing these headquarters for reasons you understand."
All hands sat down to the evening meal after the men had washed up, in most instances without removing their hats. This attracted the attention of the fat boy.
"Say, do you fellows sleep in your hats as well as wash and eat in them?" he demanded.
"Do you sleep in your skin?" retorted Dippy.
"Yes, unless it has been all skinned off from me. When I was fightingIndians up in the Grand Canyon—-"
"Chop it!" commanded a Ranger. "Men have been known to meet their death for less in this country."
"Can't I say what I've got to say?" demanded the fat boy indignantly.
"Are you going to brag about yourself?" demanded Polly.
"I'm telling you, and—-"
"Well, don't tell us. We don't want to have to take you out and tie you to a tree. Say, will you get wise to the dude with the red necktie?" scoffed the Ranger, pointing to Ned, who, in the place of the bandanna handkerchief, had put on a flowing tie of brilliant red, tying it about his neck, with the ends carelessly thrown over the left shoulder.
"Don't you like it?" asked Ned, flushing.
"Like it? Why, it's the hottest thing that ever crossed the StakedPlains since the Apaches came down in—-"
"Why don't you look the other way then?" interjected Stacy.
"Oho! Listen to the human monstrosity—-the monstrosity as wide as he is long and as fresh as he is stale. What you got to say about it, young man?" demanded Dippy, glancing at Tad Butler, who was smiling.
"I haven't said anything yet."
"But you're going to?"
"I may."
"Can we stand for any more remarks, boys?" asked Dippy.
"No, we can't stand for any more," chorused the men, the professor and the lieutenant being too busy with a discussion to pay any heed to what was going on about them.
"Then he shall be washed clean so that he may take a fresh start?"
"That's the idea!"
"Will you go peaceably or must we drag you?"
"I reckon you'd better drag me. If you're going to have fun with me you'll have to earn it. I don't propose to help you out."
"Do you hear?" demanded Dippy in a deep, hoarse voice.
"We hear."
"Then do your duty!"
Two men grabbed the Pony Rider boy up, Tad making no resistance whatever, a little to the surprise of the men who had taken hold of him. They expected the boy to resist, which would have given them still further excuse to handle him roughly. But Tad was used to dealing with the rough and ready characters of plain and mountain. He didn't care particularly what they did. The other boys were delighted that Tad was to be made the mark this time. They followed along laughing and jeering at their companion.
The Rangers fell in behind the two who were carrying Butler, in solemn procession. To look at their faces one would have thought they were performing a solemn duty. The boys wondered where it was going to end. They discovered a few minutes later. Tad was taken out where the gentle murmur of the Spring falling over the rocks could be heard when the Pony Rider Boys were not making too much noise.
"Do you withdraw the flippant words you used to a member of this august body?" demanded a deep voice.
"No!" cried Tad Butler. "Never! I'll die first!"
"Then take your punishment!"
With that they gave the boy a swing, one holding to the feet the other the shoulders of the lad. When they let go, Tad sailed several feet through the air. Quick as a cat in his movements Tad turned over before he landed, going down on all fours. He thought he was going to strike on the hard ground. Instead he landed at the bottom of a deep pool of water cold as ice it seemed to him. He went in all over. Not expecting anything of this sort the boy was not holding his breath. The result was that he got a mouthful of water. He came up choking, then pretended to go down again. Instead he crawled up to the bank, under which he hid.
A moment passed and the Rangers began to be alarmed. Dippy stepped to the edge of the pool and leaning over peered down somewhat anxiously.
Quick as a flash a pair of arms encircled his neck. Dippy plunged in head first. He did not even have time to cry out. The others, discovering that Dippy had fallen in, rushed to the edge shouting and laughing. Two of them went the way of their companion, Tad having jerked their feet from under them. Within sixty seconds from that time half of the crowd were threshing about in the cold waters of the pool, while Tad, who had crawled out, sat on the bank dripping, watching their struggles.
Stacy Brown was rolling on the ground, howling with delight. All at once he was picked up in a pair of strong arms and tossed in bodily. Stacy howled lustily. Clambering out he squared off for fight, but the only fight he got was another ducking in the pool.
"You—-you——you fellows ought to be ashamed to pick on a wounded man that way. Don't you know I've been shot?"
"Shot?"
"Yes, shot."
"He's been shot," chorused the boys and the Rangers together.
"Any of the rest of you kiddies been wounded in the fracas?" demandedFolly.
"No, but you've overlooked two of us," announced Ned stepping out. "We haven't had our baths yet and I reckon we need them."
Without a word, two of the Rangers got up and threw the two remaining boys into the pool. Ned went in with a mighty splash, Walter Perkins landing on top of him, nearly taking away the breath of Rector. They had a rough and tumble scrimmage in the cold water, coming out choking, dripping and laughing.
All this made a favorable impression on the Rangers. Boys who could take rough handling such as this, without losing their tempers or even offering any objection, surely must be worth while. Then, too, there was the story about Tad and Ned having captured the desperado, Dunk Tucker, who was now well on his way to the calaboose in El Paso.
"I reckon you kin go back and dry off now," drawled Dippy. "Anything else you cayuses reckon you want?"
"Yes, you might fetch me a piece of soap," answered Butler laughingly.
"I reckon you'll use sand, young man," answered Orell witheringly.
The Pony Rider Boys made their way back to the camp, wet but happy, the only dissatisfied one in the crowd being Stacy Brown. But their troubles for the night were not wholly over yet. Their initiation was not yet complete. The Rangers had still other plans for their visitors.
"Guess you fellows are forgetting about that 'possum hunt?" drawled CadMorgan as the boys came noisily into camp.
"'Possum hunt?" cried Stacy, brightening at once.
"I wasn't talking to you," answered Morgan witheringly. "Don't break in when men are talking."
"Men? Where are your men? I want to go 'possum hunting, too."
"So do I," chorused Ned and Walter. Tad did not speak. He was watching the Rangers to see if they meant it. Evidently they did.
"That's so," answered Dippy. "We had plumb forgotten all about it.We better get a move on or we won't have that 'possum for breakfast.Ever go bag-baiting for 'possum?" he demanded wheeling on Tad.
"I never did."
"Neither did I," interjected Stacy crowding in between Tad and theRanger. "I want to bag a 'possum."
"Better look sharp or the 'possum will bag you," warned Pete Quash.
"I guess I'm not afraid of any 'possum that ever climbed a tree.Haven't I killed lions and bob cats and fought Indians, and—-"
"Stop it!" roared Dippy. "I'll be worse'n my name if you keep filling me up with that line of talk."
"What's bag-baiting 'possum?" asked Walter.
"What! You never heard of bag-baiting?" demanded Cad.
"I never did."
"Well, you fellows are tenderfeet!"
"May we go along and help?" asked Chunky.
"What do you say, fellows?"
"We might let them on a pinch. I suppose they've got to learn some time."
"All right, you fellows may go out and help us, but it's a job, mind you! You'll get sick of it before you've finished."
"No we won't," cried the boys.
"Well, I reckon we'd better be getting the stuff together," said Cad getting up wearily. "Though I'm afraid the roly-poly will plumb scare every 'possum out of the community."
"If they don't run at sight of you, they'll stand for anything short of a ghost," retorted Stacy sarcastically.
Cad did not reply to this fling. He merely grinned. Tad saw more in that grin than did his companions, but he held his peace. He wanted to see the fun, even if it were still further at his own expense.
Preparations for the 'possum hunt were at once begun. Two burlap sacks were procured from somewhere in the camp. These, with several candles and some stout sticks, made up the outfit for the 'possum hunt.
"Where are you fellows going?" called Withem as he saw the outfit starting away.
"Hunting 'possums," answered Dippy.
Lieutenant Withem smiled.
"I hope you bring back some for breakfast," called the professor. "I am fond of 'possum."
"You won't be of the 'possum they catch," warned the lieutenant, in a low tone.
With pistol holsters slapping against their thighs, Rangers and Pony Rider Boys strode from the camp, circling to the left after leaving the rocky pass where they had their resting place. They followed around the base of the mountains for a half mile. The ground was thickly wooded with second growth and mesquite bush.
Cad finally called a halt.
"I reckon we'll go in here," he said.
"Going to leave a bag here?" asked Polly.
"Sure. Here you, Perkins, catch bold of the bag."
"What do I do?" asked Walter.
"Wait; I'll show you."
Morgan very carefully lighted a candle and stuck it into the ground, packing the dirt about it with his knife.
"Now you hold the bag open. Don't move. Don't jump if you see a 'possum light into the bag. You see the light draws them. It hypnotizes them and they jump right into the light. That means they jump into the bag. The minute one hops in all you have to do is to close the bag, sling it over your shoulder and hike back to camp with it."
"That's easy. I could catch 'possums myself if that's all a fellow has to do," declared Stacy.
"It'll be your turn next, Fatty."
It was. After floundering through the bushes for some distance theRangers stopped.
"Now, Fatty, it's your turn," announced Cad. "You may have to wait around here for an hour or two while we beat up the bushes and drive the 'possum in, but you won't care. You'll be glad you stayed when you get a nice fat 'possum for your breakfast."
"I'll catch him if he comes this way," replied the fat boy.
"You bet you'll catch it," chuckled Dippy.
"How long do I stay here?"
"Till you git a 'possum," answered Polly. "Mebby that'll be in two minutes and mebby not in two hours, but you've got to stand very still. If you move you'll scare the whole pack of them back into their holes."
Stacy squared himself, holding the opening of the bag close up to the burning candle.
"That's right. A little more to the left with the opening," directed Cad, who had constituted himself the master of the hunt. "Now hold it. You other two lads work around the outside. One of you go to the north, the other to the south about a quarter of a mile, then work gradually in, beating the bushes, slamming these clubs against every tree you come to big enough to hold a 'possum. In that way you'll drive them in."
"Yes, sir," answered Tad and Ned very solemnly.
"And go slow. Just take a step at a time, or some of the birds may get by you."
"A 'possum isn't a bird," corrected Stacy.
"You'll think it is after you've hunted one for an hour or two. Now git going, you beaters. Imagine you're beating the bush for lions. That will keep you from going to sleep on the job."
Chunky's eyes grew large.
"See here, you don't want to stand up straight," rebuked Morgan. "You must lean over just like this," bending himself almost double with his nose close to the ground.
For a half hour Stacy Brown maintained his position. By this time his back was aching, perspiration was running down his face and neck in rivulets. Insects of many shapes and forms, attracted by the light, were hopping about, some getting into the fat boy's eyes, nose and ears, others getting under his clothing. But still he held the bag open. No 'possums came his way. Some few thousands of insects did. A large part of these hopped into the bag. Others crawled in.
In the meantime Tad, his face wearing a grin, had walked away, but instead of beating the bush for 'possum, he headed straight for the camp. He heard the Rangers off to the left, as he emerged from the bush. The men were laughing and talking. Butler reached the camp ahead of them. When they came in they were amazed to see him stretched out comfortably in front of the campfire, taking his ease.
"I thought you were hunting 'possum," cried Polly.
"I thought you were hunting 'possum," laughed the others.
The men looked into each others' faces, then burst out laughing.
"Where's the other one?" meaning Rector, who like Tad was to drive the 'possums in.
"He's hunting 'possum," answered Tad. An hour later Ned Rector came sauntering in.
"Hullo, did you drive out any 'possum?" called Cad.
"Narry a 'poss," answered Ned carelessly. "I thought I'd leave them for you fellows. I didn't want to hog the whole game, you know."
"Are the other two holding the bags open?"
"I don't know. I suppose they are. They'll be even with you for that," answered Ned.
"By the way, Mr. Withem," said Tad strolling towards him, "I thought we were going to meet Captain McKay here."
"The captain is not here," replied the lieutenant with some reservation in his tone.
"Will he be here before we leave?"
"I can't say. Captain Billy may be here in the morning, then again he may not. If you miss him here, he will see you some other time. He wants to know you, pardner," smiled the lieutenant. "Where is the fat boy?"
"Holding the 'possum bag down in the bush," answered Tad with a grim smile.
The Rangers were pulling off their boots and one by one crawling into the single tent that did duty as a bedroom for all except the officers, who had a small tent to themselves. The boys were chuckling to themselves. They thought they had a good joke on at least one of the Pony Rider Boys, and perhaps they had.
About two hours after the men had returned to camp, Walter Perkins, with an exclamation of disgust, threw down his bag.
"Let them catch their own 'possums," he said. "I don't believe there are any 'possums in this country to catch. Even if there were we never could get them in a bag this way. I'll bet they have been playing a joke on me. I'm going back to camp."
Half an hour later, Chunky, his back aching like a sore tooth, straightened up with evident effort. The fat boy began to see a light, other than that furnished by the candle.
"I guess I'm the goat," he said regarding the bag reflectively. "Yes,I am the goat all right."
Picking up the candle, Stacy peered into the bag, then he thought some more. The inside of the bag was literally alive with insects. The fat boy quickly closed the bag, twisting the mouth tight and tying it fast with a string. Then blowing out the candle, he shouldered the bag, setting off for camp as Walter had done some thirty minutes before. But Stacy failed to observe the figure of a man near by as the boy stepped out on the plain. This figure followed along behind him at a safe distance, the man chuckling to himself as he watched the boy and the bag. The mysterious stranger was the Ranger lieutenant.
Reaching the silent camp, Stacy slunk in, apparently seeking to avoid being seen. The grinning lieutenant saw the boy slip cautiously to the tent occupied by the sleeping Rangers. There the fat boy very carefully deposited his 'possum bag, first having opened the mouth of it, after which he slipped away to his own tent and crawled into bed. But Stacy did not go to sleep at once. He lay there listening, gazing up at the roof of the tent through which he could make out the faint light of the sky.
Some twenty minutes elapsed when the boy sat up, thinking he had heard a sound from the other tent. This became a certainty just a few minutes later when a great uproar arose in the tent of the Rangers. Loud voices were heard, threats and shouts. The hundred and fifty-eight varieties of bugs that the fat boy had brought in in his 'possum bag, were getting in their deadly work on the persons of the Rangers. Chunky had turned the tables on his tormentors most beautifully.
The Rangers, slapping, scratching and fighting against the armies of insects that were crawling over them, had finally got out of bed and gone out of doors to sleep. But there was no rest there either. Their bodies were covered with ants and fleas, all with well-developed biters—-and they bit!
At first the Rangers did not realize the trick that had been played upon them. One who went back to the tent for his hat discovered the burlap sack that had been used in the 'possum hunt. He brought it out, holding it up before his companions. The Rangers eyed the bag, then gazed at each other solemnly.
"Stung!" groaned Dippy.
"Bitten, you mean," answered Cad Morgan.
"Which one played that low-down trick on us?" demanded Pete Quash angrily.
"I reckon it was Fatty," said Polly. "He's the one that would have thought of a thing like that. I reckon there must have been a million of those bugs crawling over me."
"I'll tell you what, fellows. Let's get Fatty out and tie the sack over his head. We'll give him a dose of his own medicine," proposed Dippy. "We can't stand for anything of this sort."
"Look here, boys," spoke up Cad. "Are you welchers? Can't you take your medicine without squealing?"
"What do you meant" demanded Polly.
"I mean that we fellows put up a job on the kids. The fat baby turned the joke on us, and right smart at that. We're It. We're full of bugs—-the worst biters anywhere between the Rio Grande and the northern border. Are we going to squeal? I reckon we aren't. We're going to stand here and let the biters do their worst. I'm mighty near eaten alive, but I'm taking my medicine and I reckon I'll be taking a lot more of the same dose before morning."
"Wal," drawled Polly, "I reckon you're right at that, Cad. But I'd like to wring that little cayuse's neck just for luck."
The "little cayuse" referred to was sleeping sweetly in his tent, untroubled by the distress of the Rangers.
All that night the Rangers walked up and down, slapping their thighs, scratching their legs, for the older the night grew the harder did those fleas seem to take hold.
"I reckon their bills will be so dull by morning, after drilling our tough hides all night, that we won't feel them at all," observed Polly.
A low growl from Dippy Orell was the only reply to the remark. Now and then a man would throw himself down hoping to get a brief nap, but a few moments later he would be up stamping and scratching and growling deeply, threatening vengeance on the boy who had played the trick on them.
Next morning, Stacy Brown, for reasons best known to himself, got up ahead of the others of his party. Stacy took his time in dressing, then strolled out.
"Hullo, I guess the crowd is sleeping late this morning," he muttered. Then he halted. His eyes rested on the 'possum sack that he had left in the tent of the Rangers the night before. A broad grin spread over his face.
"I guess they won't be playing monkeyshines on Stacy Brown right away. I wonder if they got bitten much? I'm all swelled up where the insects made a meal on my skin. Hullo! Hi, fellows!"
Tad Butler and Ned Rector appeared at the door of their tent almost at once.
"Can't you let a fellow sleep?" demanded Ned. "What's the row about?Got a 'possum for breakfast?"
"No, but I've got something else for you."
"What's that?" questioned Butler.
"A surprise."
"What kind of a surprise?"
"Just a surprise surprise, that's all. What do you think?"
"Too early to think. I'm going back to bed," growled Rector. "And don't you dare wake me up again."
Tad stepped out.
"The crowd has given us the slip," announced Stacy.
"What—-why they've gone!" exclaimed Tad.
"Yes, they've gone. Gone where there aren't any Pony Rider Boys to make life miserable for them."
Tad was mystified. The Ranger company had disappeared utterly. They had slipped away silently and mysteriously. Even the chuck wagon had disappeared.
"Why, what can it mean?" marveled Tad Butter.
"You may search me. I don't know."
"Hey, Ned!"
"Well, what is it?" growled Rector appearing at the tent opening again.
"They've gone and left us and without even saying good-bye," called Tad."Shake out the others."
The professor and Walter, having been awakened by the talking, now appeared. They were quickly informed that the Rangers had left, at which they wondered not a little.
"I guess they got tired of our company. I'm going to start breakfast," declared Butler.
"This is most remarkable," bristled the professor. "I should have thought they would have left some word."
"How about that 'possum, Chunky?" jeered Rector.
"You better ask the Rangers. They'll tell you about that," answered the fat boy with a grin. "There's the sack in which I fetched the animals back to camp."
"What, did you catch any?" demanded the professor.
"Oh, I got some game, all right. I'm the champion hunter, I am. Say, I wish I could cook like you," said Chunky gazing admiringly at Tad, who was confidently making some biscuit for breakfast. "I never could cook unless I had everything all down in writing before me. How do you do it?"
"Oh, he cooks by ear," scoffed Ned. "That's why there's so many discords in our digestive apparatus."
The Pony Rider Boys groaned dismally.
Breakfast the plans for the day were discussed. The professor was for remaining in camp, hoping that the Rangers might return later in the day. Tad did not believe this would be the case. He reasoned that the men had been summoned some time during the night to go on a hike, and that they might not return at all; therefore the Pony Rider Boys would be losing time, whereas they might be exploring the Guadalupe range, which stretched away for a hundred miles.
"Still, I can't understand this mysterious departure of our friends, the Rangers," persisted Professor Zepplin.
"Perhaps it was the bugs," suggested Stacy wisely.
"The bugs?" questioned the professor.
Chunky nodded. Tad eyed the fat boy suspiciously.
"Look here, what have you got up your sleeve, Stacy?" he demanded.
"Nothing, I hope. But some of the fellows did."
"Did what?" cut in Rector.
"Did have."
"Did have what?" urged Walter. "A fellow has to have a map to follow you."
"Did have something up their sleeves."
"What was it you think they had up their sleeves?" asked Tad, eyeing the fat boy with growing suspicion.
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe it was insects."
"Stacy!" rebuked the professor sternly. Tad recalled that he had discovered thousands of insects crawling over the burlap sack when he came out in the morning. The lad's mind began to unravel the mystery. He thought he understood Chunky's references now, but Tad only smiled. He made no effort to explain, but instead, changed the subject.
"Do we start, or do we remain here, Professor?" he asked.
"It shall be as you boys wish. All in favor of going on will say 'aye.'"
"Aye!" howled the Pony Rider Boys, a shout that caused the browsing ponies to look up in mild surprise.
"Then we move. I will say, however, that I don't exactly approve of the situation."
"What situation, Professor?" questioned Butler.
"There are too many rough men in these parts. I had no idea we were going to meet with any such condition of affairs in this enlightened state."
"That's nothing. We have had some experience. Experience is what we are looking for."
"But the Rangers were not," asserted Stacy thickly, his mouth full of biscuit. "They got it, though."
"I feel sorry for you," said Tad leaning over to Stacy.
"Sorry for what?"
"For what you'll catch when they get hold of you again."
"They'd better not. I've got something up my sleeve, or I will have,I mean. They'd better keep away from me."
"Come, fellows, are you going to strike camp while I clear away the breakfast things?" called Tad.
"Let Chunky do it. He hasn't done a thing this morning," cried Ned.
"Yes, I have, too."
"What have you done?"
"I've done two things this morning."
"That's news," grinned Walter.
"Yes, name them. We don't want to do you an injustice, you know," urgedRector sarcastically.
"I made a discovery—-I discovered that we had been basely deserted."
"Well, that's only one thing. You said you had done two things," persisted Ned.
"Then I ate my breakfast. That's two things."
The boys groaned.
"He ate his breakfast. Most remarkable," scoffed Rector, imitating the professor's voice and manner, whereat the professor himself grinned broadly.
Tad, giving up expecting the others to do anything, was rapidly gathering their equipment together. The tent came down. He divided it into sections, placing the sections in piles preparatory to forming them into bundles to be packed on the ponies.
"Have you the map, Professor?" he called.
"In my saddle bag."
"I want to study it a minute before we start. We don't know anything about the trails here and we have no guide to direct us. We've got to make our way the best we can."
"We can't get lost," chimed in Chunky.
"Why can't we get lost?" snapped Ned turning on the fat boy.
"Because we don't know where we are anyway."
"Horse sense," laughed Tad.
"Fat-boy drivel," jeered Ned.
"Come, come, young men. You are not making much headway."
Stacy dragged his pack by the rope, over to his pony, instead of carrying the bundle as he should have done, Professor Zepplin observing the boy with disapproving gaze.
"Is that the way you have been taught to pack your pony, sir?"
"No. I've never been taught. What I know I've had to pick up. Nobody ever tries to teach me anything."
Scolding, joking, having all manner of sport with one another, the Pony Rider Boys finally completed their tasks. The ponies were loaded, the pack pony was piled high so that its head and legs were about the only parts of its anatomy visible, and the boys climbed into their saddles, Tad first having given the trail map a brief scrutiny.
They started off up the canyon. For a little way the trail appeared to be no trail at all. The ponies threshed through the bushes, the sharp limbs smiting the riders in the faces, making disagreeable traveling. But the young men were used to this sort of thing. They did not appear to mind it at all.
Reaching a higher altitude they found the trail to be fairly good. From there they got a good view of the yellow plains below, that stretch away many miles to the northward. To the southwest, peaks that they judged must be all of four or five thousand feet high, towered blue and hazy in the yellow light. Birds were singing, the air was soft and balmy and a gentle breeze stirred the foliage about them lazily.
"This is what I call fine," cried Tad.
"Good place for a nap," agreed Chunky.
"Are you in need of sleep?" asked the professor.
"I'm in a trance, sir."
"You always are," laughed Tad Butler. "I think we had better take a rest here. The animals are tired after the climb. Suppose we lie off for an hour?"
The boys were all agreed on this, so the pack pony was unloaded. It now being near midday it was decided to wait for dinner before pressing on. A meal was a "dab" down there and the boys had fallen naturally into the vernacular of the men of the plains.
It was Ned's turn to cook the "dab," a task that never appealed to him. Chunky at such times was always on hand while Ned was getting the meal, that he might offer suggestions and make uncomplimentary observations. Rector's method of making coffee came in for considerable criticism. He never could be induced to make coffee after the more approved methods. Ned's way was to put a pint of coffee beans in a two-quart coffee pot and boil for half an hour. He made it the same way on this occasion.
"That stuff would eat a hole through a piece of sheet iron if given half a chance," declared Stacy.
"Don't worry. It won't hurt you," retorted Ned. "Your stomach is tough enough to withstand anything."
"I guess it is or I'd have been dead long ago eating your dab," flung back Stacy.
They had to wait quite a time for the coffee, but at last the call to dinner was sounded in the usual way, the long-drawn cry of, "Come and get it!"
They had just sat down when they were startled by a voice calling from somewhere off in the bushes to the northward of them.
"Hoo-ee!"
The boys started up, thinking that perhaps some of the Rangers had returned. Instead of the Rangers a stranger rode in on a wiry little pony. He doffed his sombrero gracefully and sat regarding them smilingly.
"Howdy, pardners," greeted the newcomer. "Got a smack for a hungry man?"
"Certainly, certainly. Come right over, my friend," answered the professor cordially.
Ned stepped forward politely to take the stranger's horse.
"Never mind, lad. I'll look after the cayuse. He isn't over-fond of strangers. You're all strangers down here, eh?"
"Yes, yes. We are," admitted the professor. "You are just in time.We are ready for dinner and there's plenty to go round."
"I'll promise not to eat you out of house and home," laughed the stranger. Without taking off his broad-brimmed Mexican sombrero he threw himself down by the piece of canvas on which the dinner had been laid, helping himself to a slice of bacon which he ate from his fingers in a most democratic fashion. "My name's Conway. Bill Conway. What's yours?"
Professor Zepplin introduced himself and the boys, which Conway acknowledged by polite bows. The man was easy in manner, and his smiling face led the boys to warm to him at once—-all save Tad Butler, who, without appearing to do so, was observing the visitor keenly.
The man was slight, almost boyish in figure. His hair was dark, as were his eyes, the latter having a trick of growing suddenly darker than their natural color, seeming to sink further back in his head under some sudden stress of emotion. The brown fingers were slender and nervous in their movements.
"I'll bet he would be quick on the trigger," was Tad's mental conclusion.
"Are you from these parts?" asked the professor by way of starting the conversation.
"El Paso, when I'm at home. And you?"
"From the north."
"Down here for your health?"
"Partly. Mostly for an outing."
"Just so. I reckon I've heard something about you."
"Maybe it was I whom you heard about," suggested Chunky.
"Can't say as I have," answered Conway, directing a quick glance at the fat boy.
"You don't know what you've missed," answered Stacy solemnly, helping himself to five slices of bacon.
"You didn't happen to meet with any of the Rangers this morning, did you?" questioned Professor Zepplin.
It was the professor's turn to get a sharp look now.
"Rangers? No. Why do you ask?"
"Because we were looking for some of them."
"What for?"
"We wanted to see them about a little matter," hastily interposed TadButler.
"What matter?"
There was no stopping the professor.
"Why, we camped with a body of them last night. With Lieutenant Withem, a most affable gentleman. They ran away and left us early this morning. However, I suppose they had good reasons."
"Joe Withem, eh?"
"Yes, that was the man."
"How many Rangers did behave with him?"
"Twelve, wasn't it, boys?"
"Something like that," replied Tad, observing their visitor narrowly. "However, Professor, I hardly think we should speak of them. You see they were on some secret mission and—-"
"It's all right, young man. You are safe in confiding in me. In fact, I am going to confide a little secret to you to show you that you have made no mistake."
"We shall preserve your secret, sir," answered the professor with great dignity.
"I thought you would. Lean closer and I'll tell you," almost whispered the visitor.
"I'm a Ranger, too," confided the visitor.
"What, you a Ranger?" exclaimed the professor.
"Of Captain McKay's band?"
"You've hit it, pard."
"Well, well, this is indeed a pleasure. We have not had the honor of meeting Captain McKay as yet, but we hope to do so, ere long. He had promised to meet us last night, but I understand was called away on some business pertaining to his calling."
"You would like to meet Captain McKay?"
"Indeed I should. I understand he is a most remarkable man, that he has performed many deeds of valor."
"Pray stop!" laughed Conway. "You actually make me blush."
The outfit gazed at the visitor inquiringly.
"Now that you have said so much I am going to confide another little secret to you. I'm McKay."
"What? Not Captain McKay, the leader of the Rangers?"
"The same."
Professor Zepplin thrust a brown hand across the table, grasping the hand of their visitor.
"Well, this is indeed a surprise. I can't begin to tell you how glad we are to see you," answered the professor with enthusiasm.
"Same to you, pardner," grinned the captain. "You see I didn't want to open up too freely until I was sure to whom I was talking. Of course if you and Withem are cahoots, it's all right."
"It certainly is all right. We had the pleasure of being of some service to Lieutenant——-"
"Ouch!" howled Stacy. Tad had tipped the pot of hot coffee into the fat boy's lap, and for a few moments confusion reigned.
"Don't talk too much," whispered Butler leaning over to brush away some drops that had fallen on the professor's shirt.
"Eh? Eh? What's that?"
Tad was embarrassed. He began speaking of something else. ProfessorZepplin did not repeat his question.
"I understand my men picked up a fellow named Dunk Tucker a night ago?" asked the captain.
"Yes, yes, indeed. Mr. Butler there is the one who is really responsible for the capture of Tucker, however."
"You don't say!" wondered the visitor.
"Exactly. Tad, will you tell the captain how you came to capture the man Tucker?"
"If you will pardon me, I would rather not."
"He's too modest. I'll tell you about it," chimed in Stacy Brown.Stacy, once wound up, would continue to operate until he had run down.He told the whole story from beginning to end, including the fact thathe himself had been wounded twice, ere he stopped.
"Fine, fine!" The captain leaned back and laughed uproariously. "You are a funny boy. I wish I had you with me. I could teach you a lot about dodging bullets."
"I'm a pretty good dodger already or I shouldn't be here at this minute," answered the fat boy pompously.
"Where did they take the prisoner? Are you informed as to that?" asked the captain.
"They took him to El Paso, I believe," replied Professor Zepplin. "I thought you were aware of what had been done."
"I got wind of something of the sort. You see I have been away in another part of the state on a secret mission for the Governor."
"Exactly."
"Did my men say where they were going before they left you this morning?"
"No. As I have said, they left most mysteriously."
"Which direction did they take?"
"We do not know that either. They disappeared utterly."
"Just like Withem," nodded the guest, smiling. "But I'll pick him up some time to-night. I suppose they are on the track of some of the fellows who have been raising trouble around these parts of late."
"Yes, that's what the lieutenant said. They are after what they call the Border Gang. But I have no need to tell you about it. You surely are familiar with the subject."
"I reckon I know all about it, Professor. Was it some of my men who shot up the bandits the other night and—-"
"No, that was us fellows," interjected Stacy suddenly. "We did give them the run. And they thought it was the Rangers too. Oh, that was a good joke. I nearly laugh myself sick every time I think about that funny scrape. We bluffed them and they ran away."
For the briefest part of a second the eyes of the visitor darkened. They grew almost filmy, then the old sparkle came into them and a grim smile appeared on the face of their owner.
"You sure are a fine crop of youngsters. You probably will be claiming the reward for the capture of Tucker, eh?"
"Not at all, not at all," protested Professor Zepplin. "My young men are not looking for rewards. It is reward enough that they were able to serve the authorities in the capture of a very bad man. We shall do whatever we can in our small way to help the Rangers round up the rest of this disreputable gang."
"Of course, of course," answered the captain reflectively.
Tad had taken no part in the conversation. He did not like this freedom of speech on the part of the professor. What they had learned were better kept to themselves according to Tad Butler's reasoning. Then again there was a faint suspicion in the mind of the Pony Rider Boy, that he could not clearly explain to himself. What did strike him as peculiar was that so much of the Rangers' movements should be unknown to their commanding officer. McKay had ever since coming into their camp been seeking information. Still, as he had said, he had been away. Tad knew that the Rangers took long rides, sometimes hundreds of miles, using relays of horses and making almost as good time as they could have done going by trains.
The lad decided that he was unduly suspicious. Suddenly, as McKay was talking, a shot sounded somewhere off on the plains. The Ranger sprang to his feet, his eyes darkened.
"Is—-is something wrong?" stammered the professor.
"There may be. I must investigate. You will say nothing about having met me," commanded the stranger sternly.
"Certainly not, certainly not."
"I will bid you good day. I'll see you again when I may have something more to say."
With that McKay ran to his pony, and leaping into the saddle tore through the brush at a perilous pace. Tad observed what the others failed to see. He noted that the Ranger had returned in the direction from which he had come, rather than riding off toward the direction from which the shot had sounded. This struck Tad as a peculiar thing for a Texas Ranger to do.
"That's queer," muttered Butler.
"What is queer, Tad?" questioned the professor.
"The way he went."
"His leave taking was rather abrupt. But we know that is a way these Rangers have. Besides he thought there was trouble in the air," guessed the professor.
"Yes, but then why did he run away from it?" urged Butler.
"That's so, he did go the wrong way," wondered Ned.
"Maybe he's going to take a roundabout course," suggested Stacy.
"Exactly. You do think now and then, don't you?" smiled the professor. "However, it is not for us to criticize. Captain McKay knows his business perhaps much better than do we. And now, if you are ready we had better be on our way. We have lost no little time here."
The packing up was not a long job for not much of their equipment had been unloaded. The rest of the day passed uneventfully, the Pony Rider Boys continuing along the range of mountains.
About five o'clock they decided to make camp in a valley, beside a stream of clear, cold water. The place was thickly covered with brush and small trees, excepting for a small open space on which the grass grew high and green.
They pitched their tent near the stream. This done the boys began gathering dry wood for the campfire which would need a lot of it before the evening came to an end. Wood was scarce and darkness had overtaken them ere they succeeded in getting enough for their needs. In the meantime the professor had been laboring with the tent. He had finished his job quickly, rather to the surprise of the boys, who were chuckling over the mess Professor Zepplin would make of it. The professor, however, was far from helpless. He might not be suspicious of every one he met, but he was a man of brains. He knew how to get along with his young charges, as perhaps few men would have done. And he did get along, without friction, retaining the love of every one of the Pony Rider Boys. They were always ready to play pranks on the professor, yet there was not a lad of them but would have laid down his life, if necessary, for him.
He insisted on getting the supper, "just to keep my hand in," as he expressed it. No one offered strenuous objection to this, though no cook ever had a more appreciative audience. The professor's biscuits were beautiful to behold, but when the boys came to sample them they shouted.
"Too much soda, Professor," cried Tad.
"No, baking powder," corrected Ned.
"Wow! I know what you're trying to do. You're trying to blow us up!" howled Stacy. "Why don't you use dynamite in the biscuit while you are about it? I think I'll go out and browse with the ponies. It's much safer and I'll bet will taste better."
"Young man, if you don't like the cooking, you don't have to eat, you know," rebuked Professor Zepplin.
"Yes, I do, too. What, not eat, and with an appetite like mine? Why, I'd eat my pistol holster if I couldn't get anything else. Speaking of eating that reminds me of a story—-"
"Will some one please muzzle the fat boy?" begged Ned.
"You can go out and hide in the bushes while I'm telling the story," returned Chunky. "This is a nice ladylike story. It's about a fellow—-a clerk who was out with a party of surveyors, running a line across the desert. The water holes had gone dry and they were choking for water when the clerk saved them and—-"
"Ring the bell! Ring the bell!" shouted Ned Rector.
"Yes, you have told us that story twice to my positive knowledge," spoke up the professor.
"Of course he has," agreed Walter. "The clerk found water for them and they were saved," added Tad, laughing immoderately.
"Did he?" demanded Chunky eyeing them soulfully.
"Yes, of course he did. You ought to remember the story. You have told it often enough."
"How did he save them?"
"He had a fountain pen, of course, silly! Have you forgotten your own story?" scoffed Tad.
"He didn't have anything of the sort. This was another clerk. This one had a watch."
Stacy glanced around expectantly. Not a face was smiling. All were as solemn as owls.
"He had a watch," nodded Rector.
"He had a watch," added Tad.
"I wonder if the watch was running?" piped Walter.
"No, it was stagnant," retorted Stacy.
"Young gentlemen, for the sake of bringing a long-winded discussion to a close, I will offer myself as—-as what you call a 'mark.' What had the watch to do with their thirst?" asked the professor gazing sternly at Stacy.
The boys shouted.
"Come down with the answer, Chunky."
"The watch had a spring in it," answered the fat boy solemnly.