The Pony Rider Boys in Montana | Page 3

and I
will settle with him. You know you have funds here for your
requirements. What do you say to the sheep idea?"
"Will you let us think it over, Mr. Simms!" asked Walter.
"Why, certainly. You will have plenty of time to visit the Rosebud
Mountains as well. I have arranged for a guide. You will find him at the
edge of the foothills where he lives. You can't miss him. When do you
plan to start?" asked the banker.
"We thought we should like to get away today," replied Tad.
"I see you are not losing any time, young men. We may be able to fix
you up so you can start this afternoon. You will want to camp out, I
imagine, and not make the journey in one day."
"Oh, yes, we are used to that," interjected Ned. "We have slept out of
doors so long now that we should not feel comfortable in a real bed."
"I understand. I have been a cowboy as well as sheepman, and have
spent many weeks on the open range. It was different then," he added
reminiscently. "We will drive out to my brother's ranch now, if you are
ready."
The boys rose instantly. They were looking forward to having their new
ponies, with keen anticipation.
After a short drive they reached the ranch, and a herd of half wild

ponies was driven into a corral where the lads might look them over
and make their choice.
"I think that little bay there, with the pink eyes "will suit me," decided
Tad. "Is he saddle broken?"
"After a fashion, yes. He's been out a few times. But he's full of
ginger," announced the cowboy who was showing the horses to them.
"That's what I want. Don't like to have to use the spur to keep my
mount from going to sleep," laughed the boy.
"You won't need the irons to keep this pony awake or yerself either."
"You may give me the most gentle beast on the premises," spoke up the
Professor. "I have had quite enough of wild horses and their pranks," a
speech at which the boys all laughed heartily.
"Me too," agreed Chunky.
"You'll take what you get. You couldn't stay on any kind of horse for
long at a time. Why, you'd fall off one of those wooden horses that they
have in harness shops," announced Ned Rector witheringly.
"I can ride as well as you can," retorted the fat boy, looking his
tormentor straight in the eyes.
"Chunky means business when he looks at you that way," laughed
Walter. "Better keep away from him, Ned."
"Think I'll take the pink-eyed one," decided Tad. "Pink-eye. That will
be a good name for him. Got a rope?"
"Yes, kin you rope him?"
"I'll try if you will stir them up a bit," answered the freckle-faced boy.
"You might as well pick out our ponies, too," observed the Professor.
"You are the only one of our party who is a competent judge of horse

flesh."
Tad nodded. His rope was held loosely in his hand, the broad loop
lying on the ground a few feet behind him, while the cowboy began
milling the biting, kicking animals about the corral.
Now Pink-eye's head was raised above the back of his fellows so that
Tad got a good roping sight. The lariat began curving in the air, then its
great loop opened, shot out and dropped neatly over the head of the
pink-eyed pony. Tad drew it taut before it settled to the animal's
shoulder, at the same time throwing his full weight on the rawhide.
He would have been equally successful in trying to hold a steam engine.
Before the lad had time to swing the line and throw the pony from its
feet, the muscular little animal had leaped to one side.
The sudden jerk hurled the boy through the air.
"Look out!" warned the cowboy.
His warning came too late.
Tad was thrown with great force full against the heels of another
broncho.
"He'll be killed!" cried Professor Zepplin.
Up went the pony's hind feet and with them Tad Butler. The pony came
down as quickly as it had gone up, but Tap kept on going. He had been
near the wire corral when he was jerked against the animal's feet.
The pony kicked a clean goal and Tad was projected over the wire
fence, landing in a heap several feet outside the corral.
The lad was on his feet almost instantly. When they saw that be had not
been seriously injured the boys set up a defiant yell.
"Hurt you any?" grinned the cowboy.

"Only my pride," answered Tad, with a sheepish smile. "I never had
that happen to me before."
"Other ponies got in your way so you