The Pony Rider Boys in New Mexico | Page 3

by a mine explosion; escaping from which,
they met with perils every bit as grave, and from which they were
eventually rescued by Stacy himself.
Through the disaster, the lads solved the Secret of the Ruby Mountain,
thus putting an end for good to the wholesale thieving in the Ozark
range.
Though the Pony Rider Boys had suffered many hardships in their
journeyings, those that lay before them were destined to try them even
more. In "THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE ALKALI," they faced
the perils of the baking alkali desert. It will be recalled how they fought
desperately for water when all the usual sources of supply were found
to have run dry; how Tad and Stacy Brown were captured by a desert
hermit and thrown into a cave; how, after their escape, they were lost in
the Desert Maze, and how after many hardships, they finally succeeded
in making their way to camp, dragging behind them a wild coyote that
Tad had roped when the boys were beset by the wild beasts in the dead
of night.
Nothing daunted by their trying experiences the Pony Rider Boys set
out on the concluding trip of the season-- a journey over the historic
plains and mountains of New Mexico. After a long railroad ride, they
had finally arrived at the town of Bluewater, from which they were to
begin their explorations in the southwest.
A guide was to meet and conduct them across the mountains of the
Zuni range and so on to the southern borders of the state.
By the time they reached the platform of the station, the stock car had
been uncoupled and was being shifted to a side track where they might
unload their belongings at their leisure.
"I wonder where that guide is," said Tad.

"He was told to be here," answered the Professor.
"Never mind; we can unload better without him," averred Ned, starting
off at a brisk trot for their car which had been shunted alongside the
platform at the rear of the station.
With joyous anticipation of the new scenes and experiences that lay
before them, the lads set briskly to work, and within an hour had all the
stock and equipment removed from the car.
There was quite an imposing collection, with their ponies, their burros,
tents and other equipment, the latter lying strewn all over the open level
space beyond the station.
"Looks as if a circus had just come to town," laughed Walter.
"We've got a side show, anyway," retorted Ned.
"What's our side show?"
"Chunky's that."
"No; he's the clown. The rest of us are the animals, only we're not in
cages."
"Hey, fellows, see that funny Mexican on the burro there," laughed
Chunky. "Guess he never saw an outfit like ours before."
The lads could not repress a laugh as they glanced at the figure pointed
out by Stacy.
The man was sitting on the burro, his feet extended on the ground
before him, hands thrust deep into trousers pockets. He was observing
the work of the boys curiously. The fellow's high, conical head was
crowned by a peaked Mexican hat, much the worse for wear, while his
coarse, black hair was combed straight down over a pair of small,
piercing, dark eyes. The complexion, or such of it as was visible
through the mask of wiry hair, was swarthy, his form thin and
insignificant.

Stacy Brown strode over to him somewhat pompously.
"You speak English?" questioned the boy.
"Si, señor."
The Mexican's lips curled back, revealing two rows of gleaming, white
teeth.
"I'm glad to hear it. I didn't think you could. We are looking for a guide
who was to have met us here to conduct us over the mountains. His
name is Juan. It'll be something else when he does show up. Do you
know him?"
"Si, señor."
"Isn't he coming to meet us?"
"Si, señor."
"Well, I must say he's taking his time about getting here. Where is he?"
"Juan here, señor."
"Here? I don't see him," answered the lad, looking about the place.
"Me Juan," grinned the Mexican. "You?"
"Never mind the señor. I'll take for granted I'm a señor, or whatever
else you think. Say, fellows, come here," commanded Stacy.
"Well, what's the matter?" demanded Ned, approaching, followed by
the other boys.
"This is it," announced Stacy, with a wave of his hand toward the
Mexican.
"What is it?" sniffed Ned.

"This."
"Chunky, what are you getting at?" questioned Walter.
"Perhaps this gentleman will know where we may find our guide,"
interrupted the Professor, coming up. "Señor, do you know one Juan--"
"Yes, he knows him," grinned Stacy. "He's very well acquainted with
the gentleman."
"Then where may we find this Juan
"That's Juan-- that's your guide," Stacy informed the Professor.
"You-- are