The Pony Rider Boys in New Mexico | Page 7

try to find out who this man Lasar is,
and who Mr. Marquand is. Then we'll decide what to do next."
Their further conversation was interrupted by the voice of the Professor,
announcing that they would halt for their noonday meal. All other
thoughts left the mind of Stacy Brown when the question of food was
raised. He quickly slipped from his pony, running back to hurry the
burros along so as to hasten the meal for which he was yearning. Only
one burro was unpacked, as it was the intention of the outfit to push on
soon after finishing their lunch.
While the guide, under Ned's direction, was making it ready, Tad and

Chunky strolled off to climb a high rock that they had seen in the
vicinity and which, they thought, might give them a good view of the
plains to the southwest on the other side of the range.
They had promised to be back in half an hour, but circumstances arose
that caused them to delay their return considerably.
After threshing through the bushes, over sharp rocks and through
miniature canyons, they gained at last the object of their quest. The
distance had been further than they had imagined.
"We'll have to make a short trip of it up to the top and back," said Tad.
"It has taken us almost all our time to get here. But we'll have a look,
anyway."
They soon gained the top of the rock, which stood some twenty feet
higher than the crest of the mountain on which it rested.
"Isn't this great?" exclaimed Tad.
"Might think we were in the Rockies."
"Or the Ozarks."
"I hope we don't have as much trouble here as we did in that range. Our
guide is not much better than the Shawnee we had for a time on that
trip. I can't see the foothills, but the plain on beyond is pretty clear."
"Hope we don't have to chase all over the desert for water. I--"
Tad grasped his companion by the sleeve and jerked him violently to
the rock.
"What's up? What's the matter with you?" protested Stacy.
"Keep still, some one's coming."
The lad's keen ears had caught a sound which Stacy had entirely failed
to hear. It was the sound of horses making their way through the bushes.

There were several in the party, Tad could tell by the sounds, and
having in mind the man Lasar, he thought he might perhaps learn
something of advantage by remaining quietly on the top of the rock.
All this he explained in a few brief words to his companion. Then both
boys crouched low, peering over the cliff, having first removed their
sombreros.
What they saw, a few moments later, surprised them very much indeed.
The horsemen in single file suddenly appeared out of a draw to the east
and headed for the rock where the lads were in hiding.
"Look! Look!" exclaimed Tad in a low, suppressed voice.
"I-n-d-i-a-n-s!" breathed Chunky.
They seemed to rise right up out of the ground, as one by one they
emerged from the draw to the more level rocks that lay about the hiding
place of the Pony Rider Boys.
"I wonder who they are?" questioned Tad.
"They look savage. I wonder if they'd hurt us, Tad?"
"I don't know. I do know, though, that I wouldn't trust those ugly faces
one second. I thought the Blackfeet were savage, but they're not to be
compared with these redskins."
A full dozen of them had, by this time, come into view. They sat
huddled on their ponies, their painted faces just appearing above the
gayly colored blankets in which they were enveloped.
"They must be cold," muttered Chunky. "Shouldn't think they'd need
bed clothes around them this time of the year."
"Not so loud, Chunky," warned Tad.
"Know what they are, Tad?"

"I wouldn't say positively, but somehow they look to me like Apaches."
Tad's surmise was correct. The twelve warriors were members of the
savage band that had in past years caused the Government so much
trouble and bloodshed.
"They're off their reservation, if they are Apaches," whispered the lad.
"What does that indicate, Tad?"
"I don't know. They may be on the warpath; then, again, they may be
down here after game. I'm not sure even, if there is any game here.
We'll lie still until they get by us. That's the best plan; don't you think
so?"
"Yes."
"Lie perfectly still, Chunky. The little bushes in front of us will screen
us, providing we don't move about. Indians have quick eyes, though
they do look as if they were half asleep."
"They're getting off their horses, Tad. What does that mean?"
"I don't know."
Tad peered through the bushes, noting every move that the redskins