The Pony Rider Boys in the Grand Canyon | Page 5

Tad's adventures with
the Blackfeet Indians formed not the least interesting portion of the
story. It was a rare picture of ranch and Indian life of the present day
that our readers found in the third volume of this series.
Perhaps the strangest experiences, as most of our readers will agree,
were those described in "The Pony Rider Boys In The Ozarks." In this
wild part of the country the Pony Rider Boys had a medley of
adventures---they met with robbers, were lost in the great mountain
forests, and unexpectedly became involved in an accident in a great
mine. The final discovery of the strange secret of the mountains was the
climax of that wonderful saddle journey.
From the wooded Ozarks to the stifling alkali deserts of Nevada was a
long jump, but the lads made it. All of our readers remember the
rousing description of adventures that were set forth in "The Pony
Rider Boys In The Alkali." This trip through the grim desert with its
scanty vegetation and scarcity of water proved to be a journey that fully
demonstrated the enduring qualities of these sturdy young men. The
life, far away from all connection with civilization, was one of constant
privation and well-nigh innumerable perils. The meeting with the
crazed hermit of this wild waste formed one of the most thrilling
incidents. The whole vast alkali plain presented a maze the solving of
which taxed to the utmost the ingenuity of the young men. However,
they bore themselves with credit, and came out with a greater
reputation than ever for judgment, courage and endurance.
Our next meeting with these lads, who were fast becoming veterans of
the saddle, was in the sixth volume, "The Pony Rider Boys in New
Mexico." Here, again, the lads ran upon Indian "signs" and experiences,
not the least of which was their chance to be present at the weird fire

dance of the Apaches. The race with the prairie fire, the wonderful
discoveries made in the former homes of the cave-dwellers, and the
defence of the lost treasure in the home of the ancient Pueblo Indians
are all matters well remembered by our readers.
Now another journey, to the scene of one of Nature's greatest wonders,
the Grand Canyon of the Colorado, was absorbing the thought of Tad
Butler and his young friends.
"The question is, what'll we take with us?" asked Ned Rector.
"Yes, that's one of the things about which we wanted to talk with you,"
spoke up Walter Perkins. "You always think of things that none of the
rest of us remembers."
"Oh, I don't know. You're all pretty good planners. In the first place,
you know you want to travel light."
"We aren't likely to travel any other way," scoffed Chunky. "Whatever
we do, though, let's not travel light on food. I can stand almost anything
but food---I mean without food---I mean-----"
"I don't believe you know what you do mean," jeered Ned. "Well, what
about it, Tad?"
"As I was saying, we should travel light. Of course, we must take our
own equipment---saddles, quirts, spurs, chaps, lasso, guns, canteen,
slicker and all that sort of thing. I suppose the guide will arrange for the
pack train equipment."
"I'll speak to father about that," said Walter. "I don't know just what
arrangements he has made with the guide."
"We can no doubt get what ammunition we need after we get to
Flagstaff, if that is to be our railway destination. Folks usually have
ammunition in that country," added Tad, with a faint smile. "Our
uniforms or clothes we know about. We shall no doubt need some good
tough boots for mountain climbing-----"

"Do we have to climb mountains?" demanded Stacy.
"Climb up and fall down," answered Walt.
"Oh, dear me, dear me! It'll be the death of me, I know," wailed the fat
boy. "I'd rather ride---up. I can get down all right, but-----"
"Yes, you certainly can get down," laughed Ned.
"Then we shall want quite a lot of soft, strong rope, about quarter-inch
Manila. I don't think of anything else. We ought to be able to pick up
whatever else we need after we get out there------"
"I guess that's all, fellows, isn't it?" asked Ned.
"All but the shouting," answered Stacy.
"You are well able to do that. You'd better practise up on those favorite
exclamations of yours---"
"What are they?"
"Y-e-o-w and W-o-w!"
"Who-o-o-p-e-e!" answered Chunky in a shrill, high-pitched voice.
Ned Rector clapped a hand over the fat boy's mouth with a resounding
smack. Chunky was jerked backward, his head striking the chair with a
bump that was audible all over the room.
"You stop that business. Do you forget where you are? That's all right
out in the wilds, but not in civilized society," declared