The Pony Rider Boys in the Ozarks | Page 2

"THE PONY
RIDER BOYS IN TEXAS," crossed the plains on a cattle drive, during
the course of which Tad Butler bravely saved the life of the Chinese
cook, by plunging into a swollen torrent; and later, saved a large part of
the great herd, himself being nearly trampled to death in a wild
stampede of the cattle.
It will be recalled also, how Tad Butler and his companions, after many
strange and startling experiences, solved the veiled riddle of the plains
and laid the ghost of the old church of San Miguel, for all time.
The stirring adventures of "THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN
MONTANA," too, are still fresh in the minds of those who have
followed the fortunes of the four lads since they first started out on
their journeyings.
It will he recalled that in the latter story the lads experienced the thrill
of being in a real battle between the cowboys and the sheep herders on

the free-grass range of the north; how Tad Butler was captured by the
Blackfeet Indians, and how, with the help of an Indian maiden, he
managed to make his escape.
It will also be remembered that Tad was able to rescue another lad who,
like himself, had been taken by the Blackfeet, and to return the boy to
his father, none the worse for his exciting experiences. It will be
recalled as well, how Tad Butler through his own efforts solved the
mystery of the old Custer trail--a mystery that had perplexed and
annoyed the ranchers along the historic trail for many months.
And now they were once more in the saddle, having chosen the Ozark
Mountains in southwestern Missouri as the scene of their next
explorations.
With them they carried a pack train of four mules, these being best
adapted to packing the boys' belongings over the rugged mountains.
For their guide they had engaged a full-blooded Shawnee Indian named
Joe Hawk, known among his people as Eagle-eye, making a party of
six, with eight head of stock in all.
At the time of the beginning of this narrative the Pony Riders were
encamped on a fork of the White River some three days out from
Springfield. Joe Hawk had asked permission to leave the party for the
night to pay a visit to a fellow-tribesman who lived somewhere in the
mountains to the west of them.
On second thought it occurred to Professor Zepplin that perhaps it
might have been Joe, or Eagle-eye, as the boys had decided to call the
Indian, whom he had heard skulking about the camp.
"Eagle-eye," he called softly.
There was no response, so the Professor, gripping his gun resolutely,
crept along toward the opposite side of the camp where the noise had
seemed to come from. So quietly had he moved that he made scarcely a
sound, until suddenly there came a commotion that more than made up
for the noise he had so successfully avoided before.

Stacy Brown, with his usual forgetfulness, had left his saddle in the
middle of the camp. The Professor caught his toe on the obstruction,
measuring his length on the ground instantly, where he floundered
about for a few seconds.
"Instead of discovering the other fellow, I think I am discovering
myself," he growled, scrambling to his feet, gingerly rubbing a knee.
Now the Professor walked with a distinct limp, while his bare feet
seemed to pick up every sharp pebble in camp, all of which added to
his discomfort.
"I'd make a nice sort of scout," he muttered. "Everybody within a mile
of me would know I was coming even before I got started, I guess--"
The Professor suddenly cut short his words, and crouched down close
to the ground. He thought he heard something ahead and a little to the
right of him.
"Who's there?" he demanded.
No answer being made to his inquiry, he gripped his gun more firmly
and crawled cautiously toward the spot where he thought he had heard
some one moving. The night was so dark that he could make nothing
out of the shadows about him, being obliged therefore to trust entirely
to his sense of hearing.
Now he was certain that some one was in camp who had no business
there, for the sound of footsteps was plainly borne to his ears--cautious,
catlike steps, as if the intruder were seeking to get away without
attracting attention.
The Professor, determined to capture the intruder, getting down on all
fours to avoid possible detection, made a wide detour so as to come up
behind where the fellow seemed to be at that moment. After much labor
he managed to reach the desired position.
The Professor straightened up to listen. He must be close upon the

other by this time. But what was his chagrin