The Pony Rider Boys in the Ozarks | Page 5

almost noiseless tread, and squatted on the ground
near the breakfast table.
"There was somebody here last night, Eagle-eye," Tad informed him in
an impressive voice.
The Shawnee nodded.
"Of course, you not having been here, you knew nothing about it, but
to-night you'd better sleep with one eye open.
"Joe Hawk know," answered the Indian.
"Know what?" demanded the Professor sharply.
"Know Indian come last night," was the startling announcement.
"What's that? What's that, Eagle-eye? You mean yourself, I presume.
You mean you came back. But that is not the point--"
The Indian shook his head with emphasis.
"Other Indian come."
Tad nodded at his companions as if to say, "I told you so."
Then the Shawnee did know more than he had seen fit to tell them?
"Tell us about it, Eagle-eye."
"Joe Hawk find trail of canoe on river at sun-up," answered the Indian
tersely.
"A trail on the river?" demanded Stacy, suddenly breaking into
uproarious laughter, which died away in an indistinct gurgle when he
found the eyes of his companions fixed sternly upon him. "Funny place

to find a trail," he muttered, threatening to indulge in another fit of
merriment.
"I don't understand you, Eagle-eye," said the Professor. "You say you
found the trail of a canoe on the river?"
"Yes."
"That sounds peculiar. I agree with Master Stacy that it is a most
remarkable place to find a trail hours after. Perhaps you will explain."
Eagle-eye rose to his feet.
"Come. I show you."
All rose from the table, forgetful that they were eating their breakfast,
and followed the guide down the steep bank to the river.
"There trail," he announced, pointing a long, bronzed finger at the edge
of the water.
Tad stooped over, examining the shore critically.
"The Shawnee is right," he said, turning to the Professor.
"How do you know? What have you found?"
"There. You can see for yourself. It is distinctly marked--"
"What's marked?" demanded Stacy, pressing forward.
"You can see where the keel of a canoe has rested in the dirt there. The
trail is ever so faint, but it is unmistakably there. See how it broadens
out as it extends backward until it reaches the gravel in the stream."
"Moccasin tracks," grunted the guide.
"Where?" asked Walter, apprehensively.

"There," answered the Indian, pointing up the bank whence they had
just come.
The boys looked at each other in wondering silence.
"What do you think is the meaning of the visit, Eagle-eye?" asked the
Professor.
The Shawnee shrugged his shoulders.
"Mebby hungry."
"That is a sensible explanation of the visit," decided Professor Zepplin.
"What other motive could an Indian have for a visit at that hour? There
is no cause for alarm. But I wish if any more hungry ones pay us a visit,
they would do so in the day time, so as not to interrupt my sleep."
"And mine," laughed Tad.
"Yah-hum," yawned Stacy, sleepily.
"I told you you weren't awake yet," growled Ned. "Let's all go back to
our breakfast."
"I second the motion," laughed the Professor. "We are forgetting all
about the inner man. And it is time we were getting on our way if we
are to make any great progress to-day."
Anxious to be in the saddle again, the boys bounded up the bank and
hastily finished their breakfast. While they were doing so the guide
stoically busied himself with packing the cooking kits and loading the
pack mules, so that by the time the lads were ready all save their own
belongings had been stowed away.
It was the work of a few minutes only to strike their tents, fold blankets
and pack their personal belongings. They had now been roughing it
long enough so that they had become really expert in the work. And,
besides, they had learned to get together a fairly satisfying meal out of
not much of anything. They had learned many other things that were to

prove useful to them in after years, but which at the time was making
little or no impression upon them.
Fairly radiating health and spirits, the boys threw themselves into their
saddles with a shout. The guide led the way, leading the mule train, and
his pace was so rapid that the pack animals were put to their best to
keep up with him. Most of the time he appeared to be dragging the led
mule, instead of leading it.
"A wonderful country," breathed the Professor, as they finally came out
on a high elevation that gave them a glimpse of the eastern slope of the
mountains.
They halted to take in the magnificent view.
"This is what is known as the 'Ozark Uplift,'" the Professor informed
them.
"I should call it a downfall," answered Ned, gazing off at the deep
gorges and