The Pony Rider Boys in the Ozarks | Page 6

jagged precipices. "Why do you call it that?"
The Professor waxed eloquent.
"From the earliest time, young gentlemen, this region has been subject
to uprising or downsinking. In all sections of its area it has experienced
the effects of powerful dynamic forces--"
"Dynamite--did they use dynamite to blow the mountains up into such
shapes as that?" asked Stacy innocently.
"I said nothing about dynamite. Dynamic was the word I used," replied
Professor Zepplin, casting a withering glance at the fat boy.
"Oh," Stacy exclaimed.
"It is therefore called the 'Ozark Uplift.'"
"That is interesting," answered Ned solemnly, though it is doubtful if
he understood what the Professor was really talking about.

"There is still another of tremendous import connected with this region.
You will all be interested in it," announced the Professor impressively.
The boys gathered about him in a circle, meantime allowing their
ponies to nibble at the green leaves.
"Yes," urged Tad.
"The region where is now located the Ozark Uplift is said to have been
the first land to appear above the waters of the continental ocean."
"You--you mean--" stammered Ned.
"He means this was the first land to appear above the water when this
continent was all an ocean," spoke up Tad, with quick understanding.
Stacy urged his pony further into the circle. His face was flushed and
he evidently was filled with some sudden new thought.
"What is it, Master Stacy?" asked the Professor.
"You--you say this was the first land to--"
"Yes, so it has been said."
"Then--then this--then this must have been where the Ark landed,"
exploded the fat boy.
For a few seconds a profound silence greeted this announcement. Then
the lads broke out into a shout of laughter. Even Professor Zepplin
threw his head back and laughed immoderately.
"I am afraid, my young friend, that the place where the ancient craft ran
aground was some distance from this rugged spot--"
"But why not?" persisted the boy.
"In the first place, this continent came to life some time after the event
you speak of is supposed to have taken place."

"Oh," muttered the lad.
"And now we had better be pressing on."
"When do we reach the Red Star Mine?" asked Ned.
"You will have to ask Eagle-eye. I don't know."
The Indian, when questioned on this point, said the Red Star Mine lay
three suns to the southwest of them.
The country seemed to be getting more rough as they proceeded, and it
had now become necessary to move with extreme caution for fear of
plunging over one of the many abrupt cliffs that now and then appeared
almost under the feet of the advancing train.
But the Indian seemed to feel no concern over these. He merely
changed his course, skirting the canyon until a turn in its winding
course enabled him to head straight into the southwest again.
Not even in the Rockies had the boys met with such peculiar
formations as now appeared on all sides of them.
"I'd hate to travel this trail in the night," growled Stacy.
"You wouldn't have to travel it far," laughed Tad. "You'd be walking
on air before you knew it."
Stacy had pressed on ahead while the others were talking. He had
observed what they had not. One of the pack mules had lagged behind,
and with head lowered almost to the ground appeared to have gone
sound asleep. The Shawnee, engaged with his own thoughts, apparently
was unaware that he had left a mule behind.
The fat boy, with great glee, was urging his pony quietly along,
approaching the pack animal with as much caution as possible. It was
Stacy's intention to give the beast the fright of its life, in which
ambition he succeeded beyond his fondest anticipations.

Getting near enough for his purpose, Stacy slipped from his pony,
hunted about until he found a stick long enough for his purpose, and
with this crept up on the sleeping mule.
With a shrill shriek the lad brought the stick down on the long-eared
animal's rump with a whack that, while it could not have hurt, did all
that he had hoped it might.
Both the mule's hind feet shot up into the air, while the beast with a
short, sharp bray of fright lunged straight ahead.
The guide uttered a shrill exclamation of warning as he saw the mule
tearing through the bushes to the left of the trail. Leaving his two pack
animals, Eagle-eye leaped for the fleeing one.
But he was too late.
All at once the frightened beast appeared to stand on his head, his hind
feet beating a tattoo in the air; then he disappeared altogether.
The Pony Rider Boys, hearing the disturbance, had hurried up, and just
in time to see the final scene in the little