The Pony Rider Boys with the Texas Rangers | Page 7

By this time the others were taking to their saddles. The faces of all
wore serious expressions. They had not looked for anything quite so
lively as this. It was not the first time the Pony Rider Boys had smelled
powder when the powder was being expended on them, but they liked
it none the better for past experiences.
Stacy's cheek was bleeding again. He was holding his handkerchief to

the wound and his face was a little paler than usual.
"Buck up!" commanded Ned. "You're not going to show the white
feather, are you?"
"No, it's a red feather I'm showing," wailed the fat boy.
"Forward!" ordered Butler. "Get up, Chunky!"
The party moved off, keeping close to the rocks, Tad now and then
casting apprehensive glances up to their tops. He was not wholly
satisfied that they were out of range of the bullets. The man who had
been firing at them, too, was practically a dead shot.
"Now spread out," commanded Tad after they bad reached the point
where he previously had halted. "Don't shout, but when I wave my
hand, ride fast for the hollow. I'll be all right; don't worry about me."
With that the lad galloped leisurely out on the plain, his back to the
mountains. It was a bold thing to do. Deep down in his heart the Pony
Rider Boy expected every second to bear a bullet scream over his head,
providing he was fortunate enough not to stop the bullet with his body.
Not a shot greeted his bold act.
Tad rode on, finally disappearing in the "hog hollow." A few moments
later he rode up the ridge, waving his hands for them to come on.
Professor Zepplin started out at once, followed by the others of his
party, Stacy this time well up toward the front of the line. For reasons
of his own he did not care to drag behind. If there was to be any
shooting he wanted to be as far away from it as possible.
The trip was made at a fast gallop and without incident, the party
reaching the hollow without having drawn a shot from the enemy.
"It is my opinion," declared the professor, "that, whoever our enemy
may be, he has discovered that he has made a mistake."
Tad shook his head.

"I don't think we would be safe in taking that for granted. He did not
see us, but he will be on hand before long. I'm going back there before
he does see us. If he starts any more shooting you all lie low."
"Where are you going?" demanded the professor.
"On a scouting trip."
"I cannot consent to any such foolhardy business," answered Professor
Zepplin sternly.
"It is not foolhardy. We've got to clear up this mystery. Don't you see,
we shan't dare go any farther---we simply cannot go into the mountains
knowing there is some one there waiting to riddle us the first time he
gets a clear sight at us?"
"But what do you propose to do?"
"I don't know, beyond finding out what is up."
"Yes, let him go," urged Stacy. "He's looking for trouble. I'm the only
one who has had any experience thus far. It's time some one else made
a mark of himself."
"I was thinking of taking you with me," laughed Tad.
"No, you don't! Not if I see you coming," objected Stacy.
"Yes, take him along," urged Ned.
"No, I think I'll take you, the Professor being willing," answered Tad
nodding at Rector.
Ned stopped smiling, gazing at Tad to see whether the latter were in
earnest. Tad was.
"All right, I'm willing, Tad."
"How about it, Professor?"

"Provided you do not go into the mountains I will agree to your plan.
But I cannot consent to your taking further desperate chances."
"I hope you will not hold me to that, Professor."
"To what?" demanded Professor Zepplin shortly.
"To not going beyond the edge of the mountains."
"Plainly, what is it you are planning to do, Tad?"
"I want to find out who it is that is shooting at us and why. That is all,
sir."
"You don't suppose it possibly could be the Germans attacking us, do
you?" questioned Walter apprehensively.
The professor shook his head.
"If you will stop to think you will see how necessary it is for some one
to do something," urged Tad Butler.
"Yes; don't let me do it all," urged Stacy. "I think I have done my share
already. It is high time some one else got a move on. First thing we
know we shan't know anything. We'll be dead ones, and---"
"Very good. Go on. There will be no peace here unless you have your
way. See to it that you are back here in an