The Pony Rider Boys in Montana; Or, The Mystery of the Old Custer Trail
Author: Frank Gee Patchin Genre: LiteratureThe Pony Rider Boys in Montana; Or, The Mystery of the Old Custer Trail
ame for your going int
ding over the s
dn't I?" grinn
in. My, but that
ecollection of his icy bath came ba
cook the breakfast, and it wasn't
ned Stacy, "I'
ed Ned, uttering
urself down thoroughly and put on a dry suit. I can't have
d. "It takes more than a bath in a
hought once or twice that I was a goner while I was holding to that rock. I could not ma
en, down with this coffe
ch he wrapped in blankets and tucked in their beds. Chunky was the only one of the boys who did not protest. Ned and Tad objected to bei
e lads seemed to be any the worse for his exciting experiences in the creek, much to the
g back and forth a few times, stirred up their circulation, afte
ly of bacon and potatoes and
mouth as if he we
irst boy who yawns to-day gets into trouble. And Stacy Brown, if you fall in the riv
ding up a piece at the end of his fork. "Kind
s going to say,
to it? It's as black a
fellows think you can do any better, you just try it. Cook your own meals if you d
has a grouch on th
ree with him to tak
, but I object to havin
decided Professor Zepplin, sni
face f
to give it that pecul
to wash it off, then laid it in
ire?" sho
cooked it?" demanded the boy irr
er'n that myself
e the spider?"
n't know you used
in the fire,
shall have to elect a new cook if you cannot do better than that. However, we'll manage to get along very well with this meal. If we have to g
out for the foothills, after first having consulted their compasses and decided upon the course they w
the saddle once mor
hey had gotten
ed, I take back all I said about the bacon this morning. You did me a good turn last night. If it ha
I," interject
im a withe
in, but when it comes to getti
rveled Walter, shading his eyes and
ss characters in there, too,
hear that?"
ng about it in the ho
all you hear. W
These men are a kind of outlaws, I believe. They steal horses and cattle. Probably sell the hides-I don't k
Ned. "The country is full o
eating Ned Rector's own words, and the latter's mut
sa. Before them lay the foothills of the Rosebud, rising in broken mounds, some
bin," said Tad, halting and looking abo
wait there. I imagine he will be w
d our course by the c
ad followed the hanks of the East Fork for several miles. This served to throw them off their course and when they
they were entering the foothills themselves; and so it continued until they fin
e continue any farther," decided the Professor. "This is a nice level spot wit
he Rockies," replied Ned. "We shall be forgetting ho
ne by twelve feet tent, which they proposed to use for a dining tent in wet weather, as well a
ving their packs. Stacy Brown began industriously tugging at the
shouted. "What kind of hitc
quaw hitch. Ever hear
a
hitch is a squaw h
to tie up their wives with when
to fasten the packs to the ponies. Mr. Stallin
ning the hitch, thus allowing the canvas
fessor Zepplin with Stacy had started off
h the parlor tent set up to the rear some few rods, b
to be in plain view of the boys in case of trouble. Profiting from past exper
ed and the boys stood off to
military cam
We might stack our rifles outside her
it." sug
together in front of the small tents. Not being equipped with bayonets the guns refused to stand a
ag? Somebody get that and I'll cut a
e and the boys, doffing their hats, gave three cheers and a tiger for
my hat to that beau
azing up at
own country's fl
homage to our country and our flag, supposing we consult our own bodily comfort by ge
of our skipping a meal when we
Professor. "It wag less than two months ago, if I remember correctly, th
as Chunky now," chuc
n their breakfast. They ate it under the trees,
quite proficient. By this time, even Stacy Brown could be trusted to
asked Ned, while he was refilling
plied the Professor. "There i
t ki
tain lions a
interesting. May we
one with us who understands the habits of the animals. As you have l
experience in hunti
I guess I
ld they were unable to locate him. Nor did they dare stray far from the camp for fear of being unable to find their way back. The
or Zepplin said, while they were eating their supper. "We must be a long
e of independence that they had not felt before. They were alone and enti
mp-fire stirred up to a bright, cheerful blaze, all h
plin was poring over an old volume that he had brought with him, while the boys were discussing
e rear of the tent, where he sat leaning
ghten up and brush a hand
ed. "Imagines he's rolling
ed by the fat boy's voic
orously rubbing that part of his anatomy
" laughed Ned. "We are not both
me up," answered the fat boy, settling back and closi
ing heeded the laughter of his com
d they been looking they might have observed one of his hands being drawn cautiously behind him, as if he were reaching fo
ren't tickling my neck? I'll show you S
s turned about on his hands and knees, intently ga
re!" called Tad. "Anybody would think y
with fear, were fixed on the flap. What he saw was a long black snout poked th
help. Knowing instinctively that something really serious had happened, the others sprang up, peering at the other end of the tent. For a moment, they co
rom the tent in a single leap, followed almo
object he saw entering the tent at the back, and bolted through the fr