The Pony Rider Boys in Texas; Or, The Veiled Riddle of the Plains
Author: Frank Gee Patchin Genre: LiteratureThe Pony Rider Boys in Texas; Or, The Veiled Riddle of the Plains
t's
, I r
wn were being attacked. Ju
war, I can't say. But
uestions absently. After a careless glance up the street, he turned to resume his study of
ise. But what i
uly, Ned. Do
t it is a different sort of racket from any I've ever heard up N
e I don'
wild Indians were tearing down on him. Her
national holiday, and the inhabitants for many miles around had ridden
o utter the exclamation of alarm. As he did so, he whirled his pony about, urging the little animal into a side s
ed from the protectio
for the sidewalk, crowding those already there over yard fences, into stores and stairways in an effort to get clear
m the exacting work of the range, were sweeping down on the t
throngs that were hurrying to cover. Nor did he appear to be alarmed when, a moment later, he found himself almost the sole occ
heir discovery of the Lost Claim, which gave each of the boys a little fortune of his own, as narrated in the preceding volume, "The Pony Rider Boys in the Rockies," the Pony Riders had turned toward Texas as t
as B. Miller, had purchased a large herd of Mexican cattle, which he decided to drive acro
e of Texas. The boys were awaiting the arrival of the herd at San Diego on this Fourth of July morning. Though they did not suspect it, the Pony Rider
wed to graze and rest for the day, while the cowmen, or such of them as could be spared, were given leave to ride into town in small
, a shouting
to look a
ace of Tad Butler reflected only mild curiosity as he gazed inquiringly at the dashing hors
le-faced boy most was the
ploded the foremo
ang! Ba
aped into the air from the revo
in a mighty yell, letting go at
-e-e
tting on his pony, the cowboys swung into line six
sending volley after volley into the street ahead of them, the leaden missiles viciously kicking up
n to show signs
ees firmly against the animal's sides. The prancing pony was quickly maste
" yelled a cowman, espying the b
er did n
ked the band in a se
vers began to bark spitefully, flicking up a semicircle of dust about th
The boy brought his quirt down sharply on the pony's flank, at the same time pres
rearing and plunging, for the wiry little animal was wholly unused to such treatment.
ly divine their purpose, though he knew that their intent was to frighten him into giving them the street.
ed a mome
the two cowboys held their course, their eyes fixed on the of
s sharply to the right, and, digging
r game, is it?"
going to r
yet still he made no move to p
houted. "Don't y
r the hoofs of his pony. It seemed to the lad that the powder from their weapon
was coming, gathering the reins tightly in his rig
nsmen. But just when it seemed that the lad must go down under the rush of beating hoofs, Tad all but lifted his po
s struck the boy and his horse a glancing blow. For the moment, Tad felt sur
boy the cowboy had ut
ce on the rump of the kicking cow pony, who
hing happened-that is, u
ar to the left in his saddle when Tad struck his horse. The pony, under the sting
r managed to free his left leg from the stirrup; but, quick as he was, he was not quick enough to save himself wholly from the forc
w the unhorsing of their companion by a mere boy, while the
he angry cowpuncher would visit his wrath upon
rage he scrambl
had been wrenched from his
as he started
y, now realized that he must act qui
as formed
ng the little animal smartly on its side, the lad
that
y brought his quirt down across the cow
ang at him, but the blow aimed at