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
e funny sight of the fat boy
ad back by the collar, while Lumpy was allowed to get up when he got ready. He did
foreman. "I hope you won't dismount in that fashion around th
rinned s
ntinued the foreman, "I've known of such a thing as a herd being stampede
rs no
clumsy lout," he answered, refer
es are divided, after which you can go out wi
curiosity aroused. "That's funny. I di
guard is on duty from that time till one o'clock in the morning; the third, from that hour till half past three, while the fourth remains out until relieved in the morning. He us
like ping-pong. I used to pl
even if he is a Chinaman," laug
me spoken, was peering inquiringl
to the group, his weazened,
men, Pong. They will be with us for
ng, clasping his palms together and
," laughed Stallings. "He always shakes hand
ke into a loud laugh, at
," he muttered, abashed by the
have for breakfast," said the foreman. "Pong, what are yo
ckly turning to his questioner, at the same time rap
looked at each
s informed them with a hearty laugh. "Pong is not much of a talker. That's about
glanced up
g on your own ponies, but keep well back from the cattle. Those of y
cattle were moving slowly about, but not grazing much. They had
asked Chunky, gazing
of you," answ
tion on which the old dry grass of the previous summer's gr
are there in the
p a few stray cows. We will be cutting those out in a day or so, when you
they had practically surrounded the herd. They began circling sl
m, for they had been on the road several nights already. Besides,
ir liking, the animals beg
to their knees in hundreds, then dropping on their sides, contentedly
outside there-those fellows wi
to bed as you see," the foreman informed him. "You will notice after a while that they will lie down outside
ad "bedded down," and those of the cowboys who w
out on the first guard; Walter Perkins on the
of the cowmen exchanged ponies with
had remained out for a while to give Tad some instruction in the work before him
rods from the edge of the herd, they began lazily circling it, part going in one direction and part in another. In
t," smiled the foreman. "Make no s
ver run?"
eer to set the pace. Those fellows can run faster than a horse-at lea
e Rockies. I know something
g like the idea of what it means. In that case, unless you know your business you had better get out of the way as fast
I know when
will hear them. If you should not th
way from the herd. After some little ti
ndings; then the loneliness of the plains came over h
darkness settled d
he hardy little animal, with nose almost touching the ground, began its
t appeared on the eastern horizon. Tad
moon," h
his lonely vigil. Just ahead of him he s
Red Davis, one o
boy in passing, but no wor
scrambled to their feet and had begun grazing a little way outside the circle. The rest of the herd
on was to call to some of the other guards. Then, remembering the
decided after watching them for a few moments in silen
e pony, Tad headed for the steers, that were slowly
well outside and h
to nose it around. The animal resisted and swung its sharp horns perilously near to
himself. He knows how and I don't," m
hich the pony whirled and went after one of the others, turning this one,
llow. I told the gang back there t
ot Sanders, who, sitting on his pony, had been watchi
owman all right,