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
akly, after they had taken th
. "I'm afraid he's got a slight concussion of the brain.
asked the Professor, who h
ardly th
s face, soaking Tad's head and neck and
ed Stallings. "It was a glanci
an to show signs of returning consciousness. At last his trem
. "Boys, get busy now and cut out the rest of those cows. If the young man is not able to
ead weig
would. Did the wh
fessor. I roped him all rig
kon. Think you'll be able to ride in the trail w
lace for the tenderfoo
rned a stern
know. What are you doing here, anyway? Get i
de away
wagon," announced Tad
u will have
I have to be tied on,"
an laughe
uff in you. I see that Master Walter and the gopher ar
to do so,"
rs. That's the first thing
sit u
may
s pluckily, and mastered it. After a little while they helped him to his fee
going?" demande
answer
You will come b
ned obe
ofessor. I'
addle," urged the foreman. "Besides, he's too much of a man to be treated like a weak
did, petting his pony as he reached him, and then pu
now," he smiled, wavin
vised Stallings, mounting his own tough pony and
steer that was cut out from the main herd, after Stallings went back, found Tad Butler alongside of it, crowding it towa
med Stallings, whipping off his hat and dr
go and upset thi
been lucky enough not to have a stampede thus far. That isn't saying we won't, however. If you feel like worki
driving the strange cattle a couple of
tion near the head of the line, and well out to one side of it, was free from this annoyance. The longer the lad was in the saddle, the stronger he seemed to feel,
some time before, came back with the information that a broa
water there, and I believe I'll make a crossing
water?" asked B
he edges it's fordable. The cows will be glad
the cattle along at a little stronger pace, that th
ayside and swung into a rapid pace, such a pace as always gladdens the heart of the cowboy. The steers
ching the stream first. Tad followed them upon
wever, thought it better to cross there than to take the time to work the herd further down. Joining
ing to cross the rive
we are going to do,
dge? I don't see any
re in fron
he
Tad informed him. "We have to
part of the way,
get wet," w
t that," roare
orses?" exclaimed Ned. "Hu
hed off me," laughed Tad. "Besides, the bump
. They will push you into the river before you are rea
lloped up stream some distance that they migh
ir feet could no longer touch the ground, after which they swam to the other side, whi
d out for a full quarter of a mile up and down the stream. To the rear, yelling
piring sight
y into the water and turn the leaders, who
opposite bank. There was a great scramble when the steers started to cl
o the foot of the bluff, knocking a numbe
relentless forcing from the other side swept the unfortu
more secure, and the animals soon fell into trails of th
aze as contentedly as if they had not jus
further down, now appeared opposite the main
boys," shoute
heir ponies down the sharp bluff, plunging
addles and hang on!
slid into the water with a splash, but keepin
ected Stallings. "The p
almost before they knew it their feet rested on the bottom
g his water-soaked sombrero.
Chunky," c
over in the wago
" snapped the foreman. "You wil
one by his young charges, bravely
sh. Instead, however, of allowing the pony to tow him, the Professor propelled himself along w
an, dripping but smiling, emerged from the water and scramb
were given
other side with the straggling cattle w
or supper, you'd better be fording th
r was all that Stacy
d-a
, Stacy leaning far back in the saddle that
ood side hill rider, w
r he were going up o
re he goes!" e
quicksand pocket and had gone down on it
omach, arms and legs outspread,
ed his mouth to
e his way. Floundering about like a drowning steer