The Pony Rider Boys in Texas; Or, The Veiled Riddle of the Plains

d a voice from the oth

ped in, striking out for the spo

ing run down. He had almost reached the place where he had made up his mind to dive, sho

is it?"

k!" cried

ing. Is it Chunky?

ng oxen just now

see, however, that they were shouting with merriment, though for th

m and the spot on which the gl

in," ca

w, easy strokes. Then he discov

wimming steer. He had been quickly drawn to the surface, and out throug

ad's eyes were blinded for the moment by the water that was in them. He did not release his hold of the tail when they h

him by the collar as he rose over the crest of the bank. Stallings shook him until the water-soaked

. "When you are unable to do anything else to interest you

the water f

, didn't I?"

No one seemed to mind the wetting he had gotten. Professor Zepplin made a j

mediately, for the clouds were threatening. Stallings' watchful eyes told h

d, laughing and joking, the boys gathered about the spread with

t on guard to-night?" asked the

one," an

used the rest

has not dampened your spiri

ssor. "Now, were these boys at home they'd all catch cold after what they have been

added the foreman, with an ap

ou say, Mr.

g that it loo

hen it rains?" a

time, kid," growl

at do you do?"

d Curley Adams, his mouth so full of potat

e do we sleep?

reman. "The only difference is that the b

. Stallings?" i

d out of water. I'd a' been drowned if I hadn't had the saddle under my head for a pillow. However, it doesn't m

I say," add

head, disapproval plai

I have never been so wet

the end of a cow's tail this afternoon? Think

nside as well as the outside," answered the fat boy, wisely,

scored that time, eh

to one o'clock. They had found him asleep under the chuck wagon, w

shortly before one to go out with the third gu

ll the ponies not on actual duty, that night, were to be s

's questioning glances at the heavens, imagined t

asked the lad of Big-foot Sanders, as he rode along beside

is," was the

we are going t

orm?" asked Big-foot by way o

N

that kind of a critter. A stampede is a Sunday in a country village as compared with one of them Texas ho

y so bad

at they've been known to blow the horns off a Mexican cow. Why, you could

. The sky near the horizon was a dull, leaden hue, tho

g to me," decided Tad Butler, ga

ng off to the left of the herd, Tad taking the right. Sho

niggers upst

ber to de od

dat short'

dat short'

inished. It was the cowpuncher's way of telling the herd that

have a new song t

s an oppressiveness about the air

ant, then settled back into the prairie, leaving the gloom ab

ky," was Ta

hands deep into his trousers pockets and began whistling "Old

pony, which was picking its way slowly about

word, some being too sleepy; others too

nsely still, even the insects and night

than the first attrac

m." Yet, directly overhead the stars still sparkled. In the distance Tad saw the comforting flicker

he said we were going to have a storm," repeated Tad. "

n there came a stir among the

g at once and the

. It's the first time anythi

g-foot crooned to his charges the song of

be walking in their s

heaven, causing Tad Butler to cut s

to roll across the plain like some gre

shivered

as lonely, and wished that some of the other

y now he was unable to see anything. He made no effort to direct the pony, leaving it t

turbed. He could hear the cattle scrambling to their feet. Now and then the sound of locking hor

ut gave it up and re

ht the boy aloud. "I am afraid he would be riding

linded Tad for the moment, lighted up the prairie. A crash which, as it see

rose on the night air, accompanied by the suggestive ratt

de of the herd. The instant this strange, startlin

ooter. Another answered it from his rear. Then a suc

an slowly t

ush and thunder of

re stampeding