The Pony Rider Boys with the Texas Rangers; Or, On the Trail of the Border Bandits

hat does this mean?"

ng out into the light. "Did you th

nt, forgot to tell Tad that he had st

ink of our pris

ood enough to expla

llow who shot at us. He tried to kil

you s

sit

, tied me to a tree, then was about to blow my head off

. "So, you're the fellow who potted me twice to-day, are you?" demanded the fat boy sternly. The prisoner

we landed him," answ

giving the ruffian a good ha

arply. "We have not come to the point where we treat our prisoners of war the way

ed Professor Z

s,

the prisoner. Tad, I want

to him, else I shouldn't have said anything about that part of the affair. While Ned was trying to find where the shot came from that caught Stacy last, this fellow spotted and captured him. I was hunting for the source of

s," interje

easy mark!"

op two bullets," answ

that something was wrong he whirled and shot at me. He mi

ke astronomy,"

fired twice more after the first two shots at Tad; then he went down as the stone lan

pplin. "One would think this was a

truth," pr

it is," l

ate your language. You can describe the s

Stacy, whereat Ned gave the f

en Tad gently smote said gentleman on the tender part of his chin. The gentleman fell down and wen

friend Ned remained t

tl

d veteran like myself then you'd have a right to swell out your chest," added the fa

fessor, except that we carried th

roked his bristling

man?" he asked steppi

ellow mad

ur name?" repeated

t to you, o

owing under his tan, while audible chuckles migh

ll not help you.

on't you stand there jawing over me. I don't like it," added th

, professor," spoke up Tad.

aid Professor Zepplin. "We have no pr

hat he assaulted

dded Tad. "I should think that were proo

e should let the man g

Chunky. "I don't want to

Rector. "We are not going to let the

ellow thought us R

nge

is questioning of Ned

been employed by the R

he sought

him we were not," prot

assurances," scoffed Ned. "You

e going to do w

bad man. He must be, else the Rangers would not be looking for hi

As I was saying, it seems to me to be our duty

he

Is there any

e southeast, I believe,"

s where we m

," objected the professor, still doubtful about

ff after what he has done. Why, were we to let that man go our lives wouldn't be worth a cent. He would s

n't go on

be time enough. We wil

the animal,

rforming that office for you

take him to town. Shall

y, you might gather some more wood for the fire. Ahem! This

you as he did on me," growled Ned Rector. "I thought t

h this meal owing to circumstances over which they had not had full contro

You have heard what has been said here, my man

ve made a mistake. I ain't what you think. I'll tell

fessor Zepplin, pr

o the others

rel

d talking to you, for you've got right smart se

e to say, my man.

does down in these parts of late. When I saw your party I thought you were the lawbreakers, s

ou didn't hav

kill you

e; t

shots, just as a tickler. You see, I could have picked you off

to drive us off?" qu

a wise old party. They

assault on my boys?"

I thought the

t you say is deserving of careful consider

e I

you think

nnor and h

are t

hat the public hasn't got on to yet. What I want to do is to get away from here, quiet-like, so the youngst

erved the pr

ve to take you all in. You'll all have to go back with me to Sta

feared we were Rangers

wanted the youngsters to giv

flected the

u'll let

id I can't

ll tell you a secret that'l

s revolver was snipped from its holster and a bullet tore through his clothes, taking some of the professor's skin with it