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

taken a rather active part in what might prove for them a serious affair. If, by any chance, the bandits learned who had interfered with

erect, his chest swelled out. He was full of their great achievements and

t, seeing that you are such a brave young

gu

es

. Let him take the wa

been shot twice to-day. Huh! Some of you children

ter let some one else do it," agreed Tad. "Chunky

Butler was given the watch for the night. The bo

e to think matters over. He realized that Dunk Tucker, the prisoner, had overheard all that had been said during their talk with Wi

d had walked down to the edge of the canyon for a survey of the plain. He saw a solitary horseman far out over t

longings and started out for their long ride

noon. Darkness overtook them, finding them still without sight or sound of the Spring where Withem said they would

en, they were riding along when suddenl

! Every man of

d Chunky. "They'

u?" demande

u?" returne

the first answer, seeing as

falling water was in the air. With it came

er Boys," he said,

whi

ated hi

lower tone. "You fellows stay just as you are i

from his companions. "Yeow!" bowled the fat boy as a figure appeared beside him and a pa

," spoke up the famil

fellow in the dark as

With

and--crowded forward, talking and laughing, three of them taking the horses as the party dismounted, then leading the way in

ore, "Polly" Perkins and several others, all of whom were introduced in turn, the Rangers solemn as owls, making low bows, sweeping

e don't carry it wherever we go. We usually have some central point where we make head

had washed up, in most instances without removing the

n your hats as well as wash

in your skin?"

n all skinned off from

in the Gran

Men have been known to meet thei

got to say?" demanded t

brag about yoursel

ling you

e with the red necktie?" scoffed the Ranger, pointing to Ned, who, in the place of the bandanna handkerchief, had pu

ke it?" asked

e hottest thing that e

the Apaches c

the other way then

is long and as fresh as he is stale. What you got to say about it,

said anyt

u're go

m

any more remarks,

e professor and the lieutenant being too busy with a di

ed clean so that he ma

s the

eaceably or mu

going to have fun with me you'll have to

anded Dippy in a d

he

do you

, which would have given them still further excuse to handle him roughly. But Tad was used to dealing with the rough and ready characters of plain and mountain. He didn

y were performing a solemn duty. The boys wondered where it was going to end. They discovered a few minutes later. Tad was taken out

ds you used to a member of this a

Butler. "Never!

e your pu

he landed, going down on all fours. He thought he was going to strike on the hard ground. Instead he landed at the bottom of a deep pool of water cold as ice it seemed to him. He went in all over. Not expecting

armed. Dippy stepped to the edge of the pool a

in, rushed to the edge shouting and laughing. Two of them went the way of their companion, Tad having jerked their feet from under them. Within sixty seconds from

up in a pair of strong arms and tossed in bodily. Stacy howled lustily. Clambering ou

shamed to pick on a wounded man that

ho

, sh

orused the boys and

kiddies been wounded i

ll

nounced Ned stepping out. "We haven't had

n with a mighty splash, Walter Perkins landing on top of him, nearly taking away the breath of Recto

ing their tempers or even offering any objection, surely must be worth while. Then, too, there was the story abou

off now," drawled Dippy. "Anything

e a piece of soap," ans

and, young man," answe

e in the crowd being Stacy Brown. But their troubles for the night were not wholly over yet.