-eye!" exclai

the Professor. "Then some

ot him," suggested Stacy

companion, who had set out after the bear. The tent had been ruined, but they found tha

thills, but feared to penetrate too far for fear of getting lost. The Professor reasoned that it would be much be

ng more active. Ned Rector was fairly fuming, because their guardia

should have the whole party scattered over the mountains and it i

camp, the matter took on a more serious

et me go, Profes

ains alone, if that

hat can

!" interjected Walter. "Do y

se we can follow now, is that leading back to Forsythe,

s shut. Why would that not be the idea, Professor? Why not let me ride back to Forsythe? Mr.

far is it?" mus

miles, h

you couple of days t

th the guide, what difference does it make? He's the one you want. But never fear, I'll

e to your plan. If I were s

now the direction in which Forsythe lies. All we have to do is

all go!" sug

I feel sure of that. He is resourceful and strong. And besides, he has my revolver. No; more than one on the trip would be apt to delay rather than to help. Maste

outh, and, placing his left foot in the s

es sparkling with anticipation,

I'm not a tenderfo

i," he

warned Profe

uld come in within the next half hour or so, you can fire off your rif

good luck,"

that he was emerging from the foothills. He then pulled up the pony and consulted his compass. "Five points north of east. The Professor said that should take

st. The morning was glorious; the sun had not yet risen high enough to make the heat uncomfortable; birds we

eath, drinking in

ing artificial about this. I w

there, winters so severe that hundreds of head of sheep and cattle frequently

they had had such an exciting experience two nights before. After a few moments' riding a

ssion is too important to take the risk. If I should get caught in there I shoul

had found a rocky bar without being aware of it, and the water while swift was shallow enough so that by slippi

the trouble with us boys. We blunder along without using our heads. But, I guess I had better not boast until after I

long, loping gallop, covering mile after mile

ried a horseman who had halted on beyon

out this. On the contrary, it wa

ed noted the red beard and the gene

stranger, tossing h

swered Ne

you h

rsy

these parts

s,

a he

Just finished a dr

e, of

, y

. I hear there's going to be something doing round

ed the lad, peering sha

ther. "Thought being as you were a

lied the boy a

n," laughed the stranger.

personal question?" as

that belonged to me. He strayed away from my ran

retorted Ned, flushing.

, I must be g

urry, a

hing the spurs to the pony

minute," calle

much of a hurry

ode on, instinctively urging his mount along at an increased speed to pu

s it is a peculiarity in this part of the country. Wonder what he me

was standing as Ned had left him. He was watching the boy. Ned swu

lage of Forsythe just ahead of him. T

he chuckled. "I guess I can follow the

and up the main street, not halting until he had

continuous ride, and as he dismounted

posts, Ned walked into the bank. Red-faced and dusty he presented him

the Pony Rider Boys,

and grasped the boy

You back so soon? Why

there is," a

and tell m

t the effort hurt him

eh? Where did

and Mr. Simms utte

t suppose you boys could ride like

n nothing of

yself to come back to tell you had it not bee

os

have worried so much had not his pony returned without him early this morning. We dar

on't m

from here, or get me one rather. One who knows the

wn to-day. He will be in shortly and I think he will know of some one who will answer y

know whe

ourse

an, tell me about how it all

ious evening, in detail, to all of w

arded him wit

Something must have happened to Master Tad. He looks to me like a boy who coul

perhaps he might have gotten

n on going back with the

tain

u when you are ready to start. I should think, however, that it would be

be the first time. I'm lame and sore now. I've polished

mms la

e been in the saddle a good share of my

West. Six feet tall, straight, muscular, with piercing gray eyes that looked out at one from be

an cordially, sweeping him with

, and the foreman glanced at the young man with renewed in

d for a ten

ok on a darker hue as

all myself that no

your friend ch

ad no

hook h

Can he

ver-a heavy thirty-eight calibre

and I'll go back with you myself. We can run down the trail easily enough, but it will need two trailers, o

he has been kille

g. It looks ba

ted to ask a further question, when there came a sud