The Pony Rider Boys in the Ozarks

! B-o

ponse to the imp

ng intently. Something had awakened him sudd

dmonished, adding in a lower tone, "I'

nce died out. Not a sound disturbed the stillness of the night save the soft murmurin

n his clothes, stepped outside. He stood listening in front of his

or I have been having bad dreams. While I'm up I might as well make sure,"

d Stacy Brown were breathing regularly, sleeping the sleep that naturally comes

tered something that

grunt o

last night. Pie doesn't seem to trouble those boys in the leas

, the scientist trotted back to his tent, his teeth chattering and shoulders shrug

comforting blankets, however, than he suddenl

t! I told

eard a dry twig snap near by; whether it were u

ind out what it is before I get back into this bed again," he decided firmly, slipping

rowsy, indistinct voices of the n

lver and then strode boldly out into the open space in front of the tents,

some time before had started off for a vacation in the mountains where they hunted the cougar and the bobcat, the thrillin

during the course of which Tad Butler bravely saved the life of the Chinese cook, by plunging into a swollen torrent;

y strange and startling experiences, solved the veiled riddle of the p

re still fresh in the minds of those who have followed the fortunes

between the cowboys and the sheep herders on the free-grass range of the north; how Tad Butler was capt

e boy to his father, none the worse for his exciting experiences. It will be recalled as well, how Tad Butler through his own efforts s

ng chosen the Ozark Mountains in southwestern M

gings over the rugged mountains. For their guide they had engaged a full-blooded Shawnee Indian named

River some three days out from Springfield. Joe Hawk had asked permission to leave the party for the

s it might have been Joe, or Eagle-eye, as the boys had decide

," he call

the camp where the noise had seemed to come from. So quietly had he moved that he made scarcely a sound, unt

of the camp. The Professor caught his toe on the obstruction, measuring his

hink I am discovering myself," he growled, sc

le his bare feet seemed to pick up every sharp peb

"Everybody within a mile of me would know I

ouched down close to the ground. He thought he hea

ere?" he

he spot where he thought he had heard some one moving. The night was so dark that he could make not

the sound of footsteps was plainly borne to his ears-cautious, catlike ste

d possible detection, made a wide detour so as to come up behind where the fellow se

me. But what was his chagrin to hear those same footsteps on the opposite side of t

ndabout way this time. I'll go straight

not forgetting the saddle which he carefully avoide

position, the intruder had done likewis

s object might be. If it were robbery, the fellow certainly would desire to get away as quickly as possible, rath

ssor Zepplin strode out from his hiding p

he only result of the move was th

o try strategy and see if he coul

They went in opposite directions, however, to carry out their purpose, and when

nder from using them for feet when running along on all fours. At the same time his temper was wearing to a

, and the Professor decided that it was time he ceased thinking over hi

s given me the slip and gotten away. Here I've been dreaming for minutes.

o any of his former tactics, other than to proceed with extreme c

paused to listen, bu

orner of the rock, running plump into the arms of the fellow who

onist. He was surprised at the slenderness of the fellow, though he quickly discovered that wh

any sort of defense he found himself lying flat on his back, with his oppone

figure that was holding him down so firmly, but he did not try to a

er so little, then, with my superior we

do you mean by prowling about

who-" exclaime

outed the other.

or Zepplin.

eleasing his prisoner, and, more crestfallen than he woul

he boy by the shoulders and shaking him vigorously. "I say, what do you

r; I have not intentiona

s you have," fum

me, only I know you didn't get up in the middle

this mean? Answe

he fact is, I heard so

noise awa

t might," snarled

aiting to dress

n my body that isn't black and blue. And to think I've bee

chasing the same thing that I

t? What's t

s here-somebody who had

u m

Who the other was I don't know. He evidently got away. As I couldn't follow both of them, I chose you. You seemed to be the e

out you were sound asleep. I must have awakened you when I fell over the saddle out th

must be Chun

n the morning. I'm going to be