"Bad, very bad!" muttered the professor.
"I call it very good, sir. Those fellows have had a fright that will keep them going for some hours yet. They think it is the Rangers that"s chasing them and they"ll be hiking for cover at the rate of some miles an hour."
"You are sure you are not badly hurt?" asked the professor anxiously.
"If I never get any worse, I"ll be satisfied. I"m a marked man, you know. Some day, when my gun sticks in the holster, I may get mine."
"Come back to camp with us. Surely you are not going on to-night?"
"Thank you, but I must be getting on. I"ve got to be at the camp by daylight."
"If you think there is danger of your being attacked, we will ride with you," said Tad.
"No, pard, I"m better off alone. I"ll know enough to dodge them now."
"Speaking of danger, you don"t suppose these men will come back and visit our camp, do you?" asked the professor.
"No, I don"t think so. But were I in your place I think I"d put out my fire and set a guard for the rest of the night. It"s always a safe thing to do. They won"t touch you in the daytime; in fact, I think those fellows will be hiding. We"ll set a couple of men on their trail just as soon as I get to camp; now that I know where the trail starts.
They know I know, and that"s what makes me think they won"t let the gra.s.s grow under their feet."
"I am glad to hear you say so," answered Professor Zepplin. "I am afraid we should not have mixed up in this affair at all, though naturally I am pleased that we have been able to be of some service to you when you might have been killed."
"And some others with me," answered the Ranger grimly. "Well, so long.
I"ll talk with you to-morrow."
"Good night and good luck!" called the boys.
"Good night, pards," answered the Ranger heartily. Swinging his pony about he galloped away into the darkness, while the boys turned their own mounts toward their camp in the canyon. They had done a good night"s work and Tad"s generalship alone had won the battle for the Ranger lieutenant. But there were other equally exciting experiences ahead of them in the near future, in which the Border Bandits would play an active part.
CHAPTER X
THE PONY RIDER BOYS INITIATED
It was rather a solemn party that took its way slowly back to the Pony Rider Boys" Camp in the mountains. The boys realized that they had 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 them, it might be necessary for Professor Zepplin and his charges to make lively tracks for the border and seek other fields of adventure.
The same thought was in the minds of all except Chunky, who held his head erect, his chest swelled out. He was full of their great achievements and was telling what he would do if any of the bandits came to visit their camp.
"I think we will put you on guard to-night, seeing that you are such a brave young man," said the professor with a twinkle.
"On guard?"
"Yes."
"Yes, that"s the idea. Let him take the watch," approved Rector.
"You forget that I"m a wounded man. You forget I"ve been shot twice to-day. Huh! Some of you children take the trick. I"ve got to take care of my health."
"I guess if we expect to get any sleep we had better let some one else do it," agreed Tad. "Chunky will have us out on false alarms all night long."
They were agreed upon this, and by common consent Butler was given the watch for the night. The boys slept with their rifles beside them that night.
The night pa.s.sed without incident, Tad Butler keeping a vigilant watch all during the dark hours of the night. He had plenty of time to think matters over. He realized that Dunk Tucker, the prisoner, had overheard all that had been said during their talk with Withem out on the plain. Tad knew that if Dunk ever got into communication with his fellows it would go hard with the Pony Rider Boys.
Soon after daybreak, Tad awakened his fellows. He already had a brisk fire going, but before lighting it, the lad had walked down to the edge of the canyon for a survey of the plain. He saw a solitary horseman far out over the rolling plain. After some study he made up his mind that the man was going away instead of coming toward them.
Breakfast finished the party packed their belongings and started out for their long ride to join the Rangers sometime late in the day.
About noon they made camp for dinner and a rest, not taking up their journey until about four o"clock in the afternoon. Darkness overtook them, finding them still without sight or sound of the Spring where Withem said they would find the Rangers" camp. A consultation was held and it was decided to continue on until they picked up the party.
About half an hour after night had fallen, they were riding along when suddenly they were stopped by a stern command.
"Halt! Hands up! Every man of you is covered!"
"Oh, wow!" gasped Chunky. "They"ve got us again."
"Who are you?" demanded the voice.
"Who are you?" returned Tad boldly.
"I reckon my question gits the first answer, seeing as I"ve got the drop on you."
Tad all at once realized that the sound of falling water was in the air. With it came the thought that these must be the Rangers.
"We"re the Pony Rider Boys," he said, speaking confidently.
"The which?"
He repeated his answer.
"Wait a minute. Send for Joe," said the man in a lower tone. "You fellows stay just as you are if you don"t want some daylight let through you."
"I---I wish we did have a little daylight," stammered Chunky, which elicited a short laugh from his companions. "Yeow!" bowled the fat boy as a figure appeared beside him and a pair of iron arms grasped his hands pulling him down, nearly unseating him. "Yeow! Let go!"
"It"s all right, boys," spoke up the familiar voice of Lieutenant Withem. "I"d know this fellow in the dark as well as in the light.
I"m Withem."
At the lieutenant"s rea.s.suring words the Rangers---for the boys had stumbled upon the camp of the men of Captain McKay"s command---crowded forward, talking and laughing, three of them taking the horses as the party dismounted, then leading the way into the bushes and in among the rocks where the lads came upon a campfire, around which were seated five or six other Rangers.
Withem introduced the professor and his charges. There were, besides the Lieutenant, Pete Quash, "Dippy" Orell, Cad Morgan, Bucky Moore, "Polly" Perkins and several others, all of whom were introduced in turn, the Rangers solemn as owls, making low bows, sweeping the ground with their sombreros, causing Stacy to open his eyes in wonderment.
Lieutenant Withem made the party feel at home at once.
"Just in time to have chuck with us. You see we have our chuck wagon here. Of course we don"t carry it wherever we go. We usually have some central point where we make headquarters. But we have to keep changing these headquarters for reasons you understand."
All hands sat down to the evening meal after the men had washed up, in most instances without removing their hats. This attracted the attention of the fat boy.