Frank Gee Patchin

“ After a little they saw him toss his hat into the air ahead of him, and putting spurs to his pony dart under it, giving it a swift blow with his quirt, sending it spinning some distance away, at the same time uttering a shrill whoop.
"Thinks he's having the time of his life," grunted Ned.
"For a boy with a black eye, he is particularly cheerful, I should say," laughed Parry. "What's he going to do now!"
"Pick up his sombrero while at a gallop, I guess," replied Tad, shading his eyes and gazing off across the plain. "Yes, there he goes at it." ”

“ Ned Rector rescued a can of pickled pigs' feet from the shadow of a sage brush, while their guide discovered a sombrero that belonged to Stacy Brown.
But that was all. They traveled nearly to the foot of the mountains, yet not a scrap did they discover beyond what they already had picked up.
"No use going any further," announced the guide.
"Well, this is a fine predicament," decided Professor Zepplin.
"Nice mess," agreed Ned Rector.
"I want my pants," wailed Stacy.
"You'll want more than that. Look at the guide, if you think you are in difficulties," grinned Tad. ”

“ It was the first opportunity he had had of observing a Pony Rider Boy in action. At that moment Stacy Brown was most distinctly in action. Most of the time there was a broad patch of daylight under him, and when he hit the saddle it was with a jolt that seemed as if it must jar his head from his body.
"Put some salt on his tail," suggested Ned Rector.
"Y-y-y-you do it," gasped Chunky, which brought a roar of laughter from the whole party.
"Yes, why don't you?" teased Tad. "It's the only way you can make good."
"Salting down horse is not my business," laughed Ned. ”

“ Tad pressed in the rowels of his spurs a little harder, uttering a chorus of shrill yells.
"They mustn't get through," he fairly groaned. "They shan't get through! No, not if I ride my head off!"
Suddenly a volley of shots sounded some distance ahead of him, followed by a series of yells as if the mountains were alive with savage redskins.
It was Bud Stevens. The wild herd had come upon him just as they were about to turn northward and dive into the fastnesses of the mountains. Observing him they turned slightly to the west and continued on their mad course. ”

“ This is the Diamond Range," replied Tom Parry, who was to guide the Pony Rider Boys across the great Nevada Desert. "We shall soon be there, however."
"You'll know the place when you see it, Chunky," said Ned Rector.
"And feel it, too, I guess," added Tad Butler under his breath.
"We have the desert on each side of us now," continued the guide. "Were you to fire a rifle to the right or left, your bullet would fall on the baking alkali of the desert."
"Then, if we're so near, why not get out in the open, instead of floundering through these hills?" questioned Stacy. ”

“ Want me to leave you here to—Say, Tad, do you think I'm that kind of a coyote? I'd thrash you for that if you weren't already properly done up. You'll feel better when night comes and your head gets cooled off. In the morning we'll make another attempt to get out of the Desert Maze. You lie still, now."
Thus admonished, Tad closed his eyes. At last the sun went down, and with its passing, came a breath of refreshing air. They inhaled long and deeply of it. After a little, Stacy got up. ”

“ All at once the pursuers saw Tad's right arm describe the familiar circle in the air. Then his lariat squirmed out. The Angel, running ahead of the boy could not see the rope in time to dodge it. The loop of the lariat dropped neatly over his head and suddenly drew taut.
The proud stallion which for years had defied the skill of the wild-horse hunters, went down to an inglorious defeat. But he was up like a flash. Then began a battle between the slender Pony Rider Boy and wild stallion that is talked of among the wild-horse hunters of the desert to this day. ”

“ Making a harness from a piece of the rope, they bound up one of the animal's forefeet, just as Bud Stevens had done with wild horses. Then they released the hind feet. Mr. Coyote hopped about like a rabbit for a time, snarling and snapping, to their keen delight. They felt no fear of him, though Mr. Coyote had several times expressed a willingness to fight his captors.
After eating their remaining crumbs of bread, the boys decided to move on. Tad, believing that he knew the direction to follow, did not wait for the sun to rise. ”

“ The lads drank and drank of the villainous, brown fluid. Then, after having laved their faces and filled the canteens, they set out on their journey. Grass Peak was the hill from which the Professor's pajamas had been unfurled to the idle desert breeze.
Twilight was descending when two gaunt-eyed, hollow-cheeked lads, each with an arm thrown about the other's waist for support, were described, staggering across the Desert Maze. Behind then, at the end of a lariat, slouched a disconsolate, cowardly coyote.
A great shout went up from the camp of the Pony Riders. ”

“ Ned Rector had risen to his feet the instant Stacy fired. Throwing his rifle to shoulder, he fired at an object that he saw bounding down the opposite side of the hill.
"I got him! I got him!" shouted Ned, dancing about in his glee. "Chunky Brown, you're no good. All you can do with a rifle is to get kicked and fall in. Take a lesson from your Uncle Dudley——"
"Good shooting, boys," said a laughing voice behind them.
They whirled around and found themselves facing Tom Parry, who had crept up to see that the boys got into no trouble.
"You here?" demanded Tad Butler sharply. ”

“ Tad was mystified. The solution of the mystery was beyond him.
"If he isn't drowned, he's in luck," snapped Parry.
"Drowned?" wondered his companion.
They cleared the intervening space that lay between them and the fat boy's pony in a series of convulsive leaps that the bronchos took under the urgent pressure of the rowels of their riders' spurs.
As they neared the scene Tad espied a hole in the desert, and began to understand. Stacy also had struck a thin crust and had broken through. Yet what had happened to him after that, Tad did not know. ”

“ The water here in this country is as fickle as the desert itself."
"What if we should fail to find any?" breathed Tad.
"Well, you know, neither man nor beast can travel far on the desert without it. But we'll find some to-morrow. Don't worry," soothed the guide, though in his innermost heart he was troubled. That this water hole should prove to be dry did not promise well for those that were to follow. ”

“ First thing you know, you'll tumble off your pony with a bad case of heat knock-out. Your face is as red as a lobster. Too bad the stallions got away," added Bud, who had been so thoroughly occupied in the corral that he had given no heed to what had been taking place outside.
"Lost the stallions?" questioned Tad, elevating his eyebrows.
"Yes, Satan and the Angel."
"Why, Mr. Stevens, we didn't lose them."
"I know, we got them in the corral all right, but that isn't getting them. They always manage to give us the slip somehow." ”

“ He was too busy with his mining operations at the moment.
"Come on, boys," he urged. "Get busy here."
"At what?" asked Ned. "We're with you, but we don't know what you want us to do."
"Yes; can we help you?" inquired Tad.
"Of course you can. Get those other shovels and dig."
"Where?"
"Right here. Make the dirt fly as fast as you want to. I'll show you something in a minute."
He did. All at once the sand beneath them gave way, and the Pony Rider Boys, all except Stacy Brown, uttered a yell as they sank waist deep into a sink of soft, wet sand. ”

“ A heavy coating of gray dust covered both boy and horse, except where here and there the gray was furrowed with streaks of perspiration. Tad gave his mount the reins, and sat idly watching the cloud of dust rolling over the desert, showing where Bud Stevens was driving the wild-horse band in an effort to tire them, so that they might be easily headed into the great corral.
They soon swept by Tad, and on out over white alkali desert once more.
On the next round Bud motioned to Tad to take up his end of the relay.
"Give it to 'em. Drive 'em till they can't stand up!" bellowed Bud. ”

“ To tell the truth I was rather doubtful about the wisdom of taking a number of boys across the desert. It's bad enough for men well hardened to the work."
"I trust your apprehension no longer exists," smiled the Professor.
"Not a trace of it left," replied Parry, with a hearty laugh. "Young Brown handled that bucking pony splendidly this afternoon. He's a good horseman for a boy."
"Master Tad is a better one. You'll agree with me if you get an opportunity to see him in any work that's worth while." ”

“ There was bustle and excitement in the camp.
When ponies had been saddled, ropes coiled and final preparations made, Bud Stevens looked his outfit over carefully, nodded his head and mounted.
"You boys don't want to do any shouting after we get out on the trail, you understand," he said. "We have to work quietly until we get them surrounded; then you may make all the racket you want. The more the better."
The Pony Riders nodded their understanding of the orders, and the company of horsemen set out across the mountains. ”

“ Tad rode up beside the angry lad.
"Ned, you'll do nothing of the sort," said the boy gently. "You're mad, now, because your toes hurt. When they stop aching your temper will improve at the same time."
"Oh, pshaw! Stop your preaching. Of course it will. I'm a grouch. I take back all I said just now. Chunky, when these toes get straightened out—they're all crooked now—I'll come over and hobnob with you. I deserve all you can give me."
"You bet you do," chorused the lads.
"Stop teasing him," commanded Stacy, with well-feigned indignation. "Can't you see his toes hurt him?" ”

“ If the hunters don't show up by to-morrow we can take a little run after the herd on our own hook."
Tad obeyed gladly. Every sense was on the alert. The rest of the boys were all impatience to take part in the hunt. But the guide said no. He feared that, if all were to start up the mountain side, their enthusiasm might lead them too far from camp, resulting in their losing their way. He knew how tricky the trail of a band of wild horses was, the clever animals leaving no ruse untried that would tend to mix up and lose their pursuers. ”

“ There's bad blood between Satan and the Angel and there has been for a long time. The black stallion has been on the white one's trail for more than a year. I don't know what it's all about, but I know that, if they come up with each other, there is going to be trouble. If they don't look out we'll bag the whole bunch. I wish our outfit was here. I suppose we ought to hustle back and get ready for the drive, but I'm going to see Satan and the Angel meet, if it's the last thing I ever do. Come on—we'll have to ride fast. ”

“ A careful examination of the trail showed that the Angel and his band, as well as Satan and his few faithful followers, were well within the circle.
"We've got the whole bunch inside," exulted Bud, turning to Tad. "Now, boy, do your prettiest. We want to bag 'em all. If we do, I'll make you a present of any horse in the outfit."
"How about the Angel?" questioned Tad, with a twinkle in his eyes.
Bud hesitated.
"What Bud Stevens says goes," replied the cowboy. "The one who catches the stallion on these hunts, however, usually has the right to keep him if he wants to. ”

“ Isn't that matter enough?" grunted Stacy.
"How do you know, Chunky? You haven't seen any shade to-day," demanded Ned Rector. "There isn't a patch of shade as large as a man's hand in this whole country, so far as I have been able to observe."
"And still less in the country we are about to enter," added the guide.
Tad Butler, however, had been observing the guide keenly. Though the lad had asked no questions, he had caught a note of anxiety in the tone, as well as in the apprehensive glances that Parry kept continually casting to the westward. ”

“ Like the rattle of a skirmish line, guns popped in quick succession, the sounds growing further and further away as they ran down the long, slender line of horsemen to the eastward.
"Close in!" commanded the leader quietly. "Ride straight ahead; never mind me. I shall move further on before I turn. Good luck. Don't try to get in the way of a stampede. You can't stop them if they try it altogether."
"I'll look out," smiled Tad. Then they separated.
Tad could not hear a sound, save the light footfalls of his own pony. ”

“ Professor Zepplin accepted the new disturbance with good grace.
"We're going to eat breakfast with you," Bud Stevens informed them.
"That's right. What we have is free," answered the Professor hospitably.
"That's what I was telling the bunch," nodded Bud. "Our chuck wagon'll be along when it gets here. We've got a schooner with six lazy mules toting it down along the edge of the foothills. If it ever gets here we'll stock you up with enough fodder to last you the rest of your natural lives."
"A schooner, did you say?" questioned Stacy, edging closer to the cowboy. ”

“ If the critters refuse to drive, then we'll have to whip them into a circle and tire them out. But first, we must get them out on the open, no matter which way they go, then work them into the draw as fast as we can."
The horse-hunters nodded. They understood perfectly what they were expected to do. And the boys were to be scattered among the men at intervals instead of traveling together. It seemed very simple to them, but they were to learn that wild-horse hunting was a man's task.
"Are we allowed to rope if we get the chance?" questioned Tad. ”

“ You've no idea how perplexing this Desert Maze is to those not familiar with it and its tricks."
"I'm learning fast," smiled the Professor. "Furthermore, I am convinced that I shall know all about it if I live long——"
"Never," answered Parry promptly. "No man ever lived who knew all about the desert. I——"
"If we rough riders don't get started pretty soon we'll be back before we get started," warned Stacy humorously.
"You're right. We are wasting time. Now, Masters Tad and Ned, you understand what you are to do?" ”