The Pony Rider Boys in Texas Read Free

that you wish us to get?"
    "The boys don't carry guns, do they?"
    Professor Zepplin shook his head emphatically.
    "Most certainly not. They can get into enough trouble without them. We have
rifles in our kit, but I imagine there will be little use for such weapons on
this trip."
    "You can't always tell about that," smiled the foreman. "I remember in the
old days, when we used to have to fight the rustlers, that a rifle was a pretty
good thing to have."
    "Who were the rustlers?" asked Walter.
    "Fellows who rustled cattle that didn't belong to them. But the old days have
passed. Such a drive as we are making now hasn't been done on so large a scale
in nearly twenty years."
    "Why not?" asked Ned.
    "The iron trails have put the old cow trails out of business."
    "Iron trails?" wondered Tad.
    "Railroads. We men of the plains refer to them as the iron trails. That's
what they are in reality. Professor, do you wish the boys to take their turns on
the herd to-night?"
    "As you wish, Mr. Stallings. I presume they will be anxious to begin their
life as cowboys. I understand that's an ambition possessed by most of your
American boys."
    "All right," laughed the foreman. "I'll send them out as I find I can, with
some of the other cowpunchers, until they learn the ropes. There is too great a
responsibility on a night man to trust the boys alone with that work now. But
they can begin if they wish. I'll see first how the bunch get back from their
celebration of the glorious Fourth. You'll come out and have supper with
us?"
    "No, I think not. We shall ride out just after supper, if you will have some
one to show us the way," answered the Professor.
    "Sure, I'll send in Big-foot Sanders to pilot you out. You boys need not be
afraid of Big-foot. He's not half so savage as he looks, but he's a great hand
with cows."
    Big-foot Sanders rode up to the hotel shortly after six o'clock. Leading his
pony across the sidewalk, he poked his shaggy head just inside the door of the
hotel.
    "Ki-yi!" he bellowed, causing everybody within hearing of his voice to start
up in alarm. "Where's that bunch of tenderfeet?"
    "Are you Mr. Sanders, from the Miller outfit?" asked the Professor, stepping
toward him.
    "Donno about the Mister. I'm Big-foot Sanders. I'm lookin' for a bunch of
yearlings that's going on with the outfit."
    "The young gentlemen will join you in a moment, Mr. Sanders. They will ride
their ponies around from the stable and meet you in front of the house."
    "You one of the bunch?"
    "I am Professor Zepplin, a sort of companion, you know, for the young
men."
    "Huh!" grunted Big-foot. "I reckon you'd better forget the hard boiled hat
you're wearin' or the boys'll be for shooting it full of holes. Take my
advicedrop it, pardner."
    "Oh, you mean this," laughed the Professor, removing his derby hat. "Thank
you. I shall profit by your advice, and leave it here when I start."
    "All the bunch got hard boiled ones?"
    "Oh, no. The boys have their sombreros," answered the Professor.
    Big-foot grunted, but whether in disapproval or approval, Professor Zepplin
did not know. The cowpuncher threw himself into his saddle, on which he sat,
stolidly awaiting the arrival of the Pony Riders.
    In a short time they came galloping from the stable at the rear of the hotel,
and pulled up, facing the cowman.
    "This, Mr. Sanders, is Tad Butler," announced the Professor.
    "Huh!" grunted Big-foot again. "Hello, Pinto!" he said after a sharp glance
into the freckled face. "Who's the gopher over there?"
    "That's Stacy Brown, otherwise known as 'Chunky,'" laughed Tad. "This is Ned
Rector, and the young gentleman at your left is Walter Perkins, all members of
the Pony Rider Boys' party. We are ready to start whenever you are."
    For answer, Big-foot touched his pony with a spur, the little animal
springing into a gallop without further command. The Pony Riders followed
immediately, Tad riding up beside the big, muscular looking cowboy, which