The Pony Rider Boys in Texas Read Free Page B

dramatic instinct, yet few things ever
came off exactly as he had planned them.
    As he shot over the falling pony's head, his body described a half curve in
the air, his own head landing fairly in the pit of Lumpy Bates's stomach.
    Cowboy and Pony Rider went over in a struggling heap, with the Pony Rider
uppermost.
    Stacy had introduced himself to the cowboys in a most unusual manner, and to
the utter undoing of one of them, for the boy's head had for the moment, knocked
all the breath out of the surly Lumpy Bates.
----

CHAPTER III
PUTTING THE COWS TO BED
    The cowpunchers roared at the funny sight of the fat boy bowling over their
companion.
    Stallings, however, fearing for the anger of Lumpy, sprang forward and hauled
the lad back by the collar, while Lumpy was allowed to get up when he got ready.
He did so a few seconds later, sputtering and growling, scarcely able to contain
his rage.
    "That's a bad way to get off a pony, young man," laughed the foreman. "I hope
you won't dismount in that fashion around the cattle at night. If you do, you
sure will stampede the herd."
    Chunky grinned sheepishly.
    "It doesn't take much to start a bunch of cows on the run after dark,"
continued the foreman, "I've known of such a thing as a herd being stampeded
because they were frightened at the rising moon. Haven't you, Big-foot?"
    Sanders nodded.
    "The gopher'll do it, too; he's a clumsy lout," he answered, referring to
Stacy in a withering tone.
    "And now, boys, I will tell you how our watches are divided, after which you
can go out with the cowboys and see them bed down the cows."
    "Bed them down?" spoke up Chunky, his curiosity aroused. "That's funny. I
didn't know you had to put cattle to bed."
    "You'll see that we do. Boys, the night of the cowman on the march is divided
into four tricks. The first guard goes on at half past eight, coming off at half
past ten. The second guard is on duty from that time till one o'clock in the
morning; the third, from that hour till half past three, while the fourth
remains out until relieved in the morning. He usually wakes up the cook, too.
And, by the way, you boys haven't made the acquaintance of Pong, have you? I'll
call him. Unless you get on the right side of Pong, you will suffer."
    "Pong? That's funny. Sounds like ping-pong. I used to play that," interrupted
Stacy.
    "Pong is as funny as his name, even if he is a Chinaman," laughed Stallings.
"Pong, come here."
    The Chinaman, having heard his name spoken, was peering inquiringly from the
tail of the chuck wagon.
    Hopping down, he trotted over to the group, his weazened, yellow face
wreathed in smiles.
    "Shake hands with these young gentlemen, Pong. They will be with us for the
next two weeks," said the foreman.
    "Allee same likee this," chuckled Pong, clasping his palms together and
gleefully shaking hands with himself.
    "That's the Chinaman's idea of shaking hands," laughed Stallings. "He always
shakes hands with himself instead of the other fellow."
    Stacy Brown suddenly broke into a loud laugh, attracting all eyes to him.
    "Funniest thing I ever heard of," he muttered, abashed by the inquiring looks
directed at him.
    "Now watch the heathen while I ask him what he is going to have for
breakfast," said the foreman. "Pong, what are you going to give us out of the
chuck wagon in the morning?"
    "Allee same likee this," chattered the Chinaman, quickly turning to his
questioner, at the same time rapidly running through a series of pantomime
gestures.
    The Pony Riders looked at each other blankly.
    "He says we are going to have fried bacon with hot biscuit and coffee,"
Stallings informed them with a hearty laugh. "Pong is not much of a talker.
That's about as much as you ever will hear him say. He's weak on talk and strong
on motions."
    The foreman glanced up at the sky.
    "It's time to put the cows to bed. You young gentlemen may ride along on your
own ponies, but keep well back from the cattle. Those of you who