CHAPTER II

A MYSTERIOUS ATTACK


"Pull in close!" cried Tad.

"Where is it coming from?" shouted Ned.

"I don't know. I haven't had time to look. Look out there!"

Professor Zepplin, somewhat slower than the others, had halted a little
distance out from the foothills. A bullet threw up a little cloud of
dust just to one side of where he was sitting on his pony, followed by
a report somewhere up in the mountains.

"Stop that! Stop it, I tell you!" bellowed the professor, waving his
sombrero. Almost ere the words were out of his mouth, the sombrero
was shot from his hand and went spinning out to the rear. Professor
Zepplin did not wait for further parley. He turned his horse, dashing
for the protection of the foothills.

In the meantime, Tad Butler had leaped from his pony, placing Stacy on
the ground. It was observed that there was blood on the fat boy's left
cheek, but his eyes, wide and frightened, were staring up at the boys
now gathering about him.

"Are you hurt?" demanded Tad breathlessly.