The party moved off, keeping close to the rocks, Tad now and then
casting apprehensive glances up to their tops. He was not wholly
satisfied that they were out of range of the bullets. The man who
had been firing at them, too, was practically a dead shot.

"Now spread out," commanded Tad after they bad reached the point where
he previously had halted. "Don't shout, but when I wave my hand, ride
fast for the hollow. I'll be all right; don't worry about me."

With that the lad galloped leisurely out on the plain, his back to the
mountains. It was a bold thing to do. Deep down in his heart the
Pony Rider Boy expected every second to bear a bullet scream over his
head, providing he was fortunate enough not to stop the bullet with
his body. Not a shot greeted his bold act.

Tad rode on, finally disappearing in the "hog hollow." A few moments
later he rode up the ridge, waving his hands for them to come on.
Professor Zepplin started out at once, followed by the others of his
party, Stacy this time well up toward the front of the line. For
reasons of his own he did not care to drag behind. If there was to
be any shooting he wanted to be as far away from it as possible.

The trip was made at a fast gallop and without incident, the party
reaching the hollow without having drawn a shot from the enemy.

"It is my opinion," declared the professor, "that, whoever our enemy
may be, he has discovered that he has made a mistake."

Tad shook his head.