Then the youngsters fell to discussing the articles of outfit they
would need. On this head their past experience stood them in good
stead.

"Now, I presume, I have said all that I can say," added Mrs. Butler,
rising. "I will leave you, for I would be of very little use to you
in choosing clothing and equipment."

Before she could escape from the room, however, Tad had risen and
reached her. Without exhibiting a twinge of embarrassment before the
other young men, Tad held and kissed her, then escorted her to the
door. Walter and Ned smiled their approval. Chunky said nothing,
but sat blinking solemnly---the best possible proof of his approbation.

All of the readers of this series know these young men well. They
were first introduced to Tad and his chums in the opening volume,
"_The Pony Rider Boys In The Rockies_." Then were told all the details
of how the boys became Pony Riders, and of the way they put their
plans through successfully. Readers of that volume well recall the
exciting experiences and hair-breadth escapes of the youngsters, their
hunts for big game and all the joys of living close to Nature. Their
battle with the claim jumpers is still fresh in the minds of all readers.

We next met our young friends in the second volume, "_The Pony Rider
Boys In Texas_." It was on these south-western grazing plains that
the lads took part in a big cattle drive across the state. This new
taste of cowboy life furnished the boys with more excitement than they
had ever dreamed could be crowded into so few weeks. It proved to be
one long round of joyous life in the saddle, yet it was the sort of
joy that is bound up in hard work. Tad's great work in saving a large