"Where they going?"

"Don't know. Presume they'll be taking a trip over the plains or
heading for the mountains. They've got a stock car up ahead jammed
full of stock and equipment."

"Scarecrows?"

"No. Good stock. Some of the slickest ponies you ever set eyes on.
There's one roan there that I wouldn't mind owning. Maybe we can make
a trade," and the speaker chuckled softly to himself.

A snore louder than those that had preceded it, caused the two men to
laugh heartily.

The snore had come from Stacy Brown. Both he and Tad Butler were
resting from their long journey on the Atlantic and Pacific train.
Further to the rear of the car, their companions, Ned Rector and
Walter Perkins, also were curled up in a double seat, with Professor
Zepplin sitting very straight as if sleep were furthest from his
thoughts. They were nearing their destination now, and within the hour
would be unloading their stock and equipment at Bluewater.

"They're asleep all right," grinned one of the two men who occupied
the seat just ahead of Stacy and Tad. "Is old man Marquand going to
meet us at the station?"

"Oh, no. That wouldn't be a good thing. Might attract too much
attention. Told him not to. We'll get a couple of ponies at Bluewater
and ride across the mountains. But we've got to be slick. The old man