had been uncoupled and was being shifted to a side track where they
might unload their belongings at their leisure.

"I wonder where that guide is," said Tad.

"He was told to be here," answered the Professor.

"Never mind; we can unload better without him," averred Ned, starting
off at a brisk trot for their car which had been shunted alongside the
platform at the rear of the station.

With joyous anticipation of the new scenes and experiences that lay
before them, the lads set briskly to work, and within an hour had all
the stock and equipment removed from the car.

There was quite an imposing collection, with their ponies, their
burros, tents and other equipment, the latter lying strewn all over
the open level space beyond the station.

"Looks as if a circus had just come to town," laughed Walter.

"We've got a side show, anyway," retorted Ned.

"What's our side show?"

"Chunky's that."

"No; he's the clown. The rest of us are the animals, only we're not in
cages."