"I don----"

"Y-e-o-w!"

Tad had uttered the shrill scream. With great presence of mind he
hoped to take them so by surprise that they would hesitate for the
few seconds, and that in this delay he would be able to get away.

The lad's feet struck the ground, his body plunged forward and he
fell sprawling at the very feet of the men he was seeking to get
away from.

"Catch him! It's a man!" roared the leader.

With one accord they sprang for the prostrate form of Tad Butler.





CHAPTER IX

TAD OUTWITS HIS PURSUERS

Tad was lithe and supple. As the champion wrestler of the high
school, back in his home town in Missouri, he was possessed of many
tricks that had proved useful to him on more than one occasion since
the Pony Riders set out on their summer's jaunt.