"This is no joke," snapped Ned, turning on him almost savagely. "We
are in a fix."

"Yes, but we've got two mules left, haven't we," queried the boy
whimsically.

"It's an outrage!" shouted the Professor. "I'll have the law on them
whoever they are. They shall suffer for this!"

"Yes, but first we shall have to catch them, Professor," returned Tad.
"It seems we were not misinformed when they warned us to be on the
lookout for horse thieves."

"In Springfield, yes. I had no idea it was as bad as this. They
certainly can't get away without being caught."

"I don't know about that. But I do know that we have been easy game
for the thieves."

"Do you think they took anything else?" demanded the Professor.

"I don't see that anything else is missing, do you, Ned?"

"No."

"See, they took off the saddles. Didn't want them for some reason.
I'm glad of that. By the way, did they get my saddle when they stole
my pony last night?" asked Tad.