"Then I'll take three. I'll eat one for breakfast and carry the other
two with me. That will leave three apiece for the rest of you."

"Oh, take a drink of water from that--that spring and save your egg
till you need it," suggested Chunky.

"I'm going to start early in the morning, so I guess I'll turn in now.
Remember, you are not to leave this place till I get back--that is,
unless the Professor should return in the meantime."

"We promise," answered the lads together.

After putting the camp in shape for the night and attending to the
mules the boys turned in and slept the night through without further
incident.

Next morning when they turned out, Tad Butler had gone. On a piece of
paper pinned to a tree they found a note reading: "I'm off, fellows.
Bye."



CHAPTER XII

ALL GONE BUT TWO


"Well," grunted Ned Rector, as he served the meager breakfast, "at
this rate there soon will be nothing left of the Pony Rider Boys