gone only a few moments when he returned on a run.

"Boys! Boys!" he cried.

"What is it? What is it?" they exclaimed in sudden alarm.

"The ponies! The ponies!"

"What about them?" asked Walter, pausing as he was about to strike a
match to the wood.

"Yes, what of them, Master Ned? Has anything happened to them?"
asked the Professor, striding toward the excited Ned Rector.

"Happened? I should say there had--"

"Well, what is it? Don't keep us waiting in suspense all--"

"They're gone!"

"Gone?" exclaimed the two boys in chorus.

"It can't be possible."

"Two of them are. They have broken away, I think. It must have
happened late last night, for I looked at them just before going to
bed, and they were all asleep then."

"Whi--which ponies--which ones are gone?" asked Walter apprehensively.