presume the other animals are safe. The thieves certainly will not
have the assurance to come back again."

"No come more," affirmed the guide.

"After you have finished your breakfast I want you to start in and
look for Master Butler. You'll have to find a way to get down there,
even if you have to wade in the stream--"

"Spirits git um boy."

"We will leave that out of the question. You find him, that's all."

"He won't go down there," said Ned. "He may say he will, but he
won't."

"I'll see that he does," replied the Professor, with a firm closing of
the lips. "I have trifled long enough. Now we shall do something.
I--"

"Well, what's all the excitement about?" demanded a cheery voice
behind them.

"Tad! It's Tad!" shouted the boys in chorus.

With yells of delight they pounced upon him and for a moment there was
a regular football scrimmage, with Tad Butler at the bottom of the
heap, the others mauling him about with shouts of glee.

It was the Pony Rider Boys' way of showing their delight at the return