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The Pony Rider Boys in the Ozarks - Or, the Secret of Ruby Mountain by Frank Gee Patchin
page 89 of 246 (36%)

CHAPTER IX

HORSE THIEVES PAY A SECOND VISIT


Tad was unusually silent while they were packing ready to break camp,
but as they got out on the trail he became more talkative. He did not
refer to the ponies again on the way, though the lad's mind was
working rapidly.

"Do you think we shall be able to hire some ponies of Mr. Munson?" he
asked when they had been an hour on their journey.

"I have no doubt of it," answered the Professor. "Perhaps it would be
better to buy a couple."

"I don't want to do that just yet. There's the place where we are to
leave the trail," he added, pointing to what appeared to be a broad
gash in the rocks ahead of them. "We shall have to leave the ponies,
what few we have left. I don't suppose the thieves will come back for
the rest of them, do you?"

"Hardly," answered the Professor.

Securing their mounts as well as the two pack mules, they started down
the mountain side with Tad Butler in the lead. On down the long,
sloping trail they trudged until at last they reached the point where
they were obliged to get down on all fours to clamber the last fifteen
feet of precipitous rocks.
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