Part 4 (2/2)
”You don't mean he has been killed?”
The guide nodded with emphasis, at the same time bringing the palms of his hands sharply together to convey the impression that the mule had hit the rocks below so hard that he would never rise of his own accord again.
”Now we are in a fix,” said Ned.
”I guess we had better make Chunky walk and use his pony for packing the outfit,” suggested Walter.
”Yes, but we have little or no outfit to pack,” answered Tad. ”Most of it is down there with the dead mule; how far I don't know.”
The Pony Rider Boys gasped. This, indeed, was a serious situation.
CHAPTER III
A DARING PROPOSAL
For a full moment the boys looked at each other doubtfully. Professor Zepplin was the first to break the silence.
”Wha--what pack did the mule have?”
”Part of the kitchen outfit and all of the canned goods,” answered Tad Butler impressively.
Ned Rector laughed.
”This is where we give our stomachs a rest,” he mocked.
”I fail to see anything humorous in our present predicament,” chided the Professor. ”We are many miles from our base of supplies, with our supplies at the bottom of a gorge, goodness knows how deep down.
Whether we can get down there or not I haven't the slightest idea--”
”Don't we get anything to eat?” wailed Chunky.
”Think you deserve to have anything?” demanded Ned.
”Don't be hard on him,” spoke up Tad. ”He feels cut up enough about it as it is. We've all done just as foolish things, only they didn't happen to turn out the way this one has.”
Chunky turned his pony about and rode a few paces away from them, being more disturbed than he cared to have his companions know.
”Eagle-eye,” called the Professor.
The Indian was leaning over the cliff looking down into the deep canyon, trying to find the pack mule. He straightened up and strode over to the Professor upon being called.
”You sure the mule is dead?”
”Mule no pack more.”
<script>