Part 12 (1/2)

”That will do, young man,” warned the Professor. ”I shall have to take you in hand if I hear any more such complaints. Do you know that you might have seriously injured Master Tad? Anything thrown from such a height strikes with considerable force.”

Stacy hung his head, and thrusting his hands in his pockets walked away, after which there was peace in the camp of the Pony Riders for some time.

”Every time I try to have a little fun I get into trouble,” muttered the boy. ”I'll show them some of these days that Stacy Brown isn't the tenderfoot they seem to think he is. I'll do something yet.”

He had already done so when he threw himself on the rope with the hope of saving his companion from a terrible fall. But, as usual, his effort had resulted in his own undoing.

”Got anything to eat?” he asked, approaching the group.

”You deserve to go hungry,” retorted Ned.

”Looks as though he would, whether he deserves it or not,” added Walter.

”Young men, there are some canned beans in my saddle bag. I carried them along in case we should become separated from our pack train,”

observed the Professor.

”Hooray!” laughed Ned, tossing his hat in the air. ”I guess we won't starve this evening. Let's cook them?”

”What shall we cook them in?” asked Walter.

”That's so. I'd forgotten that. Our cooking outfit is at the bottom of the gorge.”

”I think you will find something on one of the two remaining mules--something that will answer the purpose,” suggested the Professor. ”But first, I would suggest that you unpack your tents and pitch them. It is plain that we shall have to remain here all night.”

”Why not throw Tad's tent down to him if we don't succeed in getting him up?” asked Chunky.

”Don't you think we've got enough to do with getting him and the provisions up, without throwing down the rest of our stuff?” sniffed Ned. ”You must think we have an easy job ahead of us. Well, if you think that you're wrong; we haven't.”

They got to work at once, unloading their tents. The canvas was soon spread out on the ground, ropes laid in place and folding cots placed where they belonged. The next task was to cut some tent poles, which was quickly accomplished. Shortly afterwards, the little tents sprang up, and the boys busied themselves with making them inhabitable.

While they were doing this, Professor Zepplin had busied himself with gathering firewood. He had trouble in finding enough dry stuff to answer their purpose. Walter remembered having seen some in a gully a short distance away.

”I know where it is. I'll go fetch it as soon as we have finished here,” he said.

”Very well, Walter. I have enough here to start the supper with.”

Having done all that was necessary to the tent for the time being, Walter Perkins ran off to get the wood for the night fire, while Ned, having found a spider, prepared to cook the supper.

Out of the packs he had drawn a small package that looked good to him.

He opened it and uttered a shout.

”Will we starve to-night? I guess not,” he laughed, waving the contents of the package above his head.

”What have you found?” asked the Professor.

”Bacon. Enough for all of us and perhaps some to spare.”

”Then, we are not so badly off after all, Master Ned. How about the coffee?”