E-text prepared by Curtis Weyant, Mary Meehan, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net/) Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 20087-h.htm or 20087-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/0/0/8/20087/20087-h/20087-h.htm) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/0/0/8/20087/20087-h.zip) THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN TEXAS Or The Veiled Riddle of the Plains by FRANK GEE PATCHIN Author of The Pony Rider Boys in The Rockies, Etc. Philadelphia Henry Altemus Company Copyright, 1910 by Howard E. Altemus [Illustration: Drop That Gun!] CONTENTS I. In the Land of the Cowboy II. The Pony Riders Join the Outfit III. Putting the Cows to Bed IV. The First Night in Camp V. Cutting Out the Herd VI. Tad Takes a Desperate Chance VII. The Herd Fords the River VIII. The Approach of the Storm IX. Chased by a Stampeding Herd X. A Miraculous Escape XI. The Vigil on the Plains XII. Under a Strange Influence XIII. Chunky Ropes a Cowboy XIV. On a Wild Night Ride XV. Fording a Swollen River XVI. A Brave Rescue XVII. Making New Friends XVIII. Breaking in the Bronchos XIX. Grit Wins the Battle XX. Dinner at the Ox Bow XXI. A Call for Help XXII. Lost in the Adobe Church XXIII. Solving the Mystery XXIV. Conclusion List of Illustrations Drop That Gun! Good for You, Kid! As the Wagon Lurched Pong Plunged Overboard. Tad Gave the Rope a Quick, Rolling Motion. The Pony Rider Boys in Texas CHAPTER I IN THE LAND OF THE COWBOY "What's that?" "Guns, I reckon." "Sounds to me as if the town were being attacked. Just like war time, isn't it?" "Never having been to war, I can't say. But it's a noise all right." The freckle-faced boy, sitting on his pony with easy confidence, answered his companion's questions absently. After a careless glance up the street, he turned to resume his study of the noisy crowds that were surging back and forth along the main street of San Diego, Texas. "Yes, it's a noise. But what is it all about?" "Fourth of July, Ned. Don't you hear?" "Hear it, Tad? I should say I do hear it. Yet I must confess that it is a different sort of racket from any I've ever heard up North on the Fourth. Is this the way they celebrate it down here?" "I'm sure I don't know." "Why, a fellow might imagine that a band of wild Indians were tearing down on him. Here they come! Look out! Me for a side street!" The little Texas town was dressed in its finest, in honor of the great national holiday, and the inhabitants for many miles around had ridden in at the first streak of dawn, that they might miss none of the frolic.