Instinctively the lad glanced toward the camp again.
Stacy Brown no longer was to be seen. Tad Butler could not repress
a laugh. He had a pretty clear idea as to what had caused Chunky's
sudden disappearance. It did not occur to him that possibly Stacy
had been bit. As a matter of fact the unknown marksman's bullet had
grazed the head of the fat boy, instilling in that young gentleman
a more thorough respect for the mountaineer's marksmanship.
But now Tad's mind turned to the object of his visit to the mountain
range. He was there looking for the man who had fired the shot.
Ned Rector had heard the shot also. Both boys were making their way
toward the spot whence the shot had seemed to come. Ned had located
the sound much nearer than had Tad. The latter struck off in a
southeasterly direction which carried him still farther into the hills.
He had reasoned that the shooter was occupying a high point of vantage
somewhere farther in, whence he was taking pot shots at the camp of
the Pony Rider Boys. In this Tad was mistaken. The mountaineer was
much nearer the plains than Tad thought.
Ned started on a trot immediately after having heard the shot.
"I've got him this time!" exulted Rector. "I've got a chance to show
the fellows what sort of a trailer I am. They don't think I'm any
good, except Tad, and he knows better."
Tad, as he skulked along, was wondering if Ned had heard the shot and
hoping that his companion would make no false moves.
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