"I guess you boys are all right," he nodded.
They helped him load the prisoner over the horse's back, after which,
giving each of the party a cordial shake of the hand, Lieutenant
Withem rode away. They observed that his rifle was resting across the
body of the prisoner, as if the lieutenant were looking for trouble.
The trouble came sooner than they expected. The Ranger had been gone
less than twenty minutes when a volley of rifle shots crashed out.
"He's attacked!" cried Tad.
"Quick! Put out the fire!" shouted the professor.
"Don't wait for the fire. We must go to his assistance!" answered
Tad, snatching up his rifle and making a bolt for his pony. "Come
on, boys, we've got something to do this time."
"Stop!" commanded the professor.
"What, sit here while a band of bandits are perhaps murdering Lieutenant
Withem? I can't do that. You stay here, Professor. We will take care
of ourselves. Don't worry about us. Chunky, you'd better stay here
with the professor. You haven't got sand enough to---"
"What, me stay here?" shouted the fat boy, starting for his own mount.
"I guess you don't know what kind of a man I am. Come on, fellows.
Whoop!"
Stacy leaped into his saddle. Ned Rector and Walter Perkins already
had taken to their saddles. The professor saw that it was useless to
try to stop the boys. He groaned aloud. But Professor Zepplin was
very active for his years.
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