Ere the enthusiastic Pony Riders had
started to gallop away the professor had made a flying leap into his
saddle and a few seconds later was pounding down the canyon, along
the West Fork, in the wake of the racing Pony Rider Boys.
"There they are!" cried Tad, as bursting out on the plain they saw
vicious flashes of light, accompanied by the crashing of guns.
CHAPTER IX
SHOWING GOOD GENERALSHIP
Rifles had been jerked from saddle boots as the boys swung to the left,
sweeping down over the plain. Tad assumed the leadership of the party,
as he usually did in emergencies.
"All hold your fire until I give the word. Keep your heads. Don't get
excited!" wanted the lad.
"That is good judgment. But try to keep out of the fire," shouted the
professor.
Ned Rector laughed.
"We might better have stayed at the camp if that is all we are going to
do," he answered.
Tad saw that several men were riding around in a circle shooting at a
fleeing horseman whose rifle spoke often and spitefully. The lad
knew that the solitary horseman was the Ranger lieutenant.
"The cowards---to attack one man that way!" gritted the boy. "Now,
fellows," he called, slacking up slightly, "I want you, when I say go,
to yell like mad. Whoop it up for all you're worth. Then when I say
fire, every man shake out his rifle, but shoot high. We don't want to
hit anybody unless we have to.
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