For reasons best known to himself Stacy did not give his rattlesnake
imitation again. But every little while a broad grin would grow on
his countenance, which the fat boy would suppress as quickly as
possible.
"This is too good a thing to be nipped in the bud," he muttered. "No,
sir, I don't give my secrets away yet awhile. Mebby I never shall."
Stacy well knew that swift punishment would be meted out to him if the
others caught him at his new trick, so the fat boy kept silent, looking
the picture of innocence.
CHAPTER XVIII
ONE HISS TOO MANY
The Ten-Mile cross trail was made about half past one o'clock in the
afternoon. Walter Perkins entered the camp on his head, Tad Butler
hanging to the mane of his bucking pony, both feet out of the
stirrups, Stacy Brown making desperate efforts to quiet his own mount.
The ponies had heard the soft hiss of a rattlesnake, but the ears of
Rangers and Pony Riders had failed to catch the sound. Perhaps it was
the yell that the fat boy had uttered instantly after giving the
imitation that had too suddenly attracted the attention of the party.
"What's the matter with those fool cayuses?" shouted Dippy Orell.
"What---"
Dippy did not finish his remark. He landed on his back thoroughly
shaken down. He was up with a roar, starting for the pony with blood
in his eye.
"That'll do, Dippy!" commanded the leader sternly.
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