"Take it up, by all means," ordered the Professor. "The favor has been a big one to us. We shall never forget it."
"Then you are going to take a new trail from here?" asked Tad.
"Yes. We will follow the trail you took in coming in here for, say five miles, after which we shall branch off. You will find the turning-off place clearly marked."
"Oh, I will see that he doesn't get lost," declared Chunky. "You leave it all to me."
"Yes, if you are looking for trouble, leave it to Chunky," retorted Ned.
The plans were laid in detail that night. At daybreak on the following morning Tad Butler and Stacy Brown saw their companions riding away. The two boys watched them until the party had disappeared, all waving their hats at the lads who had been left behind.
"Now, Chunky, you are in my charge. If you don't behave yourself, I shall be under the painful necessity of giving you a thrashing."
"You bet it will be painful for you if you try it," retorted the fat boy.
"I certainly shall try it if you give me cause. See if you can't act like other folks."
"I don't want to be like other folks. I'm satisfied to be Stacy Brown."