Tad soon observed something familiar in the movements of the two figures who were walking beside the superintendent's pony, and in a moment Tad made out through the gloom the well-known form of Professor Zepplin.
"There they are! There they are!" he shouted. "They've got back.
Hurrah!"
"Rah!" echoed Stacy Brown, flirting one hand lazily.
The meeting was a joyous one for all concerned.
"All hands come over to my shack," glowed Tom Phipps. "I want to hear about this mystery. Thought you were riding a pony, Professor Zepplin?"
"He was," laughed Dick Munson. "Some other people wanted the animal more than he did and helped themselves."
At this point, Walter, who was staying in another cabin, having heard the noise, had hurried over and joined the little party.
"Now let us hear all about it," urged Phipps, after all had gathered in his shack.
"There is not much to tell," smiled the Professor. "I did exactly what I had been warning my young men against. I lost myself. Then the next thing that happened, I lost my pony."
"How?" interrupted Mr. Phipps.