Once more the Pony Riders made the mountains ring with their shouts of joy in which not even the dignified German Professor could resist joining.
Stacy Brown in the meantime, had been greedily filling his belt with the cartridges, until finally there was room for no more.
The other three boys, who had quickly strapped on their belts, were parading about with guns on their shoulders, Walter Perkins giving them their orders.
"Wow! But this thing is heavy," exclaimed Chunky, the weight of his loaded belt tugging at his waist line.
"Here, here, Master Brown! You don't need all those shells. Put all but ten of them back in the box," laughed the guide.
"They're not good to eat, Chunky," advised Walter.
"Huh!" grunted Ned Rector. "Anybody would think he was going into battle. Why, a soldier doesn't carry any more bullets than that. And what's more, Mr. Chunky Brown, if you intend to shoot off a belt full of those shells, it's me for a rocky cave where the bullets can't reach. Eh, Tad?"
Tad nodded and grinned.
"I'm with you in that."
"We all have precious lives to save," added Ned.