Produced by Jim Ludwig
The Pony Rider Boys with the Texas Rangers
or
On the Trail of the Border Bandits
By Frank Gee Patchin
CONTENTS
CHAPTERS
I. Excitement on the West Fork
II. A Mysterious Attack
III. In a Bad Man's Power
IV. Tad Butler Makes a Discovery
V. When the Tables Were Turned
VI. The Camp in an Uproar
VII. Receiving a Late Visitor
VIII. A Much-Wanted Desperado
IX. Showing Good Generalship
X. The Pony Rider Boys Initiated
XI. Bag-Baiting the 'Possums
XII. Insects Win the Battle
XIII. An Inquisitive Visitor
XIV. When the Air Grew Chill
XV. Making a Starting Discovery
XVI. Joining Out With the Rangers
XVII. Fun on the Mountain Trails
XVIII. One Hiss Too Many
XIX. Surrounding the Enemy
XX. Learning Some Fancy Shots
XXI. A Hole in the Mountain
XXII. The Cave of the Bandits
XXIII. In a Perilous Position
XXIV. Conclusion
CHAPTER I
EXCITEMENT ON THE WEST FORK
Leaving the main branch of Delaware Creek, a broad, sluggish stream that slowly made its way toward the muddy Pecos River, a party of horsemen turned up the west branch.
Horses and men alike were wearied, dusty, perspiring and sleepy under the glare of a midsummer Texas sun. Little had been said for some time. None felt like talking. For hours they had been working south by west, urged on by the green of the foliage that they could see a short distance ahead. At least it had seemed a short distance for the last five hours, but the green trees now appeared to be just as far away as when the party had first sighted them early in the morning.
At the head of the line rode a grizzled, stern-faced man, sitting on his pony very stiff and erect. Just behind him was a young man, slender, fair haired and smiling, despite the discomfort his red face showed him to be suffering. Still back of them rode three other young men, the last in the line being a disconsolate fat figure of a boy who slouched from side to side in his saddle, each lurch threatening to precipitate him to the ground. The boy's pony was dragging along with nose close to the earth, the bridle rein slipping lower and lower over the animal's neck. The fat boy was plainly asleep. He had been slumbering in the saddle for more than an hour, and occasional mutterings indicated that he was dreaming.