Suddenly a loud "Yip! Yip! Yahee!" sounded off on the plain. Tad smiled broadly.
"That's Stacy Brown, I'll wager my hat. I'll bet Ned is scolding him, too."
Ned was. He was at that instant threatening to break Chunky's head if he opened his mouth again before they reached the camping place. Shortly after that Butler's keen ears caught the sound of hoofbeats. He stepped back into the shadows, the prisoner eyeing him inquiringly. Tad did not take the trouble to explain. Let the prisoner think what he might. Then the party rode in in single file. Tad was not in sight. He was hiding in the bushes.
Professor Zepplin pulled up short when his glances finally came to rest on the bound form of the mountaineer; Stacy Brown's eyes grew large and Walter Perkins gasped.
CHAPTER VI
THE CAMP IN AN UPROAR
"Tad! Where is Tad? What does this mean?" demanded the professor.
"Hullo, boys," cried Butler stepping out into the light. "Did you think that was myself tied up there?"
Chunky, in the excitement of the moment, forgot to tell Tad that he had stopped another bullet out on the plain.
"What do you think of our prisoner, Professor?"