"Then he shall be washed clean so that he may take a fresh start?"
"That's the idea!"
"Will you go peaceably or must we drag you?"
"I reckon you'd better drag me. If you're going to have fun with me you'll have to earn it. I don't propose to help you out."
"Do you hear?" demanded Dippy in a deep, hoarse voice.
"We hear."
"Then do your duty!"
Two men grabbed the Pony Rider boy up, Tad making no resistance whatever, a little to the surprise of the men who had taken hold of him. They expected the boy to resist, which would have given them still further excuse to handle him roughly. But Tad was used to dealing with the rough and ready characters of plain and mountain. He didn't care particularly what they did. The other boys were delighted that Tad was to be made the mark this time. They followed along laughing and jeering at their companion.
The Rangers fell in behind the two who were carrying Butler, in solemn procession. To look at their faces one would have thought they were performing a solemn duty. The boys wondered where it was going to end. They discovered a few minutes later. Tad was taken out where the gentle murmur of the Spring falling over the rocks could be heard when the Pony Rider Boys were not making too much noise.
"Do you withdraw the flippant words you used to a member of this august body?" demanded a deep voice.