That evening, final plans for the ascent of Electric Peak were made, the guide furnishing them with such information as he possessed, regarding the best route to the top, though he admitted that his information was based wholly on hearsay.
It was decided that the party should take their ponies with them as far as possible, so that they might carry their belongings and establish a camp on the mountain-side. Full of their plans for the coming day, the party turned in early and slept soundly.
The campfire finally died down and the stillness of the night was broken only by the moaning of a faint breeze at intervals, the occasional hoof-thud of a restless pony or the wild cry of a night bird. Then suddenly a sharper note was injected into the peaceful night.
A rattling fire of revolver shots, followed by shouts from Stacy Brown, brought the Overland Riders bounding from their beds in alarm.
“My ‘pants’! My ‘pants’!” yelled the fat boy. “Somebody’s stolen my ‘pants’!”
CHAPTER XII
A HIGH CRIME
Tom and Hippy sprang out in their pajamas, each with a revolver in hand.
“Badger!” shouted Tom Gray.
The guide came running into camp very much excited.