y.

"The bugs?" questioned the professor.

Chunky nodded. Tad eyed the fat boy suspiciously.

"Look here, what have you got up your sleeve, Stacy?" he demanded.

"Nothing, I hope. But some of the fellows did."

"Did what?" cut in Rector.

"Did have."

"Did have what?" urged Walter. "A fellow has to have a map to follow
you."

"Did have something up their sleeves."

"What was it you think they had up their sleeves?" asked Tad, eyeing
the fat boy with growing suspicion.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe it was insects."

"Stacy!" rebuked the professor sternly. Tad recalled that he had
discovered thousands of insects crawling over the burlap sack when
he came out in the morning. The lad's mind began to unravel the
mystery. He thought he understood Chunky's references now, but Tad
only smiled. He made no effort to explain, but instead, changed the
subject.

"Do we start, or do we remain here, Professor?" he asked.

"It shall be as you boys wish. All in favor of going on will say 'aye.'"

"Aye!" howled the Pony Rider Boys, a shout that caused the browsing
ponies to look up in mild surprise.

"Then we move. I will say, however, that I don't exactly approve of
the situation."

"What situation, Professor?" questioned Butler.

"There are too many rough men in these parts. I had no idea we were
going to meet with any such condition of affairs in this enlightened
state."

"That's nothing. We have had some experience. Experience is what we
are looking for."

"But the Rangers were not," asserted Stacy thickly, his mouth full of
biscuit. "They got it, though."

"I feel sorry for you," said Tad leaning over to Stacy.

"Sorry for what?"

"For what you'll catch when they get hold of you again."

"They'd better not. I've got something up my sleeve, or I will have,
I mean. They'd better keep away from me."

"Come, fellows, are you going to strike camp while I clear away the
breakfast things?" called Tad.

"Let Chunky do it. He hasn't done a thing this morning," cried Ned.

"Yes, I have, too."

"What have you done?"

"I've done two things this morning."

"That's news," grinned Walter.

"Yes, name them. We don't want to do you an injustice, you know," urged
Rector sarcastically.

"I made a discovery---I discovered that we had been basely deserted."

"Well, that's only one thing. You said you had done two things,"
persisted Ned.

"Then I ate my breakfast. That's two things."

The bo