The Pony Rider Boys with the Texas Rangers

MP3 Audio CD. The Pony Rider Boys with the Texas Rangers

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.