“But, will they not come back again?” urged Butler.

“Not to-night.  They know I am on my guard now.  They will put off their attack on you until some other time.  Lucky I chanced to be here when they first came.  I hope they don’t take the alarm and keep away from you now.”

Butler grinned.  He hoped so too, though the others of his party might not share this hope with him, especially Professor Zepplin who was getting rather more excitement out of this journey than he had looked for.

By the time the two had returned to the campfire the others had mustered courage enough to stand up.  The professor, his whiskers bristling, had crawled from the depression into which he had rolled at the first sign of trouble, and Chunky was making his way cautiously from the bushes.

“Captain McKay, how much of this sort of thing shall we have to face?” demanded the professor.

“You might have had to face a good deal more of it, had I not been here,” answered the Ranger shortly.

“What do you mean?”

“That had I not been here you would have got the bullets fired at me.  As I have already said to Butler, those men were after your party.  When they saw me they knew they would not dare to waste a shot on any one else.”

“While they were shooting you up, they knew my arsenal would get into action.  They figured on killing me the first shot.  But they didn’t,” added the captain with a mirthless grin.

“I don’t like this at all,” declared Professor Zepplin with a slow shake of the head.

“Neither do I,” agreed Chunky.  “I’d as soon be shot to death as scared to death.  I’ll bet my hair is turning gray already.  Oh, wow!”

“All hands, turn in,” commanded the Ranger briskly.  “I will stand watch over the camp for the rest of the night, though you will not be disturbed.”

CHAPTER XVII

FUN ON THE MOUNTAIN TRAILS

Confident in the watchfulness of Captain McKay the Pony Rider Boys slept soundly all through that night.  Even Chunky forgot to talk in his sleep, thus saving himself from sundry digs in the ribs from his companions.

But when the morning came again the lads were treated to still another surprise.  Captain McKay was sleeping in front of their tent door, rolled in his blanket, using one arm for a pillow.  Still further out lay three other men, with one sitting up.  The latter was none other than Dippy Orell, one of the Rangers.  A second glance showed the boys that the other three men were also of the Ranger band.

“Hullo, Bugs,” greeted Dippy upon catching sight of the fat boy.

“Hullo.  You here?” demanded Stacy.

“I’m here, what’s left of me.”

“Bring any ’possum for breakfast?” grinned Chunky.

“No, but I’ve a rod in pickle for you.”

“All right.  Keep it in pickle for yourself.  I don’t like sour stuff.”