The faces of the Pony Rider Boys were grave.

“Have you a reliable guide?”

“Far from it,” answered the Professor.  “If I knew where I could get another, I’d pack him off without ceremony.

Kris Kringle was silent for a moment.

“I need a little change of scene,” he smiled.  “How would you like to have me take the trail with you for a week or so?”

“Would you?” glowed the Professor, half rising from his chair.

“I think I might.”

“Hurrah!” cried the Pony Riders enthusiastically.  “That will be fine.”

“Of course, you understand that I expect no pay.  I am going because I happen to take a notion to do so.  Perhaps I’ll be able to serve you at the same time.”

The Professor grasped Mr. Kringle by the hand impulsively.

“I’ll send that lazy Juan on his way this very night—­”

“Let me do it,” interposed Stacy, with flushing face.  “I’ll do it right, Professor.  But I’ll put on my pair of heavy boots first, so it’ll hurt him more.”

The boys shouted with laughter, while the new guide’s eyes twinkled merrily.

“I think, perhaps, the young man might do it even more effectively than you or I,” he said.  “Have you weapons, Professor?”

“Rifles.”

“That’s good.  We may need them.”

“Then you think?”

“One can never tell.”

CHAPTER XI

 Riding with Kris Kringle

A slender ribbon of dust unrolling across the plain far to the northward marked the receding trail of Juan and his lazy burro.  They had given him a week’s extra pay and sent him on his way.

The burro was making for home, aided by the busy feet of its master, while Stacy Brown, shading his eyes with one hand, was watching the progress of the guide, whom he had just sent adrift.

“Well, he’s gone,” grinned Stacy, turning to his companions, who were busy striking camp.

“And a good riddance,” nodded Tad.

“He’ll probably join the Indians and tell them where we are,” suggested Walter.

“I hadn’t thought of that,” replied Tad.  “Still, if they wish to find us they know how without Juan’s telling them.”

“How?”

“They can follow a trail with their eyes shut,” said Ned.

“That’s right.  They do not need to be told,” muttered Tad.

Everything being in readiness, the boys started with their outfit for the dug-out, where they were to be joined by Kris Kringle.  They felt a real relief to know that they were to have with them a strong man on whom they were sure they could rely to do the right thing under all circumstances.  Tad, however, believed that Mr. Kringle had decided to join them, fearing they would be attacked by the Apaches and come to serious harm.  Yet he hardly thought the redskins would dare to follow them, after the latter had once gotten over the frenzy of their fire dance.  By that time the Indian agents would have rounded them all up on the reservations, where the Indians would be able to do no more harm for a while.