say what I've got to say?" demanded the fat boy indignantly.

"Are you going to brag about yourself?" demanded Polly.

"I'm telling you, and---"

"Well, don't tell us. We don't want to have to take you out and tie
you to a tree. Say, will you get wise to the dude with the red
necktie?" scoffed the Ranger, pointing to Ned, who, in the place of the
bandanna handkerchief, had put on a flowing tie of brilliant red,
tying it about his neck, with the ends carelessly thrown over the left
shoulder.

"Don't you like it?" asked Ned, flushing.

"Like it? Why, it's the hottest thing that ever crossed the Staked
Plains since the Apaches came down in---"

"Why don't you look the other way then?" interjected Stacy.

"Oho! Listen to the human monstrosity---the monstrosity as wide as he
is long and as fresh as he is stale. What you got to say about it,
young man?" demanded Dippy, glancing at Tad Butler, who was smiling.

"I haven't said anything yet."

"But you're going to?"

"I may."

"Can we stand for any more remarks, boys?" asked Dippy.

"No, we can't stand for any more," chorused the men, the professor and
the lieutenant being too busy with a discussion to pay any heed to what
was going on about them.

"Then he shall be washed clean so that he may take a fresh start?"

"That's the idea!"

"Will you go peaceably or must we drag you?"

"I reckon you'd better drag me. If you're going to have fun with me
you'll have to earn it. I don't propose to help you out."

"Do you hear?" demanded Dippy in a deep, hoarse voice.

"We hear."

"Then do your duty!"

Two men grabbed the Pony Rider boy up, Tad making no resistance
whatever, a little to the surprise of the men who had taken hold of
him. They expected the boy to resist, which would have given them
still further excuse to handle him roughly. But Tad was used to
dealing with the rough and ready characters of plain and mountain.
He didn't care particularly what they did. The other boys were
delighted that Tad was to be made the mark this time. They followed
along laughing and jeering at their companion.

The Rangers fell in behind the two who were carrying Butler, in solemn
procession. To look at their faces one would have thought they were
performing a solemn duty. The boys wondered where it was going to end.
They discovered a few minutes later. Tad was taken out where the
gentle murmur of the Spring falling over the rocks could be heard when
the Pon