ht you were hunting 'possum," cried Polly.
"I thought you were hunting 'possum," laughed the others.
The men looked into each others' faces, then burst out laughing.
"Where's the other one?" meaning Rector, who like Tad was to drive the
'possums in.
"He's hunting 'possum," answered Tad. An hour later Ned Rector came
sauntering in.
"Hullo, did you drive out any 'possum?" called Cad.
"Narry a 'poss," answered Ned carelessly. "I thought I'd leave them
for you fellows. I didn't want to hog the whole game, you know."
"Are the other two holding the bags open?"
"I don't know. I suppose they are. They'll be even with you for
that," answered Ned.
"By the way, Mr. Withem," said Tad strolling towards him, "I thought we
were going to meet Captain McKay here."
"The captain is not here," replied the lieutenant with some reservation
in his tone.
"Will he be here before we leave?"
"I can't say. Captain Billy may be here in the morning, then again he
may not. If you miss him here, he will see you some other time. He
wants to know you, pardner," smiled the lieutenant. "Where is the
fat boy?"
"Holding the 'possum bag down in the bush," answered Tad with a grim
smile.
The Rangers were pulling off their boots and one by one crawling into
the single tent that did duty as a bedroom for all except the officers,
who had a small tent to themselves. The boys were chuckling to
themselves. They thought they had a good joke on at least one of the
Pony Rider Boys, and perhaps they had.
About two hours after the men had returned to camp, Walter Perkins, with
an exclamation of disgust, threw down his bag.
"Let them catch their own 'possums," he said. "I don't believe there
are any 'possums in this country to catch. Even if there were we
never could get them in a bag this way. I'll bet they have been
playing a joke on me. I'm going back to camp."
Half an hour later, Chunky, his back aching like a sore tooth,
straightened up with evident effort. The fat boy began to see a
light, other than that furnished by the candle.
"I guess I'm the goat," he said regarding the bag reflectively. "Yes,
I am the goat all right."
Picking up the candle, Stacy peered into the bag, then he thought some
more. The inside of the bag was literally alive with insects. The fat
boy quickly closed the bag, twisting the mouth tight and tying it fast
with a string. Then blowing out the candle, he shouldered the bag,
set
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