, still chuckling to himself, and started
for a cup of water.

"Time to laugh. Ha, ha! What! Ha, ha; ho, h---"

The fat boy paused abruptly. He was down on his knees about to dip
up a cupful of water when chancing to raise his eyes he saw something
that caused the word to die on his lips.

A man stood just on the other side of the stream, lounging against a
tree, observing the fat boy with an amused smile.

"Oh, wow!" howled the fat boy, in such a tone of alarm that the rest
of the outfit sprang up and ran toward him. "Wow! Look!"

At this juncture the stranger leaped the narrow stream and was standing
beside Stacy facing toward the camp when the others came up.

"I suppose I should introduce myself before matters go any further,"
smiled the newcomer. "I know you, but you do not know me. You are
the Pony Rider Boys. I am Captain Billy McKay of the Rangers."

Stacy uttered a shrill laugh, whereat the captain shot an inquiring
glance at him.

"You---you are---are Captain McKay?" stammered Professor Zepplin.

"Yes. I had hoped to see you when you camped with Lieutenant Withem---"

"Yes, we were with 'em," muttered Stacy. "And I guess we've got 'em
now."

"Unfortunately I was called away on that occasion. I promised myself
that I should look you up at the first opportunity. I got on your
trail this afternoon and as you were going in my direction I considered
this an excellent opportunity to make your acquaintance. So here I am."

"But---but---" stammered the professor.

Tad was smiling, the others gazing at the newcomer blankly.

"Well, sir, what is it? One would think you had seen a ghost," laughed
the captain.

"But, sir, you are the second man who has introduced himself to us as
Captain McKay of the Ranger troop, to-day."

The captain's blue eyes twinkled.

"Indeed! Then I must have a double. I should like to meet him."

"You look like the real thing," observed Stacy.

"Thank you. Then the other man did not?"

"He did not---to me," answered Tad Butler.

"How are we to know that you are the captain in person?" asked the
professor suspiciously.

"I wear the badge and then here's my open countenance," answered the
Ranger with another hearty laugh.

"Professor, there can be no doubt that this is Captain McKay. I should
know him now from the description given to me by Lieutenant Withem.
Won't you join us? We have just about finished the grub, but there
is more. I'll cook somethi