some mules to pull it," retorted
Stacy.

"Ouch! But that one landed below the belt!" exclaimed Dippy.

"Our fat friend has a sharp tongue," observed Polly.

"I guess we'll have to file it. Might hurt himself on it if he happened
to stumble over a root and fall," added Cad Morgan.

"Chunky, are you going to get busy and help settle this camp?" demanded
Tad.

"I don't have to work. I'm a guest of the management," answered Stacy.

"The management disowns you. You're out in the cold world," laughed
Butler.

"All right. That's good. Then I don't have to work."

"No, he doesn't have to work," agreed the professor. "Nor does he
have to eat. No work, no eat, is the motto of this outfit."

Chunky got busy at once. Captain McKay had little to say. He was
very thoughtful, evidently perplexed by some word that his scout had
brought him. The other men made no further effort to learn what was
disturbing their chief. They knew he would tell them if he wanted
them to know. At McKay's suggestion, nothing was unpacked save the
stuff necessary for their meal. Of course all the packs were removed
from the ponies to give the little animals a rest. The ponies
apparently had ceased from their tantrums and were as docile as if
they had never known what it was to buck off a rider.

Polly was getting the dinner while Tad and Ned were starting and keeping
up the fire. The others occupied themselves with various duties about
the camp, all save the captain who sat on a rock some little distance
from the scene of operations.

Suddenly Captain McKay leaped from the rock, taking a long spring away
from it, at the same time drawing a revolver and whirling. Chunky, who
was passing at the time, was bowled over by the captain's sudden spring.

"Look out for the rattler!" commanded the Ranger sharply.

"Oh, wow!" howled Chunky springing back apparently in great terror.
"Snake, snake!" he cried waving his arms to the others near the
campfire. "Look out for the snake!"

McKay saw no snake to shoot at. Deciding that the reptile must have
squirmed away, the captain, his face wearing a sheepish smile, shoved
his weapons back into their holsters and strode back to the camp,
where Stacy had preceded him.

There were no further indications of the presence of rattlers, and
in a few moments the adventure was wholly forgotten. Shortly after
dinner the captain sent his men out on a long scouting expedition,
himself riding from th