“Professor, this fellow thought us Rangers,” began Tad.

“Rangers?”

“Yes.  He admitted in his questioning of Ned that he thought we were Rangers, or that we had been employed by the Rangers to run him down.  That is why he sought to kill us.”

“But surely you assured him we were not,” protested Professor Zepplin.

“Little stock did he take in our assurances,” scoffed Ned.  “You might as well talk to the wind.”

“But what are we going to do with him, boys?”

“I have thought of that,” replied Tad.  “It is my idea that he is a bad man.  He must be, else the Rangers would not be looking for him.  He has proved that he is a dangerous customer to be at large—–­”

“Yes, he’s large, all right,” mumbled Stacy.  “As I was saying, it seems to me to be our duty to turn him over to the officers of the law.”

“Where?”

“I don’t know.  Is there any town near here?”

“Some twenty miles to the southeast, I believe,” answered the professor.

“Then that is where we must take him.”

“We may find, then, that we have made a mistake,” objected the professor, still doubtful about the wisdom of the course proposed by Tad Butler.

“Then we will make a complaint against him ourselves,” answered Tad firmly.  “I don’t propose to let him off after what he has done.  Why, were we to let that man go our lives wouldn’t be worth a cent.  He would shoot us before the night was over.  No, Professor, he must be held prisoner until we can get him to town.”

“But we can’t go on to-night.”

“No.  The morning will be time enough.  We will give him some food.”

“Let me feed the animal,” urged Stacy.

“You have steady business performing that office for yourself,” retorted Ned Rector.

“In the morning we will take him to town.  Shall we get some supper now?”

“Yes.  I will think over your proposal in the meantime.  Stacy, you might gather some more wood for the fire.  Ahem!  This has been a most remarkable proceeding all the way through.”

“You would have thought so if that fellow had jumped on you as he did on me,” growled Ned Rector.  “I thought the mountain had fallen down on me.  He is bad medicine.”

Tad by this time was getting out the things for supper.  They were late with this meal owing to circumstances over which they had not had full control, though matters were now pretty well in the hands of the Pony Rider Boys.

“You had better tell us who and what you are.  You have heard what has been said here, my man,” said the professor returning to the prisoner.

“I reckon I’ve heard enough.  I reckon, too, that you’ve made a mistake.  I ain’t what you think.  I’ll tell you, now that the fresh young feller isn’t listening.”

“Do so,” urged Professor Zepplin, preparing to listen.

“Lean over so the others won’t hear.”