"It's Chunky!" groaned Tad. "Here's trouble in earnest!"
They never knew just how it happened, and Chunky could not tell them,
but in all probability the excitement had been too much for the fat
boy!
He had moved closer when the dancing began, and the fever of it got
into his veins until his excitement had reached a pitch beyond his
control.
With a series of howls and yells, the fat boy drove the rowels of the
spurs deep into his pony's aides.
The animal dashed forward at a break-neck pace.
Stacy headed straight for the glowing pit, yelling with every leap of
the pony.
Tad gazed spellbound. He seemed powerless to move. He had been deeply
affected by the scenes he had seen; but this was different. The lad
held his breath.
Reaching the edge of the pit, Stacy's pony rose in the air, clearing
the bed of coals in a long, curving leap.
Two red men had just risen from their fiery bath. The hind hoofs of
the pony caught and bowled them over.
"Run to the camp and get help! Take my pony! Ride for your life! Don't
lose a second!" gasped Tad, giving the lazy Mexican a shove that sent
him stumbling until he had measured his length upon the ground.
Juan picked himself up slowly; and, crawling away into the bushes, lay
down to rest or hide.
Stacy's pony landed fairly in the center of a bunch of half-clothed
savages; some of whom went down under the pony when it landed on them
so unexpectedly.
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