The Sky Phantom by Carolyn G. Keene Read Free Book Online Page B

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    “Stop!” she cried.
    Bess and George, who had followed her, took up the cry. Instead of pausing, the man dashed ahead a few yards, jumped onto the pony’s back, and took off at breakneck speed. As long as he stayed within the beams of their flashlights, they could see him slapping the pony’s flank hard to make him go even faster.
    By this time Range had jumped onto his own horse and gone in pursuit of the thief, urging the animal to race as fast as he could.
    George did not often show her emotions, but now she was very grim. “Oh, I hope nothing happens to Range!” she said. “This is such rough territory to be riding through in the dark. Besides, that man has a gun in a holster, I saw it. He won’t mind using it!”
    Nancy patted her friend on the shoulder. “I think Range knows what he’s doing,” she said. “Please don’t worry.”
    The girls walked back to where the other ponies were gradually quieting down. Chuck had managed to calm them.
    “Good work,” Bess called out from the sidelines.
    Chuck smiled, then hurried off to join Pop Hamilton, who was down on his knees examining the pony that had been shot.
    The rancher shook his head sadly. “This is Speed Boy, the pony I rode out here. He was a gentleman and a faithful animal to his duties.
    “Speed Boy, I’m sorry you cannot return to the ranch with us, but that villain made an accurate shot and has punctured your leg muscles so you could never walk again.”
    Bess Marvin could stand no more. She turned and walked off, but Nancy and George waited to hear the full eulogy.
    “If there is a horse heaven,” Pop went on, “you will be a fine addition to it. Good-by, Speed Boy, good-by!”
    Nancy, George, and Chuck said together, “Good-by, Speed Boy!”
    The three of them closed their eyes as the rancher used one shot to put the suffering pony out of his misery. Then the girls started to walk back to their camp, tears stinging their cheeks.
    “It’s terribly sad and so unnecessary,” Nancy said. “But I suppose for Pop it would have been even worse if the thief had shot Major.”
    Pop and Chuck dug a grave for the animal and buried it, tears in their eyes also. One of the live ponies whinnied.
    In the distance they could hear hoofbeats. A short time later Range rejoined his group. Alongside him was the stolen pony!
    “Oh, you got him back!” Nancy exclaimed. “I’m so glad. How did you do it?”
    Range explained that his horse was just on the verge of overtaking the thief when he jumped off and raced toward another man, who was astride one horse and holding another.
    “The thief jumped on and sped off,” Range concluded. “I thought the best thing to do was to bring our pony back here.”
    “Thanks so much,” George said to him. The animal was the one she had been riding. “You really had us worried when you took off in the dark alone.”
    The cowboy grinned. “I’m used to night riding,” he said. “There’s nothing more exhilarating than being astride a horse in the moonlight.”
    He might have said more in a jocular vein, but just then Pop and Chuck walked up. Suddenly it occurred to Range that the girls’ faces were tear-stained, Pop and Chuck looked somber, and none of them responded to his lightheartedness.
    “What happened?” he asked.
    When he heard about Speed Boy, Range, too, became sad. “He was a fine pony. This will be a big loss to the Hamilton Ranch. I’m sorry, Pop.”
    “Thank you,” said the rancher. “Also for getting George’s pony back. And now I think we should all head for bed.”
    Bess spoke. “Aren’t you afraid the thief may return?”
    “I doubt it,” Pop replied. “I think he shot Speed Boy because the pony attacked him. He won’t try any more thievery.”
    Range was not so sure of this. He repeated what had happened as he had approached the thief. “So he has not only his one pony, but a companion who also had a mount. The two of them may decide to come back together.”
    “Oh,