noon
`` So will I , '' cried Tad Butler stoutly . Tad won Professor Zepplin 's consent to his plan , and after Darwood had got the papers ready and the boys had gathered provisions together , Tad was off , riding one pony and leading another , that he might change from one to the other , thus avoiding tiring either . With lather standing out all over his mount , Tad pounded on , eyes and ears alight for Sandy Ketcham . He halted at noon to change horses and let each drink a little from a spring . Then on once more for seemingly countless hours . There was a brief pause in the evening , to allow the ponies to rest and graze , then on again in the darkness . The second night a longer rest was imperative , while Tad fretted , tired as he was , to be off again .