Turning the Herd
Connie leaned low in the saddle and rode as she had never ridden before.
But terror held her in its grip. Time was so short--the cliffs so near.
A frenzy took possession of the girl. Everything she had in the world
was at stake. If the herd went over the precipice she would lose every
animal and her last chance to save Rainbow Ranch. She had to turn the
herd even at the risk of her own life.
Silvertail was racing alongside the leaders now, but they would not
swerve. On they ran straight toward the cliffs with the herd thundering
behind.
Frantically Connie tore off her slicker as she rode. Folding it, she
used it to strike at the leaders. Time after time she brought it down on
the rumps of the Longhorns, trying to swerve them to the right.
Connie's heart pounded from the exertion and her breath came in gasps,
but still she struck out with all her strength. The cliffs were very
close now.
It was no use, Connie thought with faltering courage. They were doomed
to go over, she and Silvertail with the cattle. She could not save
herself by turning back now. The tide of cattle would sweep them on as
surely as if they were caught in the swift-moving stream of a mighty
river.
Then the girl became aware of another rider. Enid too was riding at the
head of the herd, discharging her revolver and fighting desperately to
check the leaders. Alkali and Lefty must be there too, loyal and true,
risking their lives to help her.
New courage and strength came to Connie. A touch of her spurs sent
Silvertail leaping after a rangy Longhorn at the very head of the herd.
With all her might Connie brought the slicker across the animal's face.
He whirled to the right and the herd followed. Keeping Silvertail
between the frantic animals and the dark precipice Connie uttered a
little prayer. She hoped fervently that the cattle would turn at a sharp
enough angle to avoid the cliff. A flash of lightning showed that her
horse was running not more than thirty feet parallel to the brink.
As they raced along Connie felt the herd edging sideways toward the
precipice, slowly pressing her mount closer and closer to destruction.
Desperately she spurred Silvertail alongside the leading steer and
slashed with her slicker at the animal's head. The steer swerved in the
opposite direction carrying his blind followers clear of the brink.
Connie's heart leaped. She had won!
Although the danger was past, the work was by no means done. It took a
half hour of hard riding before the animals could be halted in their mad
run. But at last they were milling again so that the cowboys could hold
them by riding slowly around the herd.
Not until then did Connie have an opportunity to speak with Enid.
"You were wonderful," she told the girl. "I'll never forget it--never.
You risked your life to save my cattle."
"I did no more than Lefty or Alkali or any of the boys," Enid answered
quietly. "Besides, I owe you a great deal, Connie. I must tell you about
Forest Blakeman. He has deliberately plotted to ruin you."
"I know," Connie responded. "I learned the truth tonight when I saw him
shoot into the herd."
"Then he was the one who stampeded the cattle! What a criminal thing to
do! But it is in keeping with his character."
"Tell me everything you know about Blakeman," Connie urged.
"Months ago he loaned my father money, and he has made trouble for us
ever since. At the time of the rodeo he forced him to keep Catapult out
of the show, expecting to win a large sum of money for himself. But
something went wrong----"
"I know about that," Connie nodded.
"Pop didn't wish to deceive his friends but he had no choice. Oh,
Connie, that was why I felt so ashamed to face you. I suspected too that
Blakeman intended to ruin you, but I couldn't tell you without exposing
Pop's part in the affair."
"Substituting another steer for Catapult wasn't such a terribly serious
thing, Enid," Connie said kindly. "Please don't take it so hard."
"There's more to it than that. After the rodeo Blakeman came to our
ranch and threatened my father. He made him do exactly what he said. Pop
didn't want to start a dude ranch to rival yours. Blakeman arranged to
have Miss Parker and her friend come to our place too. He wanted you to
fail in your enterprise."
"I realize that now," Connie said bitterly. "Only a miracle saved me
tonight. But why has Blakeman done all these things to me?"
"Because he's grasping and cruel," Enid replied. "Dude ranching is going
to develop into a big thing out here, and your place is the cream of the
lot. You have natural scenery and the cliff dwellings will draw a great
many guests. Once you get started your business will grow by leaps.
Blakeman has known that, and he's been determined to gain control for
himself."
"I'm glad you came to tell me all this, Enid. It's cleared up so much
misunderstanding."
"Then you'll forgive Pop and me?" the girl asked eagerly. "In our hearts
we've wished you only success."
"Of course I forgive you," Connie returned heartily. "And now I have
something disagreeable to do. I must find Blakeman."
Connie knew that the foreman had disappeared immediately after he had
fired into the herd. Undoubtedly aware that she had recognized him, he
had fled from the scene. He might have gone back to the ranch house to
pack up his belongings. If she rode hard she might intercept him.
Connie did not say anything to Alkali or Lefty for they were busy with
the cattle. But as she started away, Enid rode after her.
"I'm going along, Connie," she declared. "It's not safe for you to face
Blakeman alone. You don't know that man as I do. He might try anything."
"I imagine he's skipped out by this time," Connie replied. "But let's
see if we can catch him."
The first rays of the morning sun were coloring the East as they rode
across the range toward the ranch. When they were still some distance
away, Connie drew rein and her companion likewise halted. They both had
observed a lone horseman leaving Rainbow Ranch.
"That looks like Blakeman," Connie said. "He's riding off now."
"But he's not going toward Red Gulch," returned Enid. "He's heading for
the canyon."
"Come on," Connie urged, "we mustn't let him get away."
The girls raced their tired steeds on toward the horseman. Apparently he
did not observe their approach for he was traveling in the opposite
direction and they were a long distance away. Blakeman was riding hard
too, and they could not gain.
Presently they saw the man disappear down into the canyon.
"Enid, I believe he's taking the South trail toward the cliff
dwellings!" Connie exclaimed.
"Maybe we ought to let him go. We'll never catch him now."
"Yes, we will," insisted Connie stubbornly. "He'll not be able to travel
very fast down in the canyon."
Minutes later, their ponies breathing hard, the girls reached the top of
the canyon. Mounting the other side they could see Forest Blakeman.
"He's going straight to the cliff dwellings!" Connie exclaimed. "I
wonder why----"
She sprang from her horse, tying him to a tree.
"You're giving up the pursuit, Connie?" asked Enid in surprise.
"No, but I'd rather Blakeman wouldn't know we're following him. He's up
to something, Enid, and I intend to learn what it is. I know a short-cut
to the other side but the trail isn't wide enough for our horses."
Enid slid from the saddle and quickly tied her pony beside Silvertail.
Then Connie led the way down the trail. Whenever they were within view
of Blakeman they took care to bend low behind the bushes which overhung
the path. The caution was unnecessary. The foreman never glanced back.
"He's making straight for the cliff dwellings all right," Connie
observed a few minutes later. "We'll take this fork in the trail and
circle, coming in from the other direction."
The girls lost sight of the man as he disappeared behind a wall of rock.
Their own trail wound deeper into the canyon, past a spring which in
days gone by had provided water for the cliff dwellers.
"We're following the path actually used by the women of the tribe when
they came for water," Connie explained as the girls hurried along. "This
is the shortest route to the cliff house, but it's a hard climb."
They had gone only a few steps, when in turning a sharp bend, Connie
came to an abrupt halt. Tied to a pine tree on the slope was a pinto
pony.
"That's not a horse from Rainbow Ranch!" Enid exclaimed in surprise.
"No," answered Connie, staring at the pony. "I never saw it before. It
couldn't have been left here by Blakeman because he's on the other
trail."
The girls looked quickly about but they saw no sign of a rider.
Hastening on again, they climbed a rocky path toward the high cliffs. As
they drew closer, they approached cautiously, keeping an alert watch for
Forest Blakeman.
Presently they saw his horse tied up at the same point where Connie,
Cecil and Helena had left their steeds the previous night, but the
foreman had vanished.
"He must be somewhere in the cave back under the cliff," Connie
whispered. "Perhaps down in one of the kivas."
"But what could he be doing down there?" Enid asked blankly.
"Let's get closer and see if we can find out," Connie urged.
They followed the trail upward, coming to a tunnel so narrow that they
had trouble in squeezing through on hands and knees. Emerging at the
end, Connie and Enid stepped out on a wide shelf. Just ahead were the
ruined dwellings, built snugly under the lip of the cliff.
"Look!" whispered Connie.
She pointed toward one of the kivas at the far end of the shelf upon
which they stood. A crude ladder leading down into the hole wiggled
slightly as if someone were climbing on it. Then Forest Blakeman's head
and shoulders appeared.
Although the girls were unsheltered he did not see them immediately.
That was because he was engrossed in examining something in his hand.
Connie saw that it was a roll of bills. As he put the money into his
pocket she and Enid ran forward.
"Just a minute, Forest Blakeman!"
At the sound of Connie's voice, the foreman whirled around to face the
girls. A look of fear gave way to one of insolent defiance.
"Well?" he asked brazenly.
"You have a great many things to explain, Forest Blakeman," said Connie
grimly. "First, why did you stampede my herd?"
The man laughed harshly.
"Why did I stampede your herd?" he mocked. "I'd advise you not to make
rash accusations without proof."
"I have it and that's why you tried to get away!" Connie cried. "And
another thing--where did you get that roll of money which I saw you
counting? You had it cached in the kiva and it's my money! Money that
you stole from me that night at Eagle Pass!"
"You're crazy," muttered Blakeman, but his expression disclosed that
Connie's accusation had been a true one.
"You were the one who held me up," Connie cried with conviction. "You've
kept the money hidden here in the kiva, and that's why you never wanted
anyone to come near this place. Give me my money!"
Blakeman started to retreat. Connie and Enid followed.
"Give me my money," Connie repeated again. "If you don't----"
The foreman whirled around.
"I'll give you something else," he shouted angrily. "When you strike the
bottom of the canyon you'll not be apt to carry any tales!"
He hurled himself toward the girls. Enid gave a piercing scream. Whether
or not the man intended to push them off the narrow ledge the girls
never knew for before he could touch them a cool voice rang out.
"Stand where you are, Forest Blakeman. And reach for the sky!"
Wheeling around, Enid and Connie saw Jim Barrows leap nimbly down from
the rocks, his gun trained on the foreman.