Connie Carl at Rainbow Ranch

by Joan Clark

  CHAPTER XVIII

  Stampede

  "The cattle are running!" cried Connie. "The boys never will be able tohold them in this storm!"

  "We must get out there and help," Enid shouted grimly.

  This time Connie did not refuse her aid. Before she could saddleSilvertail, Enid vanished into the night. Cecil and Helena, awakened bythe sudden downpour, called to Connie, but she paid no heed. Pulling onher slicker, she leaped into the saddle and followed Enid.

  The rain was coming down in torrents and another brilliant flash oflightning momentarily revealed a surging mass of steers. The terrifiedanimals were running away from the camp toward the canyon. The earthshook under the pounding of their hooves.

  All thought of the important revelation which Enid had been upon thepoint of making at the time the storm broke, had been swept fromConnie's mind. But she felt warmed by the girl's generous offer of aid.Enid really was her friend after all. In this emergency, any feeling ofresentment had been forgotten. The stampede called for quick action andcourageous riding.

  Connie did not need to dig in the rowels of her spurs for Silvertailknew what was expected of him. She could feel his mighty heart poundingagainst her legs as he raced to overtake the leaders of the herd.

  Connie bent low over Silvertail's neck, trusting that there were nofences or badger holes ahead. Should her horse stumble she would bebadly injured if not crushed to death.

  Through the rain the girl saw someone riding ahead of her. She could nottell who it was, but a man turned in his saddle and shouted something ather. She did not distinguish a word above the roar. Farther away a riderwas firing his revolver into the air, trying to stem the tide.

  Connie, Alkali, and the boys from the Slocer Ranch outdistanced theleaders of the herd, fighting valiantly to turn them. The cattle had runless than a half mile when they began to circle.

  "They're starting to mill!" Connie shouted.

  "We'll hold 'em!" yelled Alkali.

  Connie could hear the crackling of horns rubbing together. Each flash oflightning revealed the cattle churning into a tighter circle.

  A cowboy rode close to Connie, rain spouting from his sombrero. She sawthat it was Lefty.

  "Look out for another break!" he shouted. "They're millin' too close!"

  Suddenly two dark forms dashed out of the herd.

  "Get 'em, Silvertail!" Connie cried.

  She jumped her horse at the animals, sending them scurrying back intothe churning mass.

  The rain had slackened and Connie was hopeful that the cattle wouldquiet down. They were not milling so closely now. The riders weregetting them well under control.

  Then from the other side of the herd a revolver cracked, spitting atrail of fire into the black void.

  "Who did that?" cried Lefty angrily. "Someone's shootin' straight intothe herd!"

  Connie heard the cowboy shout Cecil's name, but she did not believe thatany of the dudes had been responsible for the shot. She was quitecertain neither Helena nor her brother were armed, and she doubted thatthey had ridden out to help stop the herd. One of her own men was tryingdeliberately to start another stampede!

  Already the mischief had been accomplished. At the point where therevolver had been discharged the herd swerved and broke apart. Thecattle had started to run again.

  Determined to learn the identity of the person who had started thestampede, Connie spurred Silvertail. Near the spot where the revolverhad been fired she caught a glimpse of a rider. It was too dark to seehis face clearly.

  Then a ragged streak of lightning brightened the sky. With a startConnie recognized her foreman, Forest Blakeman. She could not believethat he had been guilty of such a low, contemptible act. But even as shewas assailed with doubt, she saw him raise his revolver and shootagain--straight into the herd.

  A great fury took possession of Connie. In a flash everything becameclear to her. She understood now what Enid had intended to tell her.

  From the very first Forest Blakeman had plotted to gain control ofRainbow Ranch. That was why he had not favored the roundup, knowing thatif she succeeded in marketing her cattle, he would never be able toforce her to sell at his own terms.

  "How stupid and blind I have been," she thought.

  Connie rushed her horse straight at the foreman. He turned in the saddleand saw her coming. As a flash of lightning illuminated the sky, sheknew that he recognized her.

  "Drop that gun!" she shouted furiously. "Drop it, you traitor!"

  Blakeman wheeled his horse and disappeared into the darkness.

  Connie did not pursue him. She could not have done it had she wished forSilvertail was running with the herd. A shiver ran down the girl's spineas the realization came to her that they were heading straight towardthe canyon.

  At this particular point the cliffs were unprotected by fences or trees.And there was a sheer drop of several hundred feet to the valley below.The canyon could not be more than a quarter of a mile away. Blakemandeliberately had stampeded the cattle in that direction, hoping that theanimals would run over the precipice and be killed. Unless she couldturn them in time, her entire herd would be lost!