Ruth Fielding at Silver Ranch

claration. There was no light in the sky as far as the girls could see-no light of a fire, at least

on?" demanded Bill Hicks. "This

llows don't git busy. I left Number Three outfit fighting the fire the best they knew; we've had to

ddle and light out with Scrub. Rope you another hawse out

e fire?" asked Ruth, of Ja

t to me. I'll get the horse-wrangler to hitch up a pair of

s," said Ru

d Jane Ann, as she started after the cowboys. "

e enough, if we go to this f

These folks will think we haven't any pluck at all. Eastern

ed Tintacker and suggested that the fire had been set by somebody whom Ruth supposed the cowboys must think was crazy-otherwise she could

e proposed to learn the whole history of the claim and look up the recording of it, as well. Of course, the young man who had gotten Uncle Jabez to invest in the silver mine had sho

, and by the time all the girls were ready Maria's husband had a pair of half-wild ponies hitched to the buckboard. Bob ele

and she was up on a horse that seemed to be just as crazy as he could be.

ht behind me, Mr. Steele-follow me and Mr. Tom. The trail ain't go

Bob had all he could do to hold them. Old Bill Hicks and his punchers had swept away into the starlit night some minutes before and were now out of

cried Ruth

responded Jane Ann,

xcited Bob snapping the long-lashed whip over the ponies' backs. The vehicle pitched and jerked, and traveled

jel-ly!" gasped Heavy. "I

Jane Ann and Tom Cameron, and Madge showed he

mind whether you are bruised or not. You

nd most of the time the girls clung on and secretly hoped that Bob would not o

let-rising and falling, while the width of the streak of fire increased at both

Over the rolling prairie they fled and so rapidly that Hicks and his aides from the ranch-h

ttom where the fire burned. For several miles the dry grass, scrub, and groves of trees had been blackened by the fire. Light smoke clouds dri

u couldn't put that fire out by spilli

bunch of scrub, the tongues of fire mounted swiftly into the air for twenty feet, or more; and in these pil

bout ready to stampede although the fire was not really chasing them. The danger lay in the fact that the flames had gaine

thed land behind the barrier of flame, the flitting figures on horseback at the foot of the

n they do?"

vident that Jane Ann was astonished at his riding. "But over yonder where they tried it, t

Madge, standing up. "They're roping those c

y. "That's Jib-and Bashful Ike. There! that's an

! what for?"

nd now?" demanded Heavy. "Aren't thin

ern girl, greatly excited. "Th

ne that bunted the aut

Ann. "Old Trouble-Maker is going to yield

pay much attention to what Jane Ann said about Old Trouble-Maker. Bashful Ike and Jib Pottoway had split two st

ve cents right yere on the hoof; but that fire's got to be smothered.

fire Hicks made his frightened horse leap the flames, they jerked the half of the steer over so that the cloven side came in contact with the flames, and th

steer that had been divided, making sure of the quenching of the conflagration in the main; but there were still spots where the fire broke out again, and it was a coup

re fires where they had sprung up in the grass from sparks which flew from the greater fires. But the ridge had helped

punchers are the most careful people in the world regarding fire-setting in the open. If a cattleman lights his cigarette, or pipe, he not

e put away somewhares, whar he won't do no

set it, Uncle?"

rruper Crick this mawnin'. I reckon nobody but a confounded ten

d to ask ever since the fire scare began: "Who

pring. Or, he's been seen by my men a good bit. When they've spoke to him he's seemed sor

d in that, Ruth!"

Tintacker, Miss?" ask

er mine, isn't it?"

ver claims was staked out 'round there. But they petered out, and ain't

icular mine called 'T

ut. And it was a good one-for a while

ngs about there?" queried

," growled Hicks. "They'll come purty close to ru

ker Mine, and her desire to see this strange "tenderfoot" who hung about the old mi