Ruth Fielding at Silver Ranch

, as the chums rode as hard as they dared

that he was shaking both fists in the air and spouting language that was

d steer is running like a dog with a can tied t

crowd. How they ride!" gasped M

d back. "But she's just about th

ped Heavy. "Do you suppose she int

roop of other riders. Bashful Ike, the foreman, put spurs to his own mount and tried to catch the b

he bawled "Look out that s

close to the mad steer the saddle might knock her off her pony. Nor did she pay the least attention to Ba

. She had evidently formed a new plan of action since having t

y!" called the foreman

"This is my chance. Don't you dare interfere. I'll

You look out, Jinny

't interfere," she

as she dared, leaned sideways from her saddle, and made a sharp slash in the air with the hunting knife that had hung from her belt in its sheath. The keen blade severed Jimsey's best hair rope (there

ng her knife to its sheath she guided her pony close in to the steer's flank. Before that saddle had beaten him so about the body, Old Trouble-Maker might have made a sw

out a yell of fear. He saw that the girl was about to try, and he was scared. She leaned from her saddle

you break your neck your uncle will j

il of the maddened steer run through her hand unt

ride suddenly. He gained second by second on the wildly running steer and the girl leaned forwa

as greater to the big steer than to Jane Ann. The yank on his tail made him lose his stride and forced him to cross hi

But Jane Ann had done the trick nicely; and in a moment she was out of her saddle, and before Ike was beside her, had tied the steer's feet, "fore and a

mine! Got anything to

East to add their congratulations. But as Ruth and the others rode up Heavy of course had

es, and Heavy's seat was not secure. When the pony began to cavort and plunge poor Heavy was

stuttered. "Hold him-

ground had not Tom and Bob, who had both seen her peril, leaped out of their own sadd

d it off across the plain, very much frightened by such a method of dismounting. It struck the whole cr

for running away. I have been sitting all along his backbone, from his ears to the root of his tail,

r and boosted her on again, and later she rode back to the ranch-house at an easy pace. But she declared tha

n Freckles. She was up early each morning and had a gallop over the prairie before her friends were out of their beds. And when Mr. Hicks stated one day that he had t

xplained to the ranchman, as they started from the ran

e said, "I'll adv

th the Tintacker mining properties. Bill Hic

stung. These wildcat mining properties are just the kind that greenhorn Easterners get roped into. I don't b

nd learn just how the Tintacker Mine itself stands on the books. I want to show U

d Mr. Hicks. "I know a young lawyer in town that will help you

h, and rode along happily

n the range on some errand, came whooping over the low hills to the N

my arm of things to tote back for the boys. Better have

o. He rode up, very red in the face, and stam

leaky tea-kettle. Can't you out with what you've

you-you could do a little errand f

" returned Ruth, hidi

the cowboy. "I-I want ye should buy a

nder in more dew-dabs for Sally Dickson, Ik

med up redder than eve

couldn't look cross-eyed. She's the sweetest and purtiest

"No offense intended. But I hate to see you waste your tim

of groan. "I ain't up to the mark with her-I know that. But thar ai

l cover the case and send a feller like you to the foolis

in find in Bullhide. When you come back by Lem Dickson's, jest drop it there for Sally. Yo' needn't say who sent it," added the ba

an," declared Ruth, earnestly.

and spurring his horse he rode rapidly aw