Ruth Fielding at Silver Ranch

outing for the following day into the hills West of the range over which Mr. Hicks' cattle fed. It was to be a picnic

k; but Jane Ann said that the ponies and mules could stand it. It was probable, however, that none of the

rty, and one of the little Mexican boys would drive the supply wagon, to which were hitched two trotting mules.

agon was laden with provisions, as well as a light tent and blankets. Tom and Bob had both

sometimes a gray wolf. The boys once in a while see cats about-

Heavy. "Do y

nn. "They're some nasty w

e wildcat tribe," Ruth cried. "I had my

he fourth member of the party. However, The Fox usually knew what she wanted herself, and got it, too! She liked Master Tom and wished

coolly. "I believe you've got the best pon

ression of her twin's face, began to giggle. There w

heading the procession, and Ricardo, the Mexi

ranch-house in his stocking feet and with his hair touseled from his early morning souse

the Indian stolidly. "I re

brothers, the trip promised all kinds of excitement. And they enjoyed every mile of the journey through the foothills. There was something ne

r Ranch herds. Heretofore Ruth and her friends had not realized the s

t of all the men of the East! He only owned seven thousand sheep and three thousand camels and a thousand oxen and

so long ago," returned Jane Ann. "But cattlemen have learned a lot since

Helen, from the forward buckboard, pointing to a couple of well-mounted punchers spurring after

lls seems to make for rugged character and courage. Think of King David, and lots of those Biblical characters. David was a cowboy,

Ruth's speeches, "I guess these cowboys aren't any better than the usual run of m

d sneering ways. "Why, he's got a better education than most of the men you meet. He stood high at Carli

ary Cox, with he

hite men drove them out. You'd consider an Englishman, or a German, or a Belgian,

r could admire a savage," sni

buckboard where The Fox rode, for Ruth was there, and Ruth was not one of the bickering kind. Helen was inclined to think that her chum was altoget

spoke to him perhaps the young fellow was a bit cold. At least, before they came to the ca?on, through which flowed R

right the sheer cliff rose higher and higher. And while the ponies climbed the rather steep ascent Jib Pottoway spurred his h

nd carriage. "There are bad places when we get to the upper level-

us," snapped The Fox. "

ake care," grunted Tom. "She'

ou're a

oing to take any chances with these half

and level for fully a mile. The muffled roar of the river came up to them, and the abrupt cliff on the right cast its shadow clear

want to look down there again. What a fearf

a great adieu about not

ell; don't you fear,

ck eye she noticed a strap hanging from the harness o

led, Tom," she cried. "

aning out of his seat to glimpse the stra

pped out. She laughed and slapped them across the

ou're doing, Mary C

earest pony by the bit. But the half wild animals je

pull up!"

d Jane Ann Hicks, standing

pulled the left rein to bring them back into the trail, and off the creatures dashed, at headlong speed, along