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whole herd was in stampede。
Down the gulch the five hundred cattle thundered toward the motor car；
which lay directly in their path。 Helen turned； appreciated the danger； and
put the machine at its full speed。 The road branched for a space of about
fifty yards； and in her excitement she made the mistake of choosing the
lower； more level； one。 Into a deep sand bed they plowed； the wheels
sinking at every turn。 Slower and slower went the car； finally came to a
full stop。
Nora glanced back in affright at the two hundred and fifty tons of beef
that was charging wildly toward them。 〃What shall we do？〃 she gasped；
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and clambered to the ground。
〃Run！〃 cried Helen； following her example and scudding for the sides
of the canyon； which here sloped down less precipitately than at other
points。 But before they had run a dozen steps each of them was aware that
they could not reach safety in time to escape the hoofs rushing toward
them so heavily that the ground quaked。
〃Look out！〃 A resonant cry rang out above the dull thud of the
stampeding cattle that were almost upon them。 Down the steep sides of the
gorge two riders were galloping recklessly。 It was a race for life between
them and the first of the herd； and they won by scarce more than a length。
Across the sand the horses plowed； and as they swept past the two
trembling young women each rider bent from the saddle without
slackening speed； and snatched one almost from under the very hoofs of
the leaders。
The danger was not past。 As the horses swerved and went forward with
the rush Helen knew that a stumble would fling not only her and the man
who had saved her； but also the horse down to death。 They must contrive
to hold their own in that deadly rush until a way could be found of
escaping from the path of the living cyclone that trod at their heels；
galloped beside them； in front； behind。
For it came to her that the horse was tiring in that rush through the
sand with double weight upon its back。
〃Courage！〃 cried the man behind her as her fearful eyes met his。
As he spoke they reached the end of the canyon and firm ground
simultaneously。 Helen saw that her rescuer had now a revolver in his hand；
and that he was firing in such a way as to deflect the leaders to the left。 At
first the change in course was hardly perceptible； but presently she noticed
that they were getting closer to the outskirts of the herd； working gradually
to the extreme right； edging inch by inch； ever so warily； toward safety。
Going parallel to their course； running neck and neck with the cow pony；
lumbered a great dun steer。 Unconsciously it blocked every effort of the
horseman to escape。 He had one shot left in his revolver； and this time he
did not fire into the air。 It was a mighty risk； for the animal in falling might
stagger against the horse and hunt them all down to death。 But the man
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took it without apparent hesitation。 Into the ear of the bullock he sent the
lead crashing。 The brute stumbled and went down head over heels。 Its
flying hoofs struck the flanks of the pony； but the bronco stuck to its feet；
and next moment staggered out from among the herd stragglers and came
to halt。
The man slid from its back and lifted down the half…fainting girl。 She
clung to him； white a trembling。 〃Oh； it was horrible； Ned！〃 She could still
look down in imagination upon the sea of dun backs that swayed and
surged about them like storm…tossed waves。
〃It was a near thing； but we made it； girl。 So did Jim。 He got out before
we did。 It's all past now。 You can remember it as the most exciting
experience of your life。〃
She shuddered。 〃I don't want to remember it at all。〃 And so shaken was
she that she did not realize that his arm was about her the while she
sobbed on his shoulder。
〃A cattle stampede is a nasty thing to get in front of。 Never mind。 It's
done with now and everybody's safe。〃
She drew a long breath。 〃Yes； everybody's safe and you are back home。
Why didn't you come after your cousin was killed？〃
〃I had to finish my work。〃
〃And DID you finish it？〃
〃I think we did。 There will be no more Shoshone gang。 It's members
have scatted in all directions。〃
〃I'm glad you stayed； then。 We can live at peace now。〃 And presently
she added： 〃I knew you would not come back until you had done what you
set out to do。 You're very obstinate； sir。 Do you know that？〃
〃Perseverance； I call it；〃 he smiled； glad to see that she was recovering
her lightness of tone。
〃You don't always insist on putting your actions in the most favorable
light。 Do you remember the first day I ever saw you？〃
〃Am I likely ever to forget it？〃 he smiled fondly。
〃I didn't mean THAT。 What I was getting at was that you let me go
away from you thinking you were 'the king。' I haven't forgiven you
entirely for that。〃
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〃I expect y'u'll always have to be forgiving me things。〃
〃If you valued my good opinion I don't see how you could let me go
without telling me。 Was it fair or kind？〃
〃If y'u come to that； was it so fair and kind to convict me so promptly
on suspicion？〃 he retaliated with a smile。
〃No； it wasn't。 But〃 She flushed with a divine shyness。 〃But I loved
you all the time； even when they said you were a villain。〃
〃Even while y'u believed me one？〃
〃I didn't。 I never would believe you onenot deep in my heart。 I
wouldn't let myself。 I made excuses for youexplained everything to
myself。〃
〃Yet your reason told y'u I was guilty 〃
〃Yes； I think my mind hated you and my heart loved you。〃
He adored her for the frank simplicity of her confession； that out of the
greatness of her love she dared to make no secret of it to him。 Direct as a
boy； she was yet as wholly sweet as the most retiring girl could be。
〃Y'u always swamp my vocabulary； sweetheart。 I can't ever tell y'u
life wouldn't be long enoughhow much I care for you。〃
〃I'm glad；〃 she said simply。
They sto