He strode off in haste. Beth watched him go. She made no move towards
the quartz-mill, which Gettysburg had indicated, over on the slope.

She soon grew restive, awaiting his return. Elsa came out and sat
down. The old miner failed to reappear.

At length, unable to endure any longer her feeling of alarm and
suspense, Beth resolutely followed where Gettysburg had gone, and soon
came in sight of the stable and high corral. Then her heart struck a
blow of excitement in her breast, and her knees began to weaken beneath
her.




CHAPTER VI

THE BATTLE

Too late to interfere in the struggle about to be enacted, the girl
stood rigidly beside a great red pine tree, fixing her gaze upon Van,
on whose heels, as he walked, jingled a glinting pair of spurs.

From the small corral he was leading forth as handsome an animal as
Beth had ever seen, already saddled, bridled--and blindfolded. The
horse was a chestnut, magnificently sculptured and muscled. He was of
medium size, and as trim and hard as a nail. His coat fairly glistened
in the sun.