gate, the door of the cabin opened, and Jim came running out.
Lifting his daughter from the trembling pony, he helped her into
the house, where she sobbed out her message.

At the first word, "Wash Gibbs," Jim reached for a cartridge belt,
and, by the time Sammy had finished, he had taken his Winchester
from its brackets over the fireplace. Slipping a bridle on his
horse that was feeding in the yard, he sprang upon the animal's
back without waiting for a saddle. "Stay in the cabin, girl, put
out the light, and don't open the door until I come," he said and
he was gone.

As Sammy turned back into the house, from away down in Mutton
Hollow, on the night wind, came the sound of guns.





CHAPTER XVII.

WHAT HAPPENED AT THE RANCH.


It was after midnight when Mr. Howitt was rudely awakened. The
bright moon shining through the windows lit up the interior of the
cabin and he easily recognized Young Matt standing by the bed,
with Pete, who was sleeping at the ranch that night, near by.

"Why, Matt, what is the matter?" exclaimed the shepherd, sitting