CHAPTER XIII
Over the Precipice
Cecil's panic-stricken cry was muffled by a resounding splash as hisbody struck the pool below.
"My brother will drown!" screamed Helena hysterically. "He can't swim astroke!"
Connie had rushed to the edge of the cliff. Jerking off her ridingboots, she poised for an instant on the brow of the declivity. Then sheshot out into space head foremost, turning slowly in mid-air so that shebroke the water with the lower part of her body. The force of the fallsent her deep into the pool and even her heavy clothing did not protecther from the stinging lash of the blow.
Two powerful strokes brought her to the surface. Cecil was almost withinarm's reach, sputtering and wildly thrashing the water.
Connie whipped an arm about his chest and towed him to the edge of thepool. She climbed out on a low ledge of rock and pulled him up afterher. For a few minutes Cecil sputtered water like a lawn sprinkler. Theninstead of thanking Connie for saving him he said wrathfully:
"I shall report this to my father. He'll have that cowboy of yoursarrested!"
"I don't know what came over Lefty," Connie said soothingly. "He'susually very even tempered. You must have said something which angeredhim."
Cecil avoided the girl's glance.
"The fellow tried to drown me," he snapped. "But he'll pay for it."
"Lefty didn't mean to push you over the precipice, I am sure of that,"replied Connie. "You slipped on the rock, and then it crumbled."
"I suppose you'll not even discharge him for this?"
"I haven't thought that far," answered Connie quietly. "Let's notdiscuss it now. We'll both catch our deaths if we sit around in thesewet clothes."
"I'm so bruised and battered I can't walk," Cecil complained.
"You're lucky no bones are broken," Connie told him and added impishly:"it really is a sixty foot drop."
This time Cecil did not dispute her word. He followed her sullenly asshe went ahead and parted the bushes.
They climbed from the pool-basin and circled the hill until they strucka trail. This led them back toward Lover's Leap but they had not gonefar before they met Lefty and the three women.
"Oh, Cecil, are you all right?" called his sister.
"I'm still alive," the young man muttered. "No thanks to that brute!" Heglared at Lefty.
"Cecil," the cowboy said anxiously, "I hope you don't think I pushed youoff that steep cliff a-purpose."
"Oh, no," replied the youth mockingly. "I suppose you were just beingplayful! An old western custom no doubt."
"It was an accident, and I'm mighty sorry," Lefty said contritely."Maybe I owe you an apology, and I'm makin' it now."
"I'll accept no apology from you," retorted Cecil. "You'll be reportedto the authorities."
Connie shot Lefty a glance which warned him to say nothing more.
"Let's talk about it after we get back to the ranch," she said. "We'llhave to postpone our visit to the cliff dwellings until later."
"I'll get the horses," Lefty declared.
"We may as well all walk along with you," replied Connie. "Cecil and Iwill freeze if we stand here."
Lefty tried to put his jacket around Connie but she passed it on toCecil. He took it most ungallantly, and Miss Parker then stripped offher light sweater, insisting that the girl wear it.
"Cecil, I think you might thank Miss Carl for saving your life," Helenareminded her brother. "It was a pretty brave thing to do--jumping offthat cliff after you."
"I did thank her," Cecil replied.
He had said no word of appreciation to Connie, but the girl expectednone. If only he could be induced to forget the incident, that was allshe asked. Somehow she must keep him from reporting the matter to theauthorities.
As the party trudged along the trail, Lefty dropped back to walk withConnie. "I guess I've messed things up pretty thoroughly now," he saidgloomily.
"Yes, you have, Lefty. Why did you strike him? It was inexcusable."
"I just couldn't help myself, Connie. That fellow has been gettin' undermy skin ever since he came here. He just pulled one crack too many and Isaw red."
"What did he say to you, Lefty?"
"Well, I don't just remember."
"Was it about me, Lefty?" Connie pinned him down. "Tell me the truth."
"Well, yes, it was," Lefty admitted reluctantly. "He made a remark Ididn't like--intimatin' that everything you said was just a lot of applesauce."
"It was very gallant of you to go to my defense. But I hardly thinkCecil's remark called for such drastic action."
"It was the way he said it. And I've stood a lot from him, Connie. Ijust lost my head that's all. I'll pack up my duds as soon as I get backto the bunk house."
"Have I asked you to do that, Lefty?"
"No, but this places you in a bad spot. The only thing for me to do isto get out."
"I want you to stay, Lefty. Why, I couldn't run the ranch without you.Sometimes I feel you're the only person I can entirely trust."
"I've let you in for a heap of trouble, Connie. When old man Grimeshears what I did to that sweetheart son of his, he'll make things hardfor you. If I get out of the way he might not be quite so tough."
"I'm not afraid of Mr. Grimes, Lefty."
"Maybe not, but his money comes in mighty useful," Lefty answered dryly.
Connie knew that the cowboy was entirely right. It was a foregoneconclusion that Cecil would give an exaggerated report of the incidentto his father. The least she could expect would be that Mr. Grimes andhis spoiled brood would depart, taking with them Mr. Postil, his smalldaughter, and perhaps the two teachers. Nor could she greatly blameanyone for leaving.
Connie came out of her reverie as she heard Cecil, who was far ahead,shout something back.
"Now what's the matter with him?" muttered Lefty.
"Where are our horses?" called the youth.
Connie and Lefty quickened their pace. When they came within view of thecedars where the ponies had been tied, they stopped short in amazement.The horses were gone.
"Now what!" exclaimed Connie.
Although they could see where the ponies had nibbled at the treebranches and trampled the ground, but there was no sign of the animals.
"This is just another evidence of gross carelessness!" said Cecilangrily. "The horses weren't tied well and they've run off."
Lefty's face grew very red but he managed to control his temper.
"It isn't logical that six horses would break away at the same time,"Connie said quietly. "Besides, I'm sure they were well tied."
"Well, they're gone," said Cecil sullenly. "You can see that."
"How did they get away?" inquired Miss Parker.
"I don't know," admitted Connie soberly.
She met Lefty's gaze. Someone deliberately had turned the horses loose.They were certain of that.
The cowboy bent down to examine the soft earth. It was impossible totell if there were alien footprints by the cedars for Cecil and thegirls had tramped everywhere.
"Now what are we going to do?" demanded Cecil. "I'm freezing to death ifthat means anything to you."
"How far are we from the ranch?" asked one of the teachers anxiously.
"Over two miles," Connie replied. "I'm afraid we'll have to walk back."
"Walk?" Cecil cried furiously. "In these wet clothes? This is absolutelythe last straw."
"First we'll build a fire and dry you out," Connie said. "Lefty, see ifyou can find some wood."
The teachers tried to help the cowboy, but neither Helena nor herbrother would so much as pick up a stick. Cecil's temper sweetened atrifle after he had warmed himself by the big bonfire. But he took keenpleasure in showing Helena bruised marks on his skin. It did not seem tooccur to him that Connie too might be in discomfort.
The girl drew Lefty aside to discuss the situation.
"Someone set those horses free deliberately," Connie said.
> "Sure, they never walked away themselves."
"Who could have done it, Lefty?"
The cowboy shook his head.
"It might have been some smart Mexican kid," he said finally.
"Do you know what I believe?" Connie asked. "Someone is afraid I'll makea success of this dude ranch. It looks to me as if that trick was donefor the deliberate purpose of making the guests leave."
"Pop Bradshaw is trying to start up in the dude business," Lefty saidthoughtfully. "Maybe he got wind of how we smuggled Catapult into therodeo grounds. I know Blakeman's been makin' it plenty tough for himever since."
"Pop wouldn't do a thing like this," Connie replied slowly.
"We didn't think he'd double-cross his friends either. But he did. Maybehe's aimin' to get your dudes away from you, Connie."
"If they're all like Cecil he's welcome to them," answered Conniewearily.
The party began the long trek back to the ranch. Lefty and Connie,accustomed to walking, did not mind the rough trail, but the othersfound it trying. Helena had not worn suitable shoes. Her complaints werenearly as annoying as those of her brother.
At first the school teachers tried to be cheerful but soon they gave upthe effort. And then to add to the difficulties, Miss Parker twisted herankle.
"I don't think I can walk another step," she murmured. "Oh, dear, whydid we ever come on this horrible trip?"
"There's only one thing to do," Connie decided. "Lefty, you go on aheadto the ranch and come back with some horses. We'll have a long waithere, but it's the best that can be done."
"I'll get back just as soon as I can," the cowboy promised.
He started down the trail but had gone only a few feet when he halted.Emerging from among the trees was a lone rider leading a string ofhorses.
"It's Jim Barrows!" shouted Lefty, waving his hat. "And he has ourponies!"