Page:Caroline Lockhart--The full of the Moon.djvu/264

 stiffly erect as though they heard or smelled some terrifying, unseen thing. Their excitement turned to frenzy as they fought for their heads.

"There's some good reason for this." Bob's horse was all but unmanageable.

"It gets me." Ben still searched the cañon walls with his eyes.

Then Edith's raw-boned cayuse squealed.

"Good God!" Ben's voice made his listeners blood run cold.

A sullen, unceasing roar reached their ears. Faint it was, but growing louder even in the second that they listened.

"It's water! A cloudburst! For God's sake, give 'em the spurs—it's comin' down the cañon!" Ben struck Nan's horse with his rein's end. "You've got to ride for your life, girl!" he said in a tense voice.

Bob looked despairingly at the towering cliffs. There was no foothold there. To reach the end of the cañon seemed their only chance.

The horses needed neither rein's end nor spur. They shook their heads free and ran like Derby winners gone stark mad with fear.