Page:Ruth Fielding at Silver Ranch.djvu/91

Rh "I guess it will be best to take care," grunted Tom. "She's been here before, remember."

"Pah! you're afraid!"

"Perhaps I am," returned Tom. "I'm not going to take any chances with these half wild ponies—and you girls in the wagon."

In a minute more they were at the top of the rise. Jib had disappeared around a distant turn in the path, which here was straight and level for fully a mile. The muffled roar of the river came up to them, and the abrupt cliff on the right cast its shadow clear across the canon. It was a rugged and gloomy place and Helen hid her eyes after glancing once down the steep descent to the river.

"Oh! drive on, Tommy!" she cried. "I don't want to look down there again. What a fearful drop it is! Hold the ponies tight, Tommy."

"Pshaw, you are making a great adieu about nothing," snapped Mary Cox.

"I'll have a care, Nell; don't you fear," assured her brother.

Ruth was as serious as her chum, and as she had a quick eye she noticed a strap hanging from the harness of one of the ponies and called Tom's attention to it.

"There's a strap unbuckled, Tom," she cried. "Do you see it hanging?"

"Good for you, Ruthie!" cried the boy, lean-