cting the
drilling of a well which he told them was expected to "come in" that
morning.

"Bob, I wonder if you'd do an errand for me?" he inquired. "I have to
go back to the pumping station, and I want to send a record book back
to one of the men here. Will you ride back with me and get the book?
Betty will be all right, and she'll get a chance to see the well
come in. MacDuffy will look after her."

Bob, of course, was glad to do Dave a service, and the old Scotchman,
MacDuffy, promised to see that Betty did not get into any danger.

"You'll like to see the well shot off," he told her pleasantly. "'Tis
a bonny sight, seen for the first time. The wee horse is not afraid?
That is gude, then. Rein in here and keep your eye on that crowd of
men. When they run you'll know the time has come."

Obediently Betty sat her horse and fixed her gaze on the small group
of men who were moving about with more than ordinary quickness and a
trace of excitement. There is always the hope that a well will "come
in big" and offer substantial payment for the weeks of hard work and
toil expended on it.

Suddenly the group scattered. Involuntarily Betty's hand tightened on
Clover's rein. For a moment nothing happened. Then came a roar and a
mighty rumble and the earth seemed to strain and crack.

CHAPTER XIII

THE THREE HILLS

Betty saw an upheaval of sand, followed by a column of oil, heard a
shout of victory from the men, and then Clover, who had been
shivering with apprehension, snorted loudly, took the bit between her
teeth and began to run. MacDuffy, resting securely in the assurance
Betty had given that the horse would not be frightened, was occupied
with the men, and horse and rider were rapidly disappearing from
sight before he realized what had happened.

"Clover, Clover!" Betty put her arms around the maddened creature's
neck and spoke to her softly. "It's all right, dear. Don't be afraid.
I thought you had been brought up in an oil country, or I wouldn't
have let you stand where you could see the well."

But Clover's nerves had been sadly shaken, and she was not yet in a
state to listen to reason. Betty was now an excellent horsewoman, and
had no difficulty in remaining in the saddle. She did not try to pull
the horse in, rather suspecting that the animal had a hard mouth, but
let the reins lie loosely on her neck, speaking reassuringly from
time to time. Gradually Clover slackened her wild lope, dropped to a
g