his mouth in a voice that was almost a whimper, he kept
cursing and saying to Ward Hannon: "You skunk! You ornery skunk! Hunt
your hole after this!"

Suddenly, with a quick, concerted action of spur, whip, and rein,
Judith swung the Prince about so that he was headed for the open
valley, running toward the west, giving him his head only a little,
driving him. He broke into a thundering run, snorting as, with mane
and tail flying, he dashed through the men who fell away from his
furious rush. And as he ran, Judith spurred him so that his only
thought lay in running away from the menace upon his back.

"She ain't giving him time to buck!" laughed old Carson hysterically.
"Mama! Ain't she sure enough--God! She's goin' to get a fall."

For horse and rider had come to the wide irrigating ditch which, since
Judith Sanford had lived here, had been constructed to carry the water
of Blue Lake River down to the alfalfa-fields. She saw it when she was
too close to swerve.

The men watching saw her lean forward in the saddle, gather her reins,
lift her whip. Then the lifted whip came down, the spurs touched the
Prince's sweating sides, the big horse leaped far and clear of the
ditch and there floated back Judith's laughter.

Three minutes later she rode back to the bunkhouse and slipped from the
saddle. Bud Lee, going to her, had his hat in his hand.

"Now, Ward," she said quickly, her breathing hurried, her cheeks red,
"what do you say?"

"I said I'd stick if you rode him," muttered Ward. "And----"

"And," cried the girl with quick passion, "I'll tell you something.
You're a great big lumbering coward! Stick with me?" She laughed
again, a new laugh, ringing with her scorn. "Here's your outlaw; I've
gentled him a bit. You ride him!"

His fellows laughed at Ward; for the field foreman was no horseman and
the timorous way in which he had brought out this snapping, vicious
animal had testified to the fact. He drew back now, muttering.

"Ride him!" cried Judith, her voice stinging him. "Ride him or get off
the ranch! Which is it?"

Ward Hannon, glad of the opening, answered surlily: "Aw! think I want
to take orders off'n a woman? You're right, I'll get off'n the ranch!"

"That's two down," said Judith. "Now, take this horse back to the
stable; I'm going up to the office. You men come there in five
minutes. If you want to stay, and are worth your salt, you can. Or
I'll give you your time. It's up to