sand.

Every few minutes Carl's voice could be heard, and Ted called back to
him.

Ted was traveling entirely by instinct, for it was so dark that he could
not see a foot in front of them.

So they struggled on for an hour, halting occasionally to give the
horses a breathing spell, then drove obstinately forward again.

"We should have been at the ranch house long ago," shouted Ted at last,
pulling in his panting horse.

"Then we're lost, I suppose," shouted Stella in return.

"Looks that way."

"What are you going to do?"

"Stop for the rest of the night."

"I wouldn't. Keep on until the horses won't go any farther."

"All right, if you think best."

On they went again for a half hour more, and Ted was beginning to
believe it was folly to go any farther when his pony stumbled and almost
fell.

In front of them loomed a darkness more intense than before.

Ted scrambled from the back of his pony and led it forward. The pony had
stumbled over the horse block at the very door of the Long Tom ranch
house.

CHAPTER II.

THE LONG TOM RANCH.

Ted and Stella raised such a shout that Carl pulled his horses up just
in time to keep them from trying to climb upon the veranda.

With the aid of his searchlight Ted had found the door and entered the
house, followed by Stella.

In the big, front living room they found a lamp, which they lighted and
looked around.

The house had been left ready for occupancy, and in the great, wide
fireplace logs were piled high ready to be burned.

In a moment Ted had a fire leaping high up the chimney, then hastened
out to the carriage.

Carl had scrambled down from the seat of the carriage, and was so cold
and numb that he couldn't walk, while Mrs. Graham had to be carried into
the house by Ted and placed before the fire to thaw out.

Soon the room was comfortable, and Ted, who had set out on a tour of
inspection, found that the kitchen was well stored with food.

He started a fire, and soon had coffee and bacon cooking.

Outside the storm continued to rage through the night, but all within
was tight and warm, and Stella and her aunt retired to their comfortable
bedrooms. But Ted sat up through the night.

He had considered starting back through the storm to the herd, but
thought better of it, for Bud was perfectly capable of doing all that
could be done with the cattle until daylight came to their rescue.

While daylight was struggling up through the leaden