peculiar whistle with which we always called
Darkie. To my astonishment, a whinny came from the plateau above. In
another moment I was scrambling up the rock steps. There, tied to a
cedar-stump, was Darkie. She recognized me at once, and whinnied
again. There was nobody in sight. I did not even stop to think of Lu
Hudson. I just ran to Darkie and untied her, and took her by the
bridle. It was a fearful business to lead her down the rock steps,
but she was as surefooted as a mule, and together we managed it
somehow. The boys nearly had a fit when I made my appearance with
the missing pony. It was pretty plain, so they said, that Spanish Lu
must have stolen her and taken her there for safety, intending to
come back and fetch her. Where was he now? The answer came
unexpectedly.

"'What's that smoke there?' asked Coonie.

"Lenox and I turned to look in the direction in which he pointed. A
grey haze was mounting from the horizon.

"'It's more like dust than smoke,' said Lenox. 'I wouldn't mind
betting it's sheep.'

"Who could have the impudence to be driving sheep on to the
Buller's Creek range? It seemed more than probable that Lu Hudson
had broken his pledge, and was again trespassing on his neighbour's
property. Lenox and I looked at each other. If Spanish Lu were
within short distance of us, the sooner we got Darkie safely home,
the better.

"'I'll ride her, and you lead Jap,' I decided.

"We started off at once. As we got out of the glen and on to the
prairie we could see in the distance an immense flock of sheep,
herded by two men on horseback. We were too far from them to
recognize faces, but the general appearance of one of them suggested
Spanish Lu.

"'They're grazing east of the ridge, in spite of what the judge
settled!' exclaimed Lenox angrily. 'If I hadn't to take care of you
and Darkie, I'd go and tell them what I think of them.'

"It seemed no use running our heads into danger, and perhaps having
Darkie wrenched from us, so we made off east towards home. We had
only gone about a mile when suddenly the sky to the west behind us
turned black. In a few minutes we were in the thick of a terrific
blizzard. My first instinct was to give Darkie her head and fly for
the ranch, but Lenox caught at my bridle.

"'Ride back to the glen!' he shouted.

"