ng ridge whence he could look across the
hills billowing away darkly toward the southland, he came up with her
again.

"They got off that way." She pointed south. "Saw one figure and maybe
two going down the slope. There's no use following. The way is too
open and it's too dark. They've got away after all."

"For to-night," said Steve. "But maybe the fellows at the top of the
cliffs----"

"I'll show you the way up," said Terry.

So without delaying they turned back and came presently under Drop Off
Cliffs again. Here they left their horses and, Terry showing the way,
found the old path up the precipice. Along many a narrow shelf of rock
they went, over many a gigantic granite splinter where foothold was
precarious enough, up many a steep climb. But in their present mood
they would have achieved even a more difficult and more hazardous task
with eagerness and assurance. Twenty minutes brought them to the top.

"Who's that?" shouted a sudden voice as Steve's hat came up out of the
void. "Hands up!"

"That you, Barbee?" grunted Steve. "Hands up? I'd drop a clean
hundred feet if I did a fool trick like that. Did they get away? The
men up here?"

He wriggled up to the top, lay on his stomach and gave a hand to Terry,
drew her to lie a moment breathless at his side and then again turned
to Barbee. There was another man with him and both were looking
wonderingly at Steve and Terry.

"I never heard a man say," muttered the astounded Barbee, "that there
was stair-steps up here! For a man an' girl to come up----"

"And for our cows to go down!" cried Steve, on his feet now and coming
to Barbee's side. "You heard everything, Barbee? You know what has
happened?"

"Yes," said Barbee. "A hundred yards over that way--" he pointed along
the cliff's edge--"where a twisted cedar-tree stands in a little
washout, not hardly to be noticed unless you're on the lookout for it,
they had their pulleys hitched an' a long steel cable. It was easy
shootin', come to think of it. Jus' rope a cow, cinch her up tight
with two big straps they had all ready, slip a hook through the
belly-band, an' lower away! Pretty smooth, huh?"

"And they all got away?"

"No, they didn't," said Barbee queerly. "I got one of 'em!"

"You did?" Steve swung back toward him eagerly. "Who is he, Barbee?
And where is he? I want a talk with him."

Barbee shook his head and reached for his tobacco and papers. He was
young after all