Helen turned, appreciated
the danger, and put the machine at its full speed. The road
branched for a space of about fifty yards, and in her excitement
she made the mistake of choosing the lower, more level, one. Into
a deep sand bed they plowed, the wheels sinking at every turn.
Slower and slower went the car; finally came to a full stop.
Nora glanced back in affright at the two hundred and fifty tons
of beef that was charging wildly toward them. "What shall we do?"
she gasped, and clambered to the ground.
"Run!" cried Helen, following her example and scudding for the
sides of the canyon, which here sloped down less precipitately
than at other points. But before they had run a dozen steps each
of them was aware that they could not reach safety in time to
escape the hoofs rushing toward them so heavily that the ground quaked.
"Look out!" A resonant cry rang out above the dull thud of the
stampeding cattle that were almost upon them. Down the steep
sides of the gorge two riders were galloping recklessly. It was a
race for life between them and the first of the herd, and they
won by scarce more than a length. Across the sand the horses
plowed, and as they swept past the two trembling young women each
rider bent from the saddle without slackening speed, and snatched
one almost from under the very hoofs of the leaders.
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