st and warn those
men of their danger," Polly said, thinking aloud.

"Let's both scream at the top of our lungs and see if he can hear us."

So the two girls stood out on the edge of a huge bowlder and, making
megaphones of their hands, shouted again and again. The depression made
by the crater that lay between the Cliffs and the corral, acted as a
hollow tube, so Jeb finally wheeled around and tried to locate the call.
When he saw the girls, he immediately started to meet them as no one on
the ranch would shout that way for fun.

It took ten minutes for Jeb to cover the circuitous path and join the
girls, and when they had hastily explained the cause of their concern,
he replied: "Gosh! Ah was told to hang a sign on that flat cliff to warn
folks offen the bad trail!"

"Well, you didn't, so now race down the good trail and try to make the
men hear you," demanded Polly.

Jeb spurred his horse at that, and was soon out of sight, but Polly and
Eleanor continued in the same direction, to see if all turned out well
for the riders.

Having reached and passed the last spur of the Rainbow Cliffs, and then
climbing the steep ascent to the top-trail, they finally came to a rise
whence the whole shale-field could be seen. But not a sign of horsemen
could be seen. Jeb, riding like mad, right across the loose shale in
reckless risk of breaking his broncho's legs, was the only man visible.

Eleanor turned and looked in wonderment at Polly, but when she saw the
look of horror on her friend's face, she caught at her arm.

"Polly! What do you think has happened?"

"Oh, Nolla! I fear they are down in that gulch! Most likely the shale
started sliding under their horses' hoofs, and before they realized
their danger, they were swept along over the top!"

"Oh, mercy! Polly--never that! Why they will be killed!"

Polly never said a word but watched Jeb as he reined in his horse.
Jumping from the saddle and hobbling the animal, he very carefully
crawled over the apparently safe surface between himself and the ravine.

"Now I'm sure that's what happened, Nolla, or Jeb wouldn't try to get
over there. He's going to see just how bad things are."

"Poll, we'd better run as fast as we can, and get things ready at the
ranch. Your father ought to know this, so he can hitch a cart to two
strong horses and drive there to help carry the men to the house."

"Nolla, I fear there will be nothing left to carry away. Once the shale
starts to s