But Betty had seen the opportunity for which she had been waiting. Fluss had removed his hand from the bridle for an instant, and Betty pulled back on the reins. Ki had taught Clover to rear at this signal and strike out with her forefeet. She obeyed beautifully, and involuntarily the two men fell back. Betty urged Clover ahead and they dashed down the road.
Betty forced her mount to gallop all the way home and startled Bob by dashing into the yard like a whirlwind. The horse was flecked with foam and Betty was white-faced and wild-eyed.
“Oh, Bob!” she gasped hysterically, tumbling from the saddle, “those sharpers are still here! They stopped me down the road!”
CHAPTER XXI
WHERE IS BOB?
Bob’s chief feeling, after hearing the story, was one of intense indignation.
“Pretty cheap, I call it,” he growled, “to stop a girl and frighten her. The miserable cowards! Just let me get a crack at them once!”
“Bob Henderson, you stay right on this farm,” cried Betty, her alarm returning. “They weren’t trying to frighten me—at least, that wasn’t their main purpose. They wanted to find out about you. They’ll kidnap you, or do something dreadful to you. I wish with all my heart that Uncle Dick would come.”