They followed the trail upward, coming to a tunnel so narrow that they had trouble in squeezing through on hands and knees. Emerging at the end, Connie and Enid stepped out on a wide shelf. Just ahead were the ruined dwellings, built snugly under the lip of the cliff.
“Look!” whispered Connie.
She pointed toward one of the kivas at the far end of the shelf upon which they stood. A crude ladder leading down into the hole wiggled slightly as if someone were climbing on it. Then Forest Blakeman’s head and shoulders appeared.
Although the girls were unsheltered he did not see them immediately. That was because he was engrossed in examining something in his hand. Connie saw that it was a roll of bills. As he put the money into his pocket she and Enid ran forward.
“Just a minute, Forest Blakeman!”
At the sound of Connie’s voice, the foreman whirled around to face the girls. A look of fear gave way to one of insolent defiance.
“Well?” he asked brazenly.
“You have a great many things to explain, Forest Blakeman,” said Connie grimly. “First, why did you stampede my herd?”
The man laughed harshly.
“Why did I stampede your herd?” he mocked. “I’d advise you not to make rash accusations without proof.”