"That's what I'd like to know. Those steers are certainly on the rush again, though. Hi, Baldy!" he called to the cowboy. "What are you starting 'em up again for?"
"Startin' who up?"
"The steers! Look at 'em!"
"Say, they are on the run again," agreed the bald-headed cowboy, who had ridden up to where Mr. Pertell and Mr. Norton stood. "Something must be wrong," and he set off on the gallop once more.
Meanwhile the steers, which had almost come to a rest, were again in motion. But they were not safely going about in a circle. Instead, they had started off in a long line and now were swinging around in a big circle and heading directly for the mound on which the young ladies were still standing.
Ruth and Alice had started down as they saw the cattle growing quiet, but now several of the cowboys shouted to them:
"Go back! Go back! This is a stampede in earnest."
"A stampede in earnest!" repeated Mr. Norton. "I wonder what started that?"
With a sudden rush the whole bunch of cattle were in motion, and headed in a solid mass for the mound.
"If they rush over that——" said Mr. Pertell in fear.