Like the wind she then rode through the valleys and over the hills, directing her course toward the Ramsey settlement, as she dared not take the lower cañon leading to the fort of the miners. At length she drew near the spot where she had been told the palefaces were encamped, and was just turning into the narrow gulch leading to the stockade fort, when she heard a loud cry for help.
“Help, help! Oh, Heaven, save me!” again rang the cry, and in a woman’s voice.
With the impulsiveness of her nature, Pearl was about to dash at once to the rescue, when there came the sound of coming hoofs. The next instant, riding up the gulch, she beheld two horses bearing a man and a girl, the man holding the girl firmly in her saddle, and at the same time grasping with his other hand the bridle rein of her horse.
They were Kansas King and Ruth Ramsey. Infuriated by her refusal of his love, the outlaw chief was bearing the girl by force to his camp, in spite of her heart-rending cries for help.
“Hold!”
The voice was that of a woman, yet it had in it a stern and determined ring that brought the robber chief and his captive to a sudden halt. Before them, seated upon her horse, with her rifle leveled at the broad breast of Kansas King, was Pearl, the Maid of the Hills. At the command Kansas King drew rein.
“Well, girl, what do you want?” he asked.
“That you ride on and leave that girl alone,” firmly replied Pearl.
“Ha! a stern command from such sweet lips; but what if I refuse?”
“I will kill you.”