CHAPTER XVII

THE ROUND-UP


Mr. Hammond, however, did not overtake the young people before they
reached the mouth of the canyon through which Rhoda said the army
of horses must be driven down to the branding pens.

"Of course, we could go on to the pens and wait there," she said to
her friends. "Our personal outfit is there already. Daddy sent it
over last night But then you would miss a sight that I want you all
to take back East with you as a memory. It is something you will
never forget."

"Go on, Rhoda," said Bess. "Show us. Of course, we haven't been
seeing wonderful things right along ever since we arrived at Rose
Ranch!"

"This is something special," said Rhoda, and led the way into the
canyon at a quick canter.

The high-walled slash in the foothills narrowed rapidly, and five
miles from the mouth of it the walls were so close together that
Walter declared he could throw a stone from one to the other.

The way was becoming rocky, too; the patches of grass were meager
and the brush grew more sparse.