So Nan took Rhoda's weapon while the ranch girl went to unhobble
the ponies and lead her own to the cave's mouth. The other three
followed docilely enough.

Nan did not expect to fire the rifle if the Mexican--or anybody
else--should appear. But she thought she could frighten the
intruder just as much as Rhoda had.

When the latter and the ponies arrived, Bess uttered a sigh of
relief.

"I certainly am glad to get out of that old hole in the ground.
It's haunted," she declared. "And I want to get away from this
place and keep away from it as long as we are at Rose Ranch. This
has been one experience!"

"And you wouldn't have missed it for a farm," Nan said to her. "I
know how you'll talk when we get back to Lakeview Hall."

"Oh! won't I?" and Bess really could chuckle. "Won't Laura turn
green with envy?"

They mounted their ponies after pulling up the cinches a little,
and Rhoda again went ahead. The ponies splashed down into the
running stream; but they were sure-footed and did not seem to be
much frightened by the river that had so suddenly risen in the
bottom of the gulch.

They were only a few minutes in wading out of the gully. When the
party came out on the plain the ponies were still hock deep in