The encampment of Steve's outfit, and therefore the tent in which
the four girls were sheltered, was on the side of the hill to the
south of the narrow path connecting the twin valleys. It seemed as
though the chuck wagon and tent, as well as the horse corral, were
well out of the path of the charging cattle.

But when Nan Sherwood and her companions, awakened by the louder
peal of thunder, gazed out of the tent opening and gained, by aid
of the lightning, their initial glimpse of the stampede, it seemed
as though a thousand bellowing throats and twice that number of
tossing horns threatened the encampment.

"Grab your things and get out this way!" shouted Rhoda, leading the
retreat through the rear of the tent.

Fortunately the girls had not taken off more than their outer
clothing and their boots. They had no cots during this outing, but
used sleeping-bags instead. Seizing such of their possessions as
they could find in the dark, they followed Rhoda out at the rear
and up the hillside.

From below the pandemonium of sound of the enraged and terrified
cattle was all but deafening. At the corral the men who had been
off watch were mounting their ponies. The girls heard Steve's
stentorian voice shouting to Hesitation Kane:

"Can we swing 'em before they clog that cut into the other hollow,
Hess?"