She experienced a slight shock of fright, but recognized the object as one of the cattle probably belonging to their own herd.
Others showed dimly here and there as the horse carefully picked his way forward.
"Halloo, who's that ?" called a gruff voice from the darkness, the hail proving more startling than the first surprise.
"It is I, Jennie Whitney," replied the young lady, "and I am searching for help." "Well, I'll be hanged! What's up, Miss Jennie ?" It was Budd Hankinson who came forward on foot, his figure appearing of gigantic proportions in the gloom.

He was more alarmed than she, as he had warrant for being, knowing, as he did, that some extraordinary cause must have brought the girl to this place alone at that hour of the night.
She quickly told her story, explaining that Fred was held a prisoner by the rustlers, else he would have hastened back to secure the assistance for which she was looking.
"You're a brave girl," said the honest fellow, as he laid his hand on the reins of the pony; "there are mighty few that would have done what you've done to-night." "Never mind about that, Budd, but tell me what to do." "Why, you mustn't do anything; I'll do the rest." "No, you may help me, but what is it to be ?" "Luck's running your way, Jennie; the stockmen have moved their camp since Fred left this morning." "Mercy! I thought I had only two or three miles farther to go." "Their camp isn't more'n half a mile off, right over the swell yonder; we'll be there in a jiffy." "And you will go with me ?" "Wal, I reckon; what sort of a chap do you take me for ?" "Where is Weber ?" "Three miles to the south, which is in t'other direction; we won't have time to look him up, and it wouldn't do any good if we did.

We made a change of grazing grounds, as I s'pose Fred told you, but some of the cattle strayed off here and I was looking 'em up when I heard your pony." "Where's your horse ?" "Not far; wait here and I'll be right back." He was gone but a few minutes, when he returned in the saddle.
"It won't do to go too fast," he explained, moving forward with his animal on a walk, "but we can keep beside each other." Riding thus carefully, he questioned her about the stirring incidents at the house, and she gave him the particulars.

The sagacious fellow had seen before this how matters stood between her and Monteith Sterry, and he knew her anxiety, but his good taste prevented any reference to it further than to say: "I hope Mont will be too wise to try to slip out of the house, for if he does he's sure to be grabbed up by them, and they won't give him a chance for his life." "Do you think he will make the attempt, Budd ?" "No, now that he knows you have started, for you've got a mighty sight better chance to succeed than he could have.

Of course he has too much sense for anything of the kind." It was well that neither of them suspected the truth.
"There they are!" They had reached the top of the elevation, and saw before them the twinkling lights of several camp-fires.