Without a word Clipperton began cutting at the ropes with a jack-knife. Slash, slash. It was quickly done, the severed coils falling from Matt's wrists and ankles. "Come!" breathed Clipperton huskily. "Time is short. The man will be back." Matt was groggy on his feet. Clipperton, none too steady himself, contrived to support him to the door. Once outside they started hurriedly across the bare hills, Matt speechless with the wonder of it all. CHAPTER XIII. THE BLUEBELL. The two boys got out of sight in a swale before the cowboy returned from the spring. Looking back, just before they dropped from view of the _jacal_, they were unable to see anything of the man. Taking Matt's arm, Clipperton drew him along the swale, then over the western bank of it and into a shallow valley between two low hills. "It's nearly two o'clock," Clipperton was muttering. "Twenty miles--four o'clock. We'll get a horse at the Bluebell. You can make it if you _ride_." "Where did you come from, Clipperton?" asked Matt. "Phoenix." "How did you come?" "On foot. Didn't dare look for a horse. Afraid they'd find out and stop me." Matt halted and laid a hand on Clipperton's arm. "Did you come out here, all the way from Phoenix, on foot, to help me?" he asked quietly. "Why not?" flamed Clipperton. "I got you into the trouble. I was afraid you might think I knew what Perry and the rest were doing. I didn't. It was a put-up job, but I didn't know until too late. I--I could kill Perry! He told me to write that letter. Said he'd keep his hands off and stay away. You saw how he did it." Swirling hate poured out with the words. Clipperton was breathing hard and talked in husky gasps. "You were to do that mile race at two o'clock," said Matt. "I did a twenty-mile race; somewhat earlier." "Why, that race was as good as a hundred dollars to you!" "If I win this it'll please me more." "You've won it, Clip," said Matt, in a low tone. "You've got me away from that hut." "I haven't won it!" cried Clipperton. "It's won when you face the starter on your wheel and cut out Perry. The coyote!" "You've found out about Perry?" Clipperton muttered something in a savage undertone. Matt put out his hand and Clipperton clasped it quickly. "I guess we understand each other, Clip," said Matt. "How far away is the Bluebell?" "At the end of this valley. Hurry. You've _got_ to get to Phoenix in time." "I don't see how I can, even with a horse." "You can. You _must_!" They made their way down the valley as fast as they could, Matt's benumbed limbs slowly regaining their strength, and Clipperton keeping up by sheer force of will. From time to time they gazed behind them, but they could see nothing of the cowboy. If he was looking for them he was evidently searching in the wrong direction. "How did you find out where I had been taken, Clip?" queried Matt.