Mindy swallowed hard, and never before in her life had she felt such awful fear. Her father had gone into no one knew what danger. Cindy had followed him, and Alec had followed Cindy. Therefore, Cindy and Alec were in danger too. At the same time, though her heart was torn for her father, brother, and sister, Mindy knew that she must not give way to fear. "That child certainly acts fast," said Granny Brent. Mrs. Simpson said, "Cindamine was always headstrong." "Maybe, but I'd call this quick thinking," Granny said. "Well, John won't get his message now. I do hope he doesn't worry." And before she could stop herself, Mindy heard herself saying, "I'll take the message to the telegraph station." Mrs. Simpson arched surprised brows. Mindy looked only briefly at her mother. She knew how Mrs. Simpson felt, because she herself felt the same way. But if she looked too long at her mother's face, the tears that were in her heart might leap into her eyes. That must not be. "Do you think you can do it, Miranda?" her mother asked. "I'm sure I can," said Mindy, who had to be sure because she dared be no other way. There was something to be done. Since those who normally would have done it were no longer here, those who were had to take over. Neither Mrs. Simpson nor Gramps or Granny could ride. That left only Mindy. "There isn't any saddle," said Gramps. "I'll ride bareback," Mindy said. Gramps said, "Pete's horses aren't very fast." "It's only two miles," Mindy pointed out. "You'll be careful?" asked Mrs. Simpson, and Mindy knew that her mother was making a mighty effort to remain calm. "I'll be very careful," Mindy promised. "If you're going to ride," Mrs. Simpson said, "you had better put on some of Alec's outgrown clothes. You'll find some in Cindamine's carpetbag." "Shall I write the message and the address to which it's going?" asked Gramps. "No," said Mindy, who remembered every word. "I'm to send it to Mr. John Brent, care of Dasher and Brent, 816 Fourth Street, New York City. I'm to say, '_The Run is on. Pete gone. All is well_.'" [Illustration] "That's right," Gramps said. "Here is some money to pay for the telegram." Mindy took the money and went into the Simpson wagon. She found underwear, blue jeans, and a shirt exactly like those Cindy was wearing. Mindy removed her own clothes and put them on, shivering a bit as she did so. It seemed perfectly fitting and natural for Cindy to wear such garb, but other girls wore dresses. However, without a side saddle, one could not ride very well while wearing a dress, and she must ride. When Mindy stepped out of the wagon, it seemed that she had suddenly become as big as a house and that everyone was watching her. She breathed a sigh of relief because her mother, Granny, and Gramps were not in sight. As fast as she could, Mindy skipped over to Pete Brent's picket line.