LITMIR.BIZ

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      The match was ignited and the boys gazed around the hollow. Dave found some bits of projecting rocks and pulled himself up, and Roger came behind, the match burning itself out in the meanwhile. Then they pushed on, until they presently came to an opening through which the snow came down.

      "Out at last!" murmured Dave. "I am thankful for that!"

      "We have reached the open air, but we are not out of our difficulty," returned the senator's son. "I can't see anything of the road, can you?"

      "Not yet, but it must be somewhere in the neighborhood, for we went upward in the cave."

      They had come out at a point where there was a small table-land, which the wind of the night before had swept almost clear of snow. Below was the valley and above them a patch of firs.

      "That's the forest," said Dave, pointing upward. "The road runs through there. I think the place where we took the tumble is over yonder."

      "Let us call to the others again."

      Once more they raised their voices, and from a distance came an answering call from Granbury Lapham.

      "Where is he?" queried Roger. "I can't see anything through this snow."

      "Neither can I."

      They called again, and at last made out that the Englishman was above them. Then they said they were going to try to get to him and commenced the struggle. It was a hard task, and took not only their strength but also their breath. They could not see the man, and it was only by continual calling they finally located him.

      "We all took a great tumble, don't you know!" cried Granbury Lapham. "Were you hurt?"

      "Not enough to mention," answered Dave. "Where is the sleigh driver?"

      "He tried to stop the horses, I think. They ran away after the sleigh turned over. I wanted to help and the first thing I knew I went down, too."

      "Do you know where the road is?" asked Roger. "Not far above us. But I slipped back several times trying to get to it."

      Now was no time to compare notes, and all three started to ascend the mountain side to where they thought the road must be located. As they could not get up the icy slopes they pushed on to where there was a stunted growth of pines. Here, by clinging to one tree after another, they at last reached a point where trudging through the snow became comparatively easy.

      "I got a pretty bad scare when I came down the mountain side," said Granbury Lapham, when they stopped to rest. "A bear came along not more than fifty feet in front of me."

      "A bear!" cried the two boys, simultaneously.

      "Yes, and a mighty big fellow, too, I can tell you."

      "What did you do?"

      "I felt for my pistol, but it was gone--I must have dropped it in the snow when I tumbled. At first I thought the beast would attack me, but he gave one look and then jumped away in the snow--and that's the last I saw or heard of him."

      Both of the boys felt instinctively for their weapons and were glad to learn that they were safe.

      "I don't want to see any bears," observed Dave. "All I want is to go on and join my father."

      "And all I want to do is to find my brother," answered Granbury Lapham. "I sincerely trust they are safe."

      "We all hope for that," answered the senator's son.

      By the time they gained the mountain road it had stopped snowing, so that they could see a fair distance ahead and behind. Dave gave a long look in advance.

      "There is something," he said. "I think it must be our turnout."

      "It certainly is the sleigh," said Roger, a minute later. "But it is still turned over."

      "Yes, and the two front horses are gone," added the Englishman.

      As tired as they were, they pressed forward with all possible speed, and soon came up to the overturned sleigh, with its scattered outfit. Some of their goods had gone down the mountain side out of sight and the rest were covered with snow. The horses were nervous and on the point of dashing off, so that Dave had to go to their heads to quiet them.

      "Do you know what I think?" said the boy. "The front team broke loose somehow, and Hendrik has gone after them."

      "Well, I hope he catches 'em and brings 'em back," answered Roger.

      They unhooked the team attached to the sleigh and tied them to the nearest tree, some distance off. Then all hands got at the heavy turnout and righted it and cleaned it out. This done, they put in the robes and all they could find of their belongings. Thus an hour went by.

      "Hendrik doesn't seem to be coming back," said Dave. "Perhaps those horses went a long distance and it might be as well to follow them--if the single team can do it."

      "Let us try the horses that are left, anyway," returned Roger. "We can let Mr. Lapham drive while we walk ahead and make sure of the road."

      They hooked up with care and the Englishman took the reins. It was all the two animals could do to start the sleigh, for the road was slightly upward for quarter of a mile. But then it ran downhill and going became almost too easy.

      "They'll be running away, if we don't look out," said Granbury Lapham, after Dave and Roger had jumped in on the rear seat. "There doesn't seem to be any whoa in them."

      "Shall I drive?" asked Dave.

      "Do you know anything about horses? My knowledge is rather limited."

      "Yes, I used to live on a farm when I was younger. I'll take the reins."

      Dave started to step from the rear to the front seat of the sleigh. As he did this the turnout reached a point in the road where the downgrade was greater than ever. Away went the horses, taking the bits in their teeth. The shock threw Dave backward into Roger's lap.

      "Hi! hi!" yelled Granbury Lapham, in quick alarm. "They are running away! Stop them! Whoa! whoa!" And he tugged helplessly at the lines.

      The steeds paid no attention to the command to stop and the pulling on the reins did not appear to bother them in the least. On and on the downgrade of the mountain road they bounded, causing the sleigh to bounce from one side to the other. They were certainly running away, and to the occupants of the sleigh it looked as if each moment might bring a smash that would terminate fatally.

      CHAPTER XXIV

      THE BURGOMASTER OF MASOLGA

      Granbury Lapham had had practically no experience with horses and in the present trying emergency he was as helpless as an infant. He sawed this way and that on the reins, and yelled at the top of his lungs. This merely served to frighten the steeds still more, and away they sprang at a greater speed than ever.

      "We'll be killed!" gasped Roger. He stood up, pale with fright.

      "Don't jump out!" cried Dave. "Maybe I can stop them."

      As quickly as he could, he gained the front seat of the turnout and took the reins from the Englishman's hands. He saw at once that the horses had the bits in their teeth and that pulling on the lines would do little if any good.

      By this time they had gained a level stretch of road, but ahead was a decline greater than that just passed. If they reached that spot an accident would be inevitable.

      On one side of the road was the upward slope of the hill, on the other the treacherous downward slope that had already caused them so much trouble. Dave hesitated for a moment, then pulled on one side of the reins with might and main, allowing the other side to drop entirely.

      At

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