laimed. "I had the milk
all ready in the bottle and came away without it. What shall we do?"

"Oh, never mind," David replied. "We can drink some of this brook
water, can we not?"

"No, it's nasty. It's too warm. I know," and she reached for two tin
cups. "There's a nice cool spring just up the brook. I have often got
water there. You keep off the flies from the food. I won't be a
minute."

Leaving David, Betty hurried up along the edge of the brook until she
reached the spring bubbling out of the bank. Filling the cups she made
her way back as carefully as possible so as not to spill any of the
water. She had just reached the edge of the clearing when a strange
sound fell upon her ears. It startled her, and looking up, her face
blanched with terror, for coming down the steep bank was one of the
large poles which had been separated from its companions. It was only
a few seconds in making the descent, but in that brief space of time a
world of thought crowded into Betty's excited brain. She saw David
sitting right in the track of death, unconscious of impending doom.
Betty tried to shout, to rush forward to rescue him, but no words came
from her lips, and her feet seemed glued to the ground. Rapidly the
pole sped down the bank, and then just when but a score of feet from
the helpless old man it struck the large stump in its onward sweep.
With a wild bound it leaped high and like a mighty catapult hurled
itself through the air over David's head and fell with a terrific crash
into the brook below.

At first a wild scream of terror escaped Betty's lips, followed
instantly by a cry of joy as she rushed forward, seized the hand of the
bewildered old man and led him to a place of safety near the edge of
the forest. Then her strength deserted her, and she sank down upon the
ground and wept like a child.

"Oh, Mr. David, Mr. David," she sobbed, "you were nearly killed. Oh,
oh, oh! Wasn't it awful!"

"There, there, Betty, don't feel so badly," and David stroked her hair
in a gentle manner. "I'm all right now, so why should you cry?"

"But I can't help it," the girl moaned. "I was sure you would be
killed, and I could do nothing to save you."

"Strange," her companion mused, "what started that log just as I was
sitting there. It must have been loose and ready to start at the least
motion."

"Let us go home," and Betty rose suddenly to her feet. "I don't want
to stay here any longer. The place is