s place up the river a mile. You can go and
stay there till the river goes down, and Mr. Gordon 'll come and meet
you."

"Thanks, I'll go on," said the lady.

Preparations for crossing the river were soon made. Anything that would
spoil by getting wet, or that would float out of the coach, was lifted
up and packed on the roof. The passengers stood up on the seats.
Then Pat Donohoe put the whip on his leaders, and calling to his two
wheelers, old-seasoned veterans, he put them at it.

Snorting and trembling, the leaders picked their way into the yellow
water, the coach bumping over the rubble of the crossing-place. Hugh
Gordon, watching from the far-side of the river, saw the coach dip
and rock and plunge over the boulders. On it came till the water was
actually lapping into the body of the coach, roaring and swirling round
the horses' legs, up to their flanks and bellies, while the driver
called out to them and kept them straight with voice and reins. Every
spring he had a similar crossing, and he knew almost to an inch at what
height it was safe to go into the river. But this time, as ill-luck
would have it, the off-side leader was a young, vicious, thorough-bred
colt, who had been handed over to him to be cured of a propensity for
striking people with his fore-feet. As the horses worked their way into
the river, the colt, with the courage of his breeding, pulled manfully,
and breasted the current fearlessly. But suddenly a floating log drifted
down, and struck him on the front legs. In an instant he reared up, and
threw himself heavily sideways against his mate, bringing him to his
knees; then the two of them, floundering and scrambling, were borne away
with the current, dragging the coach after them. In a few yards they
were off the causeway; the coach, striking deep water, settled like a
boat, and turned over on its side, with the leaders swimming for their
lives. As for the wheelers, they were pulled down with the vehicle, and
were almost drowning in their harness.

Cool as a cucumber, Blake had turned to the girl. "Can you swim?" he
said. And she answered him as cooly, "Yes, a little."

"Well, put your hands on my shoulders, and leave everything to me." Just
then the coach settled over with one final surge, and they were in the
water.

Away they went with the roaring current, the girl clinging fast to his
shoulders, while he gave his whole attention to dodging the stumps and
snags that were showing their fo