e 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 first the horses did not heed, but presently one began to lose temper
and courage and turned in toward the upward slope. Then the other had to
come around, and in a twinkling the team was literally climbing the
mountain side, dragging sleigh and occupants behind them!

"Look out! We'll all go over!" cried the senator's son.

"Hold tight; they're bound to stop soon, they can't keep this up!"
yelled back Dave, and even as he spoke the horses, blowing heavily,
slackened up, came to a walk, and then stopped short.

"Really, don't you know----" began Granbury Lapham, and knew not what to
say.

"Now you can get