are in the face. There ain't any jackpot that
folks can get into that they can't get out of--somehow."

"Oh, does something awful always happen out here?" the girl asked almost
plaintively. "Why can't things be just--just normal, like they ought to
be?"

"It ain't the country, it's the folks. Get the right combination of
folks together, an' somethin's bound to happen, no matter where you're
at."

Then the storm struck and the girl's reply was lost in the rush of wind
and the crash of thunder, as flash after blinding flash lighted the
surface of the flood. They had reached midstream. The boat had lost its
forward motion and lay tugging at the taut line as the water rushed and
gurgled about it. The rain fell in blinding torrents causing the two
horses to huddle against each other, trembling in mortal fear. The
drift was thicker in the full sweep of the current, and the Texan had
his hands full warding it off the boat with his pole. By the lightning
flashes Alice could see his set, tense face as he worked to keep the
debris from massing against the craft. A heavy object jarred against the
cable, and the next moment the two gazed wide eyed at a huge pine,
branches and roots thrashing in the air, that had lodged against the
line directly upstream. For a few moments it held as the water curled
over it in white masses of foam. Then the trunk rolled heavily, the
roots and branches thrashing wildly in the air, and the whole mass
slipped slowly beneath the cable. It struck the boat with a heavy jar
that canted it at a dangerous angle and caused the terrified horses to
struggle frantically to keep their feet.

"Quick!" roared the Texan, "get to the upper side, before they smash
you!" In vain he was pushing against the trunk of the tree, exerting
every atom of power in his body to dislodge its huge bulk that
threatened each moment to capsize the clumsy craft. But he might as well
have tried to dislodge a mountain. The frightened animals were plunging
wildly, adding the menace of their thrashing hoofs to the menace of the
river. Vainly the Texan sought to quiet them but the sound of his voice
was drowned in the roar of thunder, the swishing splash of rain, and the
gurgle of water that purled among the roots and branches of the pine.
Suddenly the lame horse reared high, pawed frantically for a moment and
with an almost human scream of terror, plunged over the side. Alice
reached swiftly for the flying bridle reins of her own anim