thing I
knowed I felt myself flyin' every which way, over the edge, and kim down
on the ground, with my leg doubled under me. Then I jest seen things
aswimmin' all around me. Guess I fainted, for next thing was when I kim
to, an' found myself groanin' bad. When I moved ever so little it nigh
made me jest scream."

"How long do you suppose you've been lying here?" asked Bristles, softly,
for he had been much affected by what he saw and heard.

"Mebbe hours, for all I know, Bristles. They went off jest after
daylight, meanin' to take the load to Peyton, where they deals in the
grocery line. Wouldn't let me do it, 'case they meant to buy the old
woman a 'frock, you see. Is it near night time, now, Bristles?"

"Oh! no, the morning isn't more than half over, Tom," replied Bristles.
"But how about some sort of rig we could borrow, to give you a lift to
Riverport? Have the old couple taken the only outfit along. Tom?"

"I hear a horse munching hay over there somewhere," announced Colon.

"Yes, there is a critter in here," Tom admitted, with the nearest
approach to a smile that had thus far come upon his wan and pain-racked
face; "and under the shed stands what you might call a wagon, if you shut
your eyes, an' didn't care much what you was asayin'. If old Dominick
didn't keel over, and kick the bucket on the way, he might pull us ten
miles or so; always providin' you give him some oats before you started
him, and then kept temptin' him on the road with more of the same."

Bristles gave a shout.

"Oh! we'll fix old Dominick, never you fear, Tom. I'll look up the oats
right away, and let him get busy, while the rest of you pull that wagon
out of the shed, and find something in the way of harness. We don't care
a red cent for looks, as long as we get there. The end justifies the
means. You remember we learned that lots of times at school. Get a move
on, boys; everyone to his duty!"

Thus inspired, and spurred on, the others hastened to do their part. Two
of them hunted until they found the lean-to, under which a ramshackle
wagon stood that excited the laughter of Colon.

"If Bristles thought the vehicle that little girl had along with her in
Riverport was a terror, what'll he ever say to this?" he remarked, after
he had doubled up several times in explosive merriment. "Now, if the
hoss is anything like what Tom says, I c'n see what a sensation we'll
kick up when we strike town. Why, they'll ring the