ite suspicions on
the part of any of Sack Todd's friends who might happen to be around,
they left Caville by a side trail and then took to the back road
after the last of the houses of the town had been passed.

"I'd just like a long ride over the prairie," cried Sam. "I know I'd
enjoy every minute of it."

They had proceeded less than a mile when Hans went to the front.

"I dink dis horse vants to let himself out a leetle," said he.

"I'll race you," said Sam, and away they started at a breakneck speed.

"Hold on!" cried Dick. "Don't tire yourselves out in that fashion.
We've got a good many miles to go yet."

But neither of the racers paid any attention, and soon they were a
good distance to the front. Hans was doing his best to keep ahead of
the youngest Rover, and, as his steed was a little the better of the
two, he had small difficulty in accomplishing his object.

But, alas, for the poor German boy! The race made him careless of
where he was going, and soon he found himself on the very edge of a
swamp, similar to that encountered before.

"Whoa!" he yelled to his horse. "Whoa!" And then he added: "Sam, go
pack kvick!"

"What's wrong, Hans?"

"It ist all vet aroundt here, und I--Du meine Zeit!"

As the German youth finished, his horse stepped into a fair-sized
hole on the edge of the swamp. On the instant, a cloud arose from
the hole.

"Hornets!" screamed Sam, and backed away with all speed.

"Hellup! hellup!" yelled Hans. "Ouch! Oh, my!" And then he tried to
back away. But the hornets were angry at being disturbed in their
nest and went at him and his horse with vigor.

"Something is wrong with Hans," observed Dick, looking ahead. "See,
his nag is dancing around as if it was crazy."

"Oh, me; oh, my!" roared Hans, slapping to the right and to the left.
"I vos stung in more as a hundred blaces. Hellup me, somepotty! Dis
vos der vorse yet alretty! Git avay, you hornets! I gif you fife
dollars to git avay!"

"Ride off, Hans," called out Fred. "Don't stay near the hornets'
nest. It will only make it so much the worse for you."

Thus advised, Hans backed and started off. But, instead of going off
by himself, he rode directly into the crowd.

"Hi, you, keep away!" sang out Tom, and then, as a hornet alighted
on his nose, he went on: "Whow! Haven't you any sense?"

"Anypotty vot vonts dem hornets can haf dem, free of charge, mit
drading stamps drown in," answered Hans. "Git avay!" and he rode on.