osephus with them. Harnessed as he was, and
still attached to the shafts, the old horse went into the lake with a
great splash.

"Hey! Whoa! Whoa, Josephus! Jefers-pelters! ain't this a purty
to-do?" roared Walky, recovering his footing with more speed than grace.

"Naow see that ol' critter! What's he think he's doin'--takin' a
swimmin' lesson?"

For Josephus, with one mighty plunge, broke free from the shafts. He
struck out for the shore and reached shallow water almost immediately.
Walky ran off the dock and along the rocky shore to head the old horse
off and catch him.

But Josephus had no intention of being so easily caught. Either he had
lost confidence in his owner, or some escapade of his colthood had come
to his memory. He splashed ashore, dodged the eager hand of Walky, and
with tail up, nostrils expanded, mane ruffled, and dripping water as he
ran, Josephus galloped up the hillside and into the open lots behind
Polktown.

Walky Dexter, with very serious mien, came slowly back to the dock.
Janice and Frank Bowman, as well as the freight agent, had been held
spellbound by these exciting incidents. Frank and the agent were now
convulsed with laughter; but Janice sympathized with the woeful
expressman.

The latter halted on the edge of the dock, gazing from the shafts of
his wagon sticking upright out of the lake to the snorting old horse up
on the hill. Then he scratched his bare, bald crown, sighed, and
muttered quite loud enough for Janice to hear:

"Jefers-pelters! I reckon old Josephus hez come out for prohibition,
an' no mistake!"

CHAPTER XXIV

ANOTHER GOLD PIECE

Fortunately for Walky Dexter, the freight that he had backed into the
lake was not perishable. It could not be greatly injured by water.
With the help of neighbors and loiterers and a team of horses, the two
sections of the unhung wagon and the crates of agricultural tools were
hauled out of the lake.

"There, Walky," said the freight agent, wiping his perspiring brow when
the work was completed--for this happened on a warm day in early June.
"I hope ter goodness you look where you air backin' to, nex' time."

"Perhaps it will be just as well if he _backs_ where he's _looking_,"
suggested the young engineer, having removed his coat and aided very
practically in the straightening out of Walky's affairs. This greatly
pleased Janice, who had remained to watch proceedings.

"Come, naow, tell the truth, Walky Dexte