turn-out went by.

"Ugh! I wish we were out of this!" muttered Matt, as he tried in vain
to pierce the gloom ahead. "You must find the road, Billy, for I can't
see it----"

[Illustration: A PERILOUS DRIVE. Y. A.]

A terrific crash of thunder drowned out the last words. Billy sprang
forward in alarm, and away went the wagon over rocks and decaying
tree trunks.

"Whoa!" shouted Matt. "Whoa, Billy, whoa! You have left the road, old
boy! Whoa!"

But now a blinding flash of lightning lit up the scene, and then came
another crash of thunder, even louder than before. Billy reared up,
and then came down with a leap. On the instant he was off, like a
rocket, over bushes, logs and rocks, dragging the swaying and creaking
wagon after him!

CHAPTER XVIII.

A "HOLD-UP."

For the time being, Matt, on the seat of the heavily-laden wagon, felt
certain that the entire turn-out must come to grief, and that very
soon. Billy, thoroughly frightened by the thunder and lightning, was
straining every nerve to make his way through the woods, despite
brush, stones, and fallen trees.

Between the flashes of light the way beneath the trees was almost
totally dark. The rain swept this way and that, and Matt, standing up
on the foot-rest, was soaked to the skin.

"Whoa, Billy, old boy! Whoa!" he called again. "You are all right!"

But the scared horse paid no attention to his call. His nerves seemed
to be strained to their utmost, and on he plunged, dragging the wagon
along with bumps and jolts, which more than once threatened to land
the young auctioneer out on his head.

Realizing that something must be done quickly if he would save the
wagon from becoming a total wreck, Matt resolved upon a bold move. He
tied the reins to the dashboard, and then, with a swift jump, cast
himself upon Billy's back.

For the instant the horse, worse frightened than before, tore along
over the uneven surface at a greater rate of speed than ever. The
wagon struck a rock, and seemed about to lurch over upon its side. But
it righted, and seeing this, Matt began to talk to the horse, patting
him in the meanwhile upon the neck in an affectionate way.

This show of kindness soon had more effect upon Billy than anything
which had previously been done. The animal slackened his speed
gradually, and then, as there came a brief lull in the storm, stopped
short, almost winded, but still inclined to go on at the first sign of
further danger.

As s