headed his trotter toward the water.

At first the horse was inclined to shy to one side. He pranced up and
down a bit and dug into the sand and loose stones with his hoofs.

"You can see he don't want to go," said the driver. "I really think we
had better find a bridge."

"Oh, nonsense! give me the reins!" returned Andy sharply, seeing that
the fellow was altogether too easily frightened. "I will take him over
safely."

"Don't be too sure!" cried the agent in alarm. "He will break at the
least little thing!"

But Andy would not listen to him further. He took the reins, and
holding them firmly, tapped the trotter with the whip.

The horse made a rush into the water, and in less than ten seconds the
wagon was in up to the axles.

"We will be drowned! We will be drowned!" cried the agent in sudden
terror. "I can't swim!"

"We won't be drowned. Just you hold on and keep quiet," returned Andy
shortly.

"But--but we are going deeper!"

"Not much deeper. I can still see the bottom."

"Supposing we should slip--or Flip should slip?"

"Or we had an earthquake," added Andy, utterly disgusted with the
freight agent's actions. "Don't you want to get back those cases, or
do you prefer to pay for them?"

This last remark effectually silenced the man. He clung to the seat
looking badly scared, but he offered no more suggestions.

With due caution, but as rapidly as possible, Andy drove the horse
over the rocks, carefully avoiding such spots as he thought might be
extra deep or slippery. Matt, on the island, shouted several
directions to him; and thus the journey was safely accomplished.

"Good so far!" cried the young auctioneer, when the horse was once
more on dry ground. "That was easy enough."

"Easier than I thought it would be!" exclaimed the freight agent, with
a deep breath of relief. "I wish we were over all the way!"

"The second trip will be easier than the first was," remarked Andy.
"It is much more shallow."

"I will wade ahead and make sure of the way," put in Matt, and without
loss of time he started out.

It was not so deep toward the Pennsylvania shore, but the current
appeared to run swifter, and the boy had all he could do when up to
his thighs to keep his feet. But the horse and wagon came along all
right, and inside of ten minutes they were high and dry upon the
opposite bank.

Here it did not take long to rediscover the tracks made by the auction
turn-out, and as soon as Matt could don