o the bottom, there to be smashed into a hundred
pieces.

It was small wonder, therefore, that both gave a loud cry of alarm and
that both caught at the lines to lead Billy away from the danger so
imminent.

The horse continued to move ahead, but instead of drawing closer to
the inside, he walked upon the very outer edge of the road.

"I'll lead him!" cried Andy, and while Matt continued to hold the
lines, he sprang out and caught Billy by the bridle.

Ordinarily, the faithful animal would have come along willingly, but
he now seemed to grow obstinate, and pulled back when Andy caught
hold. The wagon stopped, and then the rear wheels were sent partly
down the slope.

"Pull him up!" cried Matt. "Pull him, Andy!"

"He won't come!" gasped Andy, tugging at the bridle with might and
main.

"But he must come! The wagon will go down in another second!"

"I can't help it, I can't make him come," panted Andy, between his
clinched teeth, as he renewed the struggle to bring the wagon up on
the level once more.

Tying the lines fast, Matt sprang out. He had seen a loose stone of
fair size close at hand, and this he now picked up. Running around to
the rear of the wagon, he placed it on the sloping ground so that one
of the wheels was blocked from further slipping.

"Good!" cried Andy. "Can you find another stone?"

"I'm going to push on the other wheel. Get up, Billy, get up there!"

Matt placed his shoulder to the wheel, and exerted all of his
strength, and seeing this, Andy also urged the horse. Billy gave a
tug--there was a moment's strain--and then the turn-out rolled up once
more upon the level road.

"Thank goodness for that!" burst out Andy. "I thought for a moment
that it was a goner!"

"So did I, Andy. You had better lead him until we reach a safer bit of
the road."

"I intend to do that. And after this I'll know enough to lead him
around such a bend, instead of taking such a dangerous chance."

Only a hundred feet further on the mountain road left the proximity of
the slope, and then the two once more climbed up on the seat. Billy,
the horse, did not appear to be in the least disturbed over the
adventure, but Matt and Andy were bathed in a cold perspiration which
did not leave them until some time after.

At Lehighton, where they stopped for dinner, they determined to drive
right through to Mauch Chunk, four miles further on. Many people from
the former place did their trading at Mauch Chunk, and th