Part 31 (1/2)
”Easier than I thought it would be!” exclaient, with a deep breath of relief ”I ere over all the way!”
”The second trip will be easier than the first was,” remarked Andy
”It is much more shallow”
”I ade 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 cah 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 what clothing he had taken off, they started to follow it up once more
”I can't see why he crossed the river in that fashi+on,” gruent, as he tapped his horse with the whip
”I can,” returned Andy ”He did it to throw us off the track He had no tion, and he kneould learn, sooner or later, in what direction he had gone But he thought ould not find out how he had crossed and would think that he had kept along on the eastern bank”
On and on they went, over the rocky roads, now through a sharp cut between thesome tiny stream far below
”A beautiful place,” said Matt, as his eyes rested on a particularly beautiful bit of picturesque scenery ”How can people stick in the stuffy city when there is soto waste, so to speak?”
”That's a conundrum,” returned Andy ”But I have heard it said that many city-born folks would rather die between brick walls than live areen fields”
”Just look at those rocks and trees, and listen to those birds sing!”
”It is truly grand, that's a fact,” returned Andy ”Do you know, if I ealthy, I believe I would like nothing better than to spend all ofthe mountains”
”And that would just suit me,” returned Matt enthusiastically, and then he suddenly sobered down ”But we are not rich, Andy, and unless we get back our turn-out we'll be as poor as ever”
”Oh, we'll have to catch that thief,” put in the freight agent ”He can't bedark, and we can hardly see the wagon tracks any rows dark early in a the mountains,” reh”
On they went, passing through several little hamlets At each of these places they inquired about the auction wagon, and were told that it had passed through, the et away as far as he can before he puts up for the night,” said Andy ”I do not believe ill catch hi”
”My trotter is not used to this sort of thing,” said the freight agent ”He is beginning to play out”
”At the next toe reach we can hire a horse,” said Matt ”And you can go back if you wish There is no telling how long this chaseto business,” was the agent's reply ”My clerk can hardly take o on alone?”
”Certainly,” returned Andy
The next place, a village of perhaps twenty or thirty houses and half a dozen stores, was soon reached There was a s, Matt ran inside and questioned the half a score of loungers concerning the auction wagon
Every on had not been seen in the village Nearly all of the men had just coon been on the main road at all he would have seen it