Part 14 (1/2)

”That's what they will! But it ”

The Richfield dam was a new one, built above the small settlement of that name on the flats about three miles to the northeast of the Ponto river

The Richfield river was a branch of the latter, and was a turbulent strea rapidly, for It was confined between steep, high! banks

Jack had his talk with his father vividly recalled to his hts later It was the first tiht, but there was some valuable h

The pony express lad was on his trip toward Rainbow Ridge fro, and it was dark when he reached the point where the Richfield river branched off froht which met his eyes the lad exclaih water! I wonder if the da”

It had rained hard all day Noas but drizzling

”I' to take a run down there,” Jack decided ”It won't take me ten er?”

The pony whinnied in answer

”I've tio and take a look at the dam The water must be two feet over it now”

He turned off thethe dam Before he reached it he could hear the sullen roar of the pent-up water And when he had a view of the ier point

Jack looked critically at the dah water

”I don't believe that daued ”There's too much water pressure on it” Even as Jack spoke a small portion of the dae volume of water rushed out

”That's the start!” cried the pony rider ”She'll all go in half an hour

I've got to ride down below and warn the Richfield people Otherwise they'll be swept away I've got to ride and warn the else to do Jack called to his faithful pony and guided him into the trail that led to Richfield on the flats below If that volu of the dae would be wiped out If they arned in tier zone could take to the hills on either side and escape

”Come on, boy!” called Jack to his pony ”It's a ride for life all right!”

CHAPTER XIII

THE INSPECTOR

Down the rocky slope, toward the little settleht rapidly If he could beat the flood, there would be ti population so they could flee to the hills

There were not er zone, not more than twenty-five families

”I'll wake some of 'em up,” Jack reflected, ”and then they can warn the others I don't i Too bad! But that da down oncein Jack's face He tried to listen, to ascertain if he could hear the roar of the waters that would indicate that the daone out, but all he could catch was the splash of the rain