Part 16 (1/2)

”I think Shadow is right,” said Dave ”I saw that ht to take his”

”Perhaps you'd have soested Henshaw

”Oh, pshaw! anybody could ride thataa horse All er shall have the honor of riding him hoive you,” he added, with a grin

”Catch Marcy giving a reward,” said Dave, laughing ”Why, he wouldn't fork over so er for the ride”

”We can take the ested Messmer

In a spirit of mischief Shadow had taken his stick and rubbed it over the s There was a sudden snort and up ca! they sounded on the wall of the dilapidated cabin, and Shadow leaped for his life

”Look out, he's in action!”

”Clear the deck for his muleshi+p!”

”He'll have the cabin down next!” called out Dave ”Take care!”

Theat his head, Dave and Roger tried in vain to quiet him Then of a sudden came a crack of another kind and the wall of the rotted cabin fell outward and the roof began to sag

”Out of this, all hands!” yelled Dave, and let go the h the open doorway Shadoas already outside, and Messmer and Henshaw started to follow Then theMessmer down, and roaned and began to settle rapidly Henshaw leaped out in the nick of ti his shoulder Messmer was half dazed by the sudden turn of affairs, and before he could arise soan to settle across his back

”Help! help!” he wailed ”The roof is co down on me!”

His cry of assistance struck terror to the hearts of some of his friends, and for the moment they did not knohat to do Dave was the only one of the party who reht hold of one of the falling timbers

”Prop the! If we don't, Messer came forward first and the others quickly followed, the otten They took their heavy sticks and set the timbers, and Henshaw rolled in a stone that chanced to be handy These things kept the roof fro down further, but poor Messmer was held as if in a vise and could not be extricated

”We've got to pry the logs up a little,” said Dave ”Here is a log to ith,” and he pointed to one which had fallen out of the side wall

Only one torch re into a livelier blaze, so that they could see Then they had to start operations with care, for fear they s co--coasped the unfortunate lad under the ruins

”We'll not let them come down,” answered Dave ”Keep perfectly still till I tell you to move”

Messmer did as directed, and Dave and the others inserted the loose log under one end of the ruins A flat stone was used for the fulcruer portion of the ruins was raised several inches

”It's coo too fast Can you loosen yourself now, Messher,” was the reply