Part 4 (1/2)

”Yes, I shouldn't wonder but what he could make a mile in almost record time,” responded Sam, as they flew along past the trees, bushes and occasional farm buildings which lined the roadway near Brill.

”You want to watch yourself with a horse that goes as fast as that,”

returned Spud, with a chuckle. ”If you don't, you'll get a mile or two past Hope before you know it;” and at this little joke Sam grinned.

Early in the ride they pa.s.sed one or two cutters and several farm wagons. Then they reached a turn in the road, and to their surprise saw ahead of them a sign resting on a large wooden horse:

ROAD CLOSED

”h.e.l.lo! What does this mean?” queried Sam, as he brought his horse to a standstill. ”I didn't know this road was shut off.”

”Oh, yes, I heard something about this, come to think of it,” returned Spud. ”They are going to move that old Jackson barn from one side of the road to the other, and they must have closed the road for that purpose.

You'll have to take the old road on the left, Sam.”

”I suppose so,” grumbled the other. ”Too bad, too, for this road was just about perfect for sleighing. But never mind, I suppose I can get through on the other road well enough.”

They turned back a distance of less than two hundred feet, and then took to the side road which Spud had mentioned. This was more hilly than the other, and ran through a long patch of timberland on which no houses were located.

”Hark! Don't I hear another sleigh coming?” questioned Spud, a minute later.

”Something is coming, that's sure,” answered Sam. ”Gracious me! Look at that!”

Coming to another bend of the woodland road, the youngest Rover had barely time to pull his steed well toward the right hand and almost into some bushes when another cutter hove into sight, coming along at a furious rate. The horse was on a gallop, and the man driving him, a fellow wrapped up in a heavy overcoat and with a fur cap pulled far down over his forehead, was using his whip freely.

”Wow! That fellow must be in some hurry,” observed Spud, as the other turnout flashed past. ”He isn't sparing his horse any.”

”It's a lucky thing for me that I pulled in here as I did,” returned Sam, and his tone of voice showed his anger. ”If I hadn't done it he would have run into us, sure pop.”

”You're right, Sam. That fellow had no right to come along in that fas.h.i.+on. He ought to be arrested for reckless driving. But maybe he wants to catch a train at Ashton or something like that.”

”No train he could catch for an hour and a half, Spud. And he could walk to the station in that time;” and thus speaking, Sam chirruped to the horse, and they resumed their ride.

A little farther on the woodland road made another turn, and here the way was uphill. The numerous rains of the summer previous had washed the rocks bare of dirt, and often the cutter b.u.mped and sc.r.a.ped so badly that Sam was compelled to bring his steed down to a walk.

”Well, one satisfaction, we'll be back to the main road before long,”

observed Spud, as they finally reached the top of the hill and could get a view of the surroundings. ”There is the other road just below us.”

”h.e.l.lo! What's that ahead?” cried Sam, pointing with his left hand.

”Looks to me like somebody lying in the snow.”

”It is somebody!” exclaimed his chum. ”Say! do you suppose that other horse was running away, and this fellow fell out?”

”Not much, with that other fellow using the whip as he was!” returned Sam. ”This fellow ahead probably had nothing to do with that other cutter. Excepting he may have been knocked down by the horse,” he added suddenly.

”That's what the trouble is! That rascal knocked this fellow down and then hurried on, Sam! Poor fellow! I wonder if he is much hurt?”

By this time the cutter had reached a point opposite to where the person in the snow rested. All the boys could see was some person, wrapped in an overcoat, lying face downward. A cap that looked strangely familiar to Sam lay close at hand. Stopping the horse, Sam leaped from the cutter, and Spud did the same.

”Say, Sam!” burst out the latter, ”it looks like----”