The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-11-22


out almost to the opposite shore.
But hardly had he reached the middle
of the current when there was great
crash behind. Rising on wave, he
saw the lone cottonwood and all its
mass of drift heave forward and rush
down upon them.
Reckoning frantically to Wcstbrook,
he turned his horses head from the
shore and drove straight ahead with
the swftest current Behind. the con-
fused mass of trees and drift. bound
together by q great section OF barbed-
wire fence. spread out like an enor-
nous drag.net and swept after them.
Although at each plunge their horses
heads went through the crests of the
waves. Shaw and WestbroOk still held
to the swiftest current for to be caught
in that tangle OF barbed wire and
splintered wood meant certain death.
Already light sticks OF wood and
masses of punky drift were bobbing
round them. but the drag-net of barhed
wire and trees was held bacl; by its
greater weight and the catching of
scraggy roots.
Yet where the current was strongest
n great loop, n drifting tangle of wire
and cedar posts. reached after them
like the feelers of great monster
clutch,ng at its prey. Then the more
buoyant OF the free cedar posts shot
past them ana darted on oyer the
waves.
IN a ruck Of sticks and driftwood the
swimming horses were carried swiftly
round the point of the sand-spit and
into the lower bend of the river. Part
Of the wire fence caught on the point
and hung dangling; then, as the other
end was sucked past. IT tore loose and
dragged along behind.
But no sooner did Ezra Shaw pass
the turn and see that the wire was
caught than he pulled his half-drowned
horse TO the right and urged him for
the shore. Below them stretched out
another point: it was their last chance
TO escape. Desperately the tired horses
paved the water, fighting to gain the
| shore. yet swept on by the current.
AS they checked their flight and
turned against the current once more
the loops of barbed wire, hurried on
by the swlftest water, reached out to
enwrap them.
Nearer and nearer they crept, and
| Shaw saw that they were caught.
"Swim for itw he yelled to West
brook. who followed near, and plunged
into the muddy waters. Desperately he
| kicked and floundered but his heavy
| boots weighed him down, and he was
glad TO seize upon a fence-post and
| float. Just then he saw his horse,
freed OF its burden, striking boldly
out for the shore.
Throwing aside his float he lunged
fiercely after it, and with final furry
of hard swimming managed to catch
| it by the tail There he clung until, ig-
ANONYMOUSLY he was dragged into shall
low water.
But WestbrOok proved a better SWIM
mer. and was able to gain the shore
unaided, while his horse, landing on
the tip Of the point, barely escaped
the onrush of the terrible barbed-wire
fence.
Two hours later, mounted on their
| NfaEEltu iOIstNs lAAld DlltlN anu w
brook rode back along the clean
secured riyer-bed.
Scarcely n trickle Of water mean
dered down the channel in the wake of
that awful torrent. In thn dusty road
down which the travellers had plunged
into the treacherous dry-wash the
tracks OF their wagon wheels were still
clear and fresh-not a drop OF rain
had fallen to lay the dust; but that
wagon was now probably ten miles
down the canon, its wheels buried deep
in the sand, the bed piled up on some
mountainous snag.
"These cloudbursts are sure sudden"
said Shaw, surveying the riyer-bed
ruefully. Il reckon you understand
now why ! generally camp on the
bank"
And Westbrook said he did.-Youths
Companion.