The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-03-14
ing Of the river, a long sand-spit jutted

ing OF the liver, Il long Sanu-SDlL Julleu
out almost to the opposite shore.
But hardly had he reached the middle
Of the current when there was a great
crash behind. Rising on a wave, he
saw the lone cottonwood and all it's
mass Of drift heave forward and rush
down upon them.
Reckoning frantically' to WeStbrook,
he turned his horses head from the
shore, and drove straight ahead with
the swiftest current. Behind, the con-
fused mass of trees and drift, bound
together by a 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 Wcstbrook 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 punEy drift were bobbing
round them, but the drag-net of barbed
wire and trees was held back by its
greater weight and the catching OF
scraggy roots.
Yet where the current was strongest
q great loop, a drifting tangle OF wire
and cedar posts, reached after them
like the feelerS Of a great monster
clutching at its prey. Then the more
buoyant Of the free cedar posts shot
past them and darted on over the
waves.
In q 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 n
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 II
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 fight and
turned against the current, once more
the loops Of barbed wire, hurried Oh
by the swiftest water, reached out to
enwrap them.
Nearer and nearer they crept, and
Shaw saw that they were caught.
Swim for itr he yelled to West
brook, who followed near, and plunged
into the muddy waters. Desperately ne
kicked and foundered, but his heavy
boots weighed him down, and he was
glad to seize upon q fence-post anu
float. Just then he saw his horse,
freed of it's burden, striking boldly
out for the shore.
Throwing aside his float he lungcd
fiercely after it, and with Il final hurry
of hard swimming managed to eaten
if by the tail. There he clung until. lg-
ANONYMOUSLY, he was dragged into d
low water.
But Westbrook proved a better swim
mer. and was able to gain the shore
unaided, while his horse, landing OH
the tip of tie point, barely escaped
the onrush Of the terrible barbed-Wlre
fence.
Two hours later, mounted on their
dra gsled horses, Ezra Shaw and west
brook rode back along the cleans
secured Tiver-bed.
Scarcely q trickle Of water mean
dered down the channel i'll the wake OF
that awful torrent. In the dusty road'
down which the travellers had plunged
into the t~reacherous 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, it's wheels buried Deep
in the sand. the bed piled up OH some
mountainous snag.
these cleudbursts are sure sudden
said Shaw, surveying the riVer-ped
ruefully. 81 reckon you understand
now why l generally camp on the
bank"
And West5rook said he did.-Iouth's
Companion.