Evening star., 1909-09-12

the current was tremendous in its sheer liquid
mass and momentum. Van slipped off and
swan by the broncos side. Together the two
breasted the surge of the tide and now made
more rapid progress. 1t requi. Cd tremendous
effort to forge ahead and not be swept head
long to choppy stretch of rapids, just below.
Up stream, boy, up stream! said Van, as
if to a comrade; for he had noted the one likely
place to land, and Suvy was drifting too far
downward
had feared, below the one fair landing Despite
his utmost efforts, to which the pony willingly
responded, they could not regain what had
been lost. The bronco made fine but futile
attempt to gain footing and scramble up the
almost perpendicular wall of rock and earth
by which he confronted. Time after time
he circled completely in the surge, to no avail.
He may have become either confused or dis
couraged. Whichever it was, he turned about,
during a moment when Van released the reins,
and swan sturdily back whence he had come.
Van, In the utmost patience turned and fol-
lowed. Suvy awaited his coming on the shore.
Try to keep little farther up, boy if you
can" said the man, and he mounted and rode
as before against the current.
The bronco was eager to obey directions,
eager to do the bidding of the man he strangely
loved. All of the first hard struggle was re-
peated, and the current caught them as before.
Again, as formerly Van slipped off and swan
by the ponv's side. He could not hold his
shoulder against the animal and guide him thus
UP the stream; but was trailed out lengthwise
and flung about in utter helplessness. forming
a drag against which the ponys most desperate
efforts could not prevail.
They came to the bank precisely as they had
before, and once again, perhaps more per-
sistently, Suvy made wild, eager efforts to
scramble out where escape was impossible
Again and again he circled, paved the bank.
and turned his eyes appeallngly to Van as II
for help or suggestions.
At last he acknowledged defeat. or lost COM
prehension of the struggle. He swan as on the
former trial to the bank on the homeward side
There was nothing for Van but to follow as
before. When he came out. dripping and pant
ing, by the animal, whose sides were fairly
heaving as he labored for breath, he was still
all cheer and encouragement.
"Suvy," said he, a failure is chap who
couldn't make a fire in hades We've got to
cross this river if we have to burn it up! He
took the bronco's velvety nose in his hands and
gave him rough little shake Then he patted
him smartly on the neck. For pocket-slze
river" he said as he looked at the flood this
is certainly the infant prodigy Well, let's try it
again"
HAD the plunge been straight to death, that
bronco would have risked it unswervingly
at the urging of his master. Suvy was some
what exhausted by the vain trials already made;
but into the turgid down-sweep he headed
with newly conjured vigor.
Van now waited merely for the pony to get
started on his way, when he lifted away from
the saddle, with the waters aid and clung
snugly up to the stirrup He swan with one
hand only. To keep himself afoat and offer no
resistance to the bronco, was the most that he
could do and the best.
The struggle was tremendous. Suvy had
headed more obliquely than before against the
current and, having encountered greater re-
sistance, with his strength somewhat sapped,
was toiling like engine
Inch by inch, foot by foot, he forged his way
against the liquid wall that split upon him
Van felt great final quiver of muscular energy
shake the living dynamic by his side, as Suvy
poured all his fine young might into one SUI
preme effort at the end. Then he came to the
landing, got all his feet upon the slope, and up
they heaved in triumph.
CHAPTER XXXIII
The Clouds of Trouble Gather