CHAPTER III


A SURPRISE

They reached--only just in time--the broken and
collapsed carriage with its two front wheels mere twisted and
splintered spokes. The moving picture boys reached it, and with
strong and capable hands pulled it back from the brink of the
ravine, over which it hung. In the depths below the horse lay,
very still and quiet.

"Pull back!" directed Blake, but Joe needed no urging. A slight
difference--inches only--meant safety or death--terrible injury at
best, for the ravine was a hundred feet deep. But those few inches
were on the side of safety.

So evenly was the carriage poised, that only a little strength was
needed to send it either way. But Joe and Blake pulled it back on
the unwrecked portion of the bridge approach.

The two men were still on the seat, but it had broken in the
middle, pitching them toward the center, and they were wedged
fast. Hank Duryee, the town livery driver, did not seem to be
hurt, though there was an anxious look on his face, and he was
very pale, which was unusual for him.

As for the other man he seemed to have fainted. His eyes were
closed, but his swarthy complexion permitted little diminution in