the grass while they conversed. A clatter and wild shouts had suddenly
pierced the air, and whirling about Frank saw coming down a steep roadway
toward the river a spirited team of horses attached to a light carriage.

It had two seats, but the front one held no driver. In the rear seat,
clinging frantically to one another and swung dangerously about by the
swaying vehicle, were two affrighted children.

Frank was speedy, but Bob Upton was quicker. It amazed and gratified Frank
to see his companion dart off like a shot. He himself ran to where the road
curved down to the river to obstruct the runaway's progress when it reached
that point. Bob, however, who knew all about horses from his farm
experience, had made a rush on a short cut to intercept the runaway horses
before they reached a spot where the descent was sharp, and where deep
ravines showed on either side of the winding roadway.

Frank ran with all his might up the road, but Bob Upton by his short cut
reached the point where it narrowed in an incredibly brief space of time.
He had to catch at saplings and bushes to make the ascent. He was so far in
advance of our hero that, while Frank continued running, he foresaw that he
could not be first on the scene, and he watched Bob's progress with
admiration and suspense.

Bob Upton did a risky thing. He seemed to think only of diverting or
stopping the runaway team--anything to keep the spirited horses from
reaching the dangerous point where the road narrowed.

Frank saw him pick up a great tree branch lying on the incline. Bearing
this before him, Bob ran at the fast approaching horses with a loud shout.