position to consider conversation. The trunk was rapidly nearing
the whirlpool--and death.

Small wonder that brave as the boys were a despairing cry burst from
their throats as they saw what seemed the end of their ride close
upon them. It was as if they could feel the breath of the Pale
Horseman already blowing chilly in their faces.

But suddenly a strange thing happened.

Both boys had closed their eyes and only moved their lips in prayer
as they saw that inevitably in a few minutes they must be sucked
into the maelstrom. Now, however, they opened them in amazement.

The swift rush of the log to which they clung like drowned rats had
stopped.

It took them only a few seconds to take in what had occurred. The
great log swinging one end toward the swirling current had jammed
clear across the stream and for a time at any rate they were saved
from immediate death. In their joy they clasped each other's hands
warmly but their first rush of relief did not last long. As a
matter of fact they were not any nearer safely than they had been a
few minutes previous.

The log, it was true, was jammed across the stream, but the
consequent backing up of the impetuous current caused it to rush
across the boys' refuge in such volumes as to almost sweep them from
their perches.