chance, yet dare not wait for daylight. Summoning all his nerve and
alertness, he urged his horse slowly forward, the intelligent animal
seemingly comprehending the situation, and feeling carefully for footing.
The actions of the animal gave the rider greater confidence, and he
loosened his grip on the rein, leaving the pony's instinct to control. The
latter fairly crept forward, testing the sand before resting any weight
upon the hoof, the negro's mount following closely. The water was
unusually high, and as they advanced it bore down against them in
considerable volume; then, as they veered to the right, they were
compelled to push directly against its weight in struggling toward shore.
The men could see nothing but this solid sheet of water rushing down
toward them from out the black void, and then vanishing below. Once
Keith's horse half fell, plunging nose under, yet gaining foothold again
before the rider had deserted his saddle. A dim blackness ahead already
revealed the nearness of the southern bank, when Neb's pony went down
suddenly, swept fairly off its legs by some fierce eddy in the stream.
Keith heard the negro's guttural cry, and caught a glimpse of him as the
two were sent whirling down. The coiled rope of the lariat, grasped in his
right hand, was hurled forth like a shot, but came back empty. Not another
sound reached him; his own horse went steadily on, feeling his way, until
he was nose against the bank, with water merely rippling about his ankles.
Keith driving feet again into the stirrups headed him down stream, wading
close in toward the shore, leaning forward over the pommel striving to see
through the gloom.

He had no doubt about Neb's pony making land, unless struck by some
driftwood, or borne to the centre of the stream by the shifting force of
the current. But if Neb had failed to retain his grip he might have been
sucked under by the surge of waters. A hundred yards below he found them,
dripping and weak from the struggle, yet otherwise unhurt. There were no