"Do you know what I think?" said the boy. "The front team broke loose somehow, and Hendrik has gone after them."
"Well, I hope he catches 'em and brings 'em back," answered Roger.
They unhooked the team attached to the sleigh and tied them to the nearest tree, some distance off. Then all hands got at the heavy turnout and righted it and cleaned it out. This done, they put in the robes and all they could find of their belongings. Thus an hour went by.
"Hendrik doesn't seem to be coming back," said Dave. "Perhaps those horses went a long distance and it might be as well to follow them—if the single team can do it."
"Let us try the horses that are left, anyway," returned Roger. "We can let Mr. Lapham drive while we walk ahead and make sure of the road."
They hooked up with care and the Englishman took the reins. It was all the two animals could do to start the sleigh, for the road was slightly upward for quarter of a mile. But then it ran downhill and going became almost too easy.
"They'll be running away, if we don't look out," said Granbury Lapham, after Dave and Roger had jumped in on the rear seat. "There doesn't seem to be any whoa in them."
"Shall I drive?" asked Dave.
"Do you know anything about horses? My knowledge is rather limited."
"Yes, I used to live on a farm when I was younger. I'll take the reins."