“Or we had an earthquake,” added Andy, utterly disgusted with the freight agent’s actions. “Don’t you want to get back those cases, or do you prefer to pay for them?”
This last remark effectually silenced the man. He clung to the seat looking badly scared, but he offered no more suggestions.
With due caution, but as rapidly as possible, Andy drove the horse over the rocks, carefully avoiding such spots as he thought might be extra deep or slippery. Matt, on the island, shouted several directions to him; and thus the journey was safely accomplished.
“Good so far!” cried the young auctioneer, when the horse was once more on dry ground. “That was easy enough.”
“Easier than I thought it would be!” exclaimed the freight agent, with a deep breath of relief. “I wish we were over all the way!”
“The second trip will be easier than the first was,” remarked Andy. “It is much more shallow.”
“I will wade ahead and make sure of the way,” put in Matt, and without loss of time he started out.
It was not so deep toward the Pennsylvania shore, but the current appeared to run swifter, and the boy had all he could do when up to his thighs to keep his feet. But the horse and wagon came along all right, and inside of ten minutes they were high and dry upon the opposite bank.
Here it did not take long to rediscover the tracks made by the auction turn-out, and as soon as Matt could don what clothing he had taken off, they started to follow it up once more.