"I can stand up, now," said Jed, as he let his feet down, and touched bottom. "I'm all right. Go ahead!"
An instant later Gabe's horse scrambled up the bank, and the boy followed.
"I guess my horse is gone!" he cried. The loss was a serious one to him, for all his possessions were on the saddle, in the pack.
"Maybe he'll go ashore lower down," said Gabe. "We'll have to look. Hello!" he shouted, wishing to attract the attention of the others. Back came a yell.
"That's Will's voice," declared Jed. "They're coming down this way."
So it proved, and a little while later the two miners, and Will, having safely crossed the stream, joined Gabe and Jed. They were all more or less wet, but none had had the misfortune that attended Jed.
"We'll have a look for your horse," said the old miner to Jed. "Will, suppose you build a fire, and Mr. Curtin and Mr. Hurd will help make camp. Jed and I will see if we can't find that contrary nag. If he'd been content to swim straight across, instead of wanting to shoot the rapids, we'd have been all right."
"Suppose he's on the other side of the river?" suggested Will.
"Hold on!" exclaimed Jed with a laugh. "Don't go to suggesting such things now, Will. I've had trouble enough."
In the darkness Jed and the miner set off down the stream. It broadened out as it flowed on, the banks stretching away into level plains.