Wild cries came from his pursuers, as they saw him keep on to the very brink of the abyss without checking his speed. Then, to their greater amazement, they saw him plunge into the opening, to disappear instantly from their sight.
"Let th' fool go!" said Bird Burrnock. "He's saved us a heap o' trouble in lookin' after him. He's out o' our way sure nough now."
The fall to the water was greater than Little Snap had expected, and he was nearly deprived of his breath by the force with which he struck the subterranean river. But he quickly recovered himself, and as the current was not swift, he was soon swimming along with the tide at a leisurely rate.
The stream was nearly straight, and the postboy had not gone far before a streak of daylight told him that he was nearing its outlet.
The mouth of the river seemed to be in the midst of the Greenbrier, and so completely was the smaller stream swallowed up by the larger that, excepting a slight increase in the current, there was no sign of the addition of water.
But Greenbrier River, as we have seen, was rapid in this vicinity, so our hero had to look sharp for himself, as he followed its course to a place where he could scale its precipitous bank.
This he did not succeed in doing until he had got within a short distance of the wrecked bridge, where he had had his thrilling experience that morning.
"Poor Fairy!" he thought, as he looked for trace of her, "you must have been killed outright by the fall. It was a fearful chance, but—hark! I hear horsemen coming."
Not caring to take any risk, he sought the concealment of the bushes, to await the appearance of the riders.
He didn't have to wait long before they dashed into sight, pulling up smartly at the sight of the chasm of roaring waters where the bridge should have been.