"Can you get out—can you walk?" asked Joe.
"Yes. I'm more scared than hurt," Hank made answer.
"How about him?" asked Blake, motioning to the other occupant of the carriage.
"Only a little cut on the head, where he banged, up against the top irons, I guess. A little water will fetch him around. My! But that was a close shave!"
He staggered out on the broken bridge. His legs were unsteady, through weakness and fear, but not from any injury.
"How did it happen?" asked Joe.
"Horse got scared at something—I don't know what—and bolted. I didn't want to take him out—he's an old spitfire anyhow, and hasn't been driven in a week. But this feller was in a hurry," and he nodded toward the unconscious man, "and I had to bring him out with Rex—the only horse in the stable just then.
"I said I was afraid we'd have a smash-up, and we did. The line busted near Baker's place, and—well, here we are."
"Better here than—down there," observed Joe in a low voice.
"That's right," agreed Hank. "Now let's see what we can do for him. Hope he isn't much hurt, though I don't see how he could be."