Page:Cornelia Meigs-The Pirate of Jasper Peak.djvu/156

 difficulty to where the tree should be. Yes, it was still there, high out of water at each end but  with the furious current pouring across it in the  middle. It looked like none too safe a crossing, but it was the only one. He attempted, at first, to walk upright, but soon found that impossible,  so stooped, and was at length reduced to crawling  painfully along on hands and knees. The cold water swirled about him as he approached the  center of the stream, the current seemed trying,  with direct intent, to tear loose his hold and wash  him away. The tree-trunk quivered and trembled under the mighty force that was hurled against it, but it held under his weight as slowly  he crawled along, felt the current lessen, came  into quieter water and was at last safe on the  other side, with Nicholas standing up to lick his  face.

“Now, then, where next?” questioned Hugh as the dog immediately set off up the mountain. The rain and wind were less violent on this side of the ravine, so that their progress was quicker  as they climbed upward. It was fortunate that it