Page:The Young Auctioneers.djvu/204

188 Barberry thought it best to keep on the rocks, I suppose. Maybe he thought he would get stuck in the mud with the cases if he got on soft ground."

"That's the truth of it, you can depend on it," said Andy. "Hurry up and follow that track to the end, and we'll soon have our wagon and goods back."

On and on they went, over soft patches of ground, through low bushes, and around rocks and fallen trees. Sometimes they were close to the water's edge, and again they traveled almost out of sight of the clear-flowing stream.

"We can't go much further in this direction," said the freight agent, when all of a mile of ground had been covered.

"Why not?" asked Andy.

"There is a big wall of rock just ahead. We will have to pull away from the river now."

"No, we won't!" shouted Matt. "Look there!"

And he pointed to where the wagon tracks led directly down into the water.

"I'll bet all I am worth that he crossed the stream here," he went on. "Do you not see how shallow it is? He went over to that island, and from there directly to the other side."