CHAPTER XVIII.
A "HOLD-UP."
For the time being, Matt, on the seat of the heavily-laden wagon, felt certain that the entire turn-out must come to grief, and that very soon. Billy, thoroughly frightened by the thunder and lightning, was straining every nerve to make his way through the woods, despite brush, stones, and fallen trees.
Between the flashes of light the way beneath the trees was almost totally dark. The rain swept this way and that, and Matt, standing up on the footrest, was soaked to the skin.
"Whoa, Billy, old boy! Whoa!" he called again. "You are all right!"
But the scared horse paid no attention to his call. His nerves seemed to be strained to their utmost, and on he plunged, dragging the wagon along with bumps and jolts, which more than once threatened to land the young auctioneer out on his head.
Realizing that something must be done quickly if he would save the wagon from becoming a total wreck, Matt resolved upon a bold move. He tied the reins to the dashboard, and then, with a swift jump, cast himself upon Billy's back.
For the instant the horse, worse frightened than before, tore along over the uneven surface at a greater rate of speed than ever. The wagon struck a rock, and seemed about to lurch over upon its side. But it righted, and seeing this, Matt began to talk to the horse, patting him in the meanwhile upon the neck in an affectionate way.
This show of kindness soon had more effect upon Billy than anything which had previously been done. The animal slackened his speed gradually, and then, as there came a brief lull in the storm, stopped short, almost winded, but still inclined to go on at the first sign of further danger.
As soon as Billy had come to a halt Matt sprang to the ground. A tree the boy had feared they would collide with was close at hand, and to this he tied the horse, making sure that the halter should be well secured; and for the time being, the danger of being wrecked through a runaway was over.
But the trouble was by no means past. The storm still kept on, the lightning being as vivid as ever, and the thunder causing Billy to tug violently at the strap which held him. It was with a shiver that Matt wondered what the consequence would be should that particular tree be struck by lightning.
To prevent Billy doing damage to the wagon by twisting in the shafts or by kicking. Matt unharnessed him and pushed the wagon back a few feet into a somewhat open space. Here the rain came down heavier, but he felt safer than in close proximity to the tree.
Feeling that nothing was to be done until the storm should abate, Matt climbed into the wagon again and protected himself as well as he could with the rubber blanket and the lap-robe. The back shade of the wagon was down, and he was glad to see that so far the stock inside had sustained no damage.
A half-hour dragged along slowly. Several times the storm appeared upon the point of clearing away, but each time the clouds settled down heavier than before, until under the trees it was as black as midnight.
Matt wondered how far he was from the road, and if there were a farmhouse anywhere at hand.
"If I could reach a house of some sort it wouldn't be so bad," he murmured to himself. "But being out here alone isn't any fun, that's certain."
At last the clouds seemed to scatter for good. A fresh breeze stirred the trees and bushes, and ere long the rain ceased, although the drops still came down from the heavily-laden branches overhead.
As soon as he felt certain that the sky was brightening to remain so, Matt untied Billy, and harnessed him to the wagon once more.
"Now, Billy, we'll get back to the road just as fast as we can," he said to the horse. "And I trust that you will never run away again in that fashion, old boy."
On all sides arose hushes and rocks, and, although the road might be close at hand, Matt thought it best to return the way they had come. He wished to take no more chances, feeling that it would be the easiest thing in the world to get lost, or to run the turn-out into some hollow or hole from which it would be next to impossible to extricate it.
But to return by the route they had come was itself no easy task. In his terror, Billy had dragged the heavy vehicle over several very uneven places, full of stumps and rocks, and now the animal, still somewhat exhausted, had all he could do to move back over the trail which had been left.
Matt led the horse, and on more than one occasion had to place his shoulder to the rear end of the wagon to help over a particularly bad spot. Thus they moved on, taking half an hour to cover a distance which had previously been traveled in less than half that time.
"Thank goodness, we are out of that at last!" exclaimed Matt, as the road finally appeared in sight. "Now to see if any damage has been done."
The young auctioneer made a minute examination of every bolt and spring, as well as of the running gear and harness. He was overjoyed to find everything still in good order, despite the rough usage to which it had been put. The wagon body was scratched in a dozen places, but this could be easily remedied.
The rubber blankets were put away, and the lap-robe left fluttering in the rear to dry, and then Matt once more resumed his lonely journey in the direction of High Bridge.
The heavy rain had left the road deep with mud, and through this Billy plodded slowly along, Matt not having the heart to urge him to a greater speed, knowing well that the faithful animal was doing as well as could be reasonably expected of him.
"As soon as we reach High Bridge I must find a good stable for Billy, and change my clothes," thought Matt. "And something hot to drink won't go bad, either. Ugh! I am chilled clear to the bone!"
And he gave a shiver that was as genuine as it was uncomfortable.
The road now led downward and around a bend, where was situated another heavy bit of timber. As Matt approached the wood he saw some distance back from the road a shanty built of rough logs and boards, and thatched with weather-beaten shingles and bits of old tin and oil-cloth. There was a rude chimney upon the outside of the rear of this shanty, and from this a thin cloud of smoke was issuing.
"Humph! here is somebody's home, but a very poor one," thought Matt. "I shouldn't wonder but those inside got a pretty good soaking, by the looks of things."
At first the young auctioneer determined to stop, but upon second thought, he concluded to go on, satisfied that no accommodations worthy of the name could be had there.
"If I can't strike something better, I'll keep right on to High Bridge," was his thought, and he was just about to urge Billy on once more, when the door of the shanty opened and a man came out.
The man was apparently fifty years of age, and rough in looks. His beard was long, as was also his hair, and both seemed to be much in need of shears and brush. His clothing and his face were dirty, and altogether he presented a decidedly ill-favored appearance.
"Hullo, there, stranger!" he called out. "Where bound?"
"Bound for High Bridge," replied Matt as he drew rein. "How many miles is it?"
"Not many," was the rather indefinite reply. "Suppose you got cotched in that storm, eh?"
"Yes, I got the full benefit of it."
"It was a heavy one, no mistake about that. What sort of a turn-out have you got there?"
"An auction goods wagon."
"Carrying stuff around the country to sell at auction?"
"Yes."
"I see. Say, maybe you've got something you would like to sell me," and the man, after speaking to some one in the shanty, stepped up closer to the turn-out.
"Perhaps I have, but it's pretty well packed up," returned Matt, who was not at all taken by the man's manner. "We'll be open at High Bridge this evening, or to-morrow, if nothing happens."
"We? Got somebody else with you?"
"Not on the wagon, but I have a partner."
"I see. What line of goods do you carry?"
Matt named over a number of articles. The man's eyes brightened as he listened.
"Let me have a pair of suspenders," he said. "I need them worst way. And if you've got a good pocket-knife I'll patronize you so much more. Drive up in the back of the house and tie fast anywhere."
"Excuse me, but I would prefer getting to High Bridge. I am wet to the skin, and I want to change my clothes."
"That's all right, young fellow. "We've got a fire inside, and you can dry yourself there just as well as not."
"But my horse"
"I'll take care of the horse. I've got a shed a bit back of those bushes. Come on in; what are you afraid of?"
Thus urged, Matt sprang from the wagon seat to the ground. As he did so he noted a look of satisfaction gleam upon the man's dirty face, and he saw the fellow wave his hand toward the shanty's one window. He turned swiftly in the direction, and was in time to see two equally repulsive heads dodge aside out of sight.
Only for a second did the young auctioneer hesitate. Then something warned him to beware of danger, and he turned again to the wagon and placed one foot upon the shaft step.
"Hi! what are you going to do?" cried the man, in surprise.
"I guess I won't stop," returned the boy. "That storm does not seem to be quite over, and I do not wish to catch a second dose."
"But you will stop, sonny!" exclaimed the man, with a sudden change of manner.
"Hi, Jake! Baldy! Come out here and help me manage this young fellow!" he went on, in a louder tone.
The other men at once rushed from the shanty, and in a trice Matt was surrounded.