Poor Johnny! he had been almost spoiled at home, but under the doctor's firm guidance and Eric's good influence, was wonderfully improved. The bright, merry little fellow was exhibiting his true character, long hidden by ill-advised indulgence. CHAPTER XV. THE LAST. Up the banks of the beautiful Rhine, through picturesque hamlets, over high, rugged mountains, and in the glory and grandeur of the forests, our horseback travellers sought and found the best of all treasures--health and happiness. The Swabian Mountains, and the Schwarz Wold, or Black Forest,--a group of mountains covered with forests,--through which they rode thirty-seven miles, required from them the greatest endurance. Nevertheless, upon the woody mountains, steep and difficult to climb as they were, they found several thriving villages, where they were kindly received, and where all their wants were generously supplied. But on one occasion, when a violent storm arose, and they were near no village, they were obliged to take shelter in an empty barn, and there remained through the night, sleeping, with their horses, upon the hard, board floor, with their knapsacks for pillows. And Johnny had one thrilling adventure. They had encamped for the night upon a small plateau, and, before dismounting, Johnny rode back to the edge, and was looking down upon the plains beneath, when suddenly he felt the ground give way from above where his horse was standing, and in an instant horse and rider, covered by a bank of sand, were sliding helplessly down the mountain. The shower of sand smothered their cries, and neither the doctor nor Eric noticed their disappearance at first. But presently Eric, turning to speak to him, exclaimed,-- "Where in the world is Johnny?" The doctor looked hastily up. Seeing the fresh earth at the edge of the plateau, he rushed to the spot, examined it, and exclaiming, "Heavens! the child has fallen down a slide!" prepared to descend in the same place. "Eric, stay up there, and take care of the horses," he said, and was soon out of sight. Eric secured the horses, and then crept to the place from which the doctor had disappeared. He found, just beneath him, a long line of large troughs, open at both ends, and overlapping each other like shingles. It extended entirely down the side of the mountain, and to his horror Eric saw at its foot a lake. "O, Johnny, Johnny! my dear little cousin! And uncle Charlie, too--they will surely be killed!" he cried, in agony. For he knew at once that they had gone down a timber slide, and was afraid they would be drowned in the lake. And now I suppose I must tell you what a timber slide is.