“He seems to be picking up something off the ground, under the light,” went on Ned. “Get out the way! Get out the way!” he yelled. Then, for the first time, the little man at the side of the street seemed aware of what was going on. “Look at him!” cried Jerry. “He’s right in the way of the horses!” added Ned. “And he’s going to try to stop ’em!” came from Bob. “Oh, boy! what’ll happen to him?” And it was plain to the three chums that the little man was going to make an effort to stop the runaways. At this point there was a slight upward slant to the street, before it made the turn over the hill down to the river. The horses had slackened their speed somewhat, but they were still running at a smart pace, when the little man, first laying something carefully down in the grass at a safe distance from the road, stepped out, and began running alongside the runaways. “He knows something about the game,” murmured Ned. “Lots of folks that try to stop a runaway horse get right in front. The only way to do is to get alongside and grab the reins.” “That’s what he’s doing! That’s what he’s _done_!” cried Bob. And, indeed, the small man had. He ran alongside the off horse, until he could reach up and grab the reins, and then he hung on and let his weight tell. And it did, too, slight as it was. That, and the effect of his voice (for the boys could hear him calling to the steeds to stop), combined with the fact that the horses were tired and had a little hill before them, gradually brought the runaways to a stop. The nigh horse slipped and fell heavily, but the other retained its feet, and so did the little man who had brought the animals to a stop. “Say, did you see him do it?” cried Jerry to his chums. “I should say yes!” chimed in Bob. “Just as easy!” murmured Ned, admiringly. “Just as easy!” “He certainly did know how to do it,” agreed Jerry, as he brought the automobile to a stop near the throbbing engine, for now there was a good head of steam up. The boys ran to where the little man still stood. Ned was the first to reach him. The boy gave a cry. “Professor Snodgrass!” “What’s that?” asked Jerry, in surprise. “It’s our old friend, Professor Uriah Snodgrass!” “Great rattlesnakes, so it is!” shouted Bob. And it was, indeed, the professor, now a member of the faculty of Boxwood Hall, and a companion, more than once, of the boys on their trips. “Are you hurt, Professor?” asked Jerry, as he hurried to the side of the little scientist, while the fireman of the steamer came forward to relieve Mr. Snodgrass of the care of the standing horse. “Hurt? No. Why?” asked the surprised scientist. “Why because you stopped that runaway.” “Runaway? Was that a _runaway_?” asked Professor Snodgrass in great surprise. “Of course it was!” cried Ned. “Didn’t you know it?”