Seizing a long pole which had some time formed a part of a fence there, he hastened down the bank to the water's edge. The water was not very deep, but it ran so rapidly that Ben could neither swim nor stand upon the bottom; and but for his companion's promptness he would undoubtedly have been drowned. Grasping the long pole which Harry extended to him, he was drawn to the shore, having received no other injury than a terrible fright and a good ducking. "Here we are," said Harry, when his companion was safely landed. "Yes, here we are," growled Ben; "and it is all your fault that we are here." "It is my fault that _you_ are here; for if I had not pulled you out of the river, you would have been drowned," replied Harry, indignantly; and perhaps he felt a little sorry just then that he had rescued his ungrateful commander. "Yes, and if you had only done as I told you, and pushed for the shore above the fall, all this would not have happened." "And if you hadn't been a fool, we should not have tried to go through such a hole. There goes your old boat"; and Harry pointed to the wreck, filled with water, floating down the stream. "Here they are!" shouted a voice, not far from them. Harry started, and so did Ben. "We are caught!" exclaimed Ben. "Not yet," replied Harry, with some trepidation, as he broke off a piece of the pole that lay at his feet, and retreated from the river. "Take a club, for I am not going to be carried back without fighting for it." A survey of the ground and of the pursuers enabled him to prepare for the future. He discovered at a glance the weakness of the assailants. "Take a club, Ben. Don't you see there is only one man on this side of the river? and we can easily beat him off." Ben took the club; but he seemed not to have the energy to use it. In fact, Harry showed himself better qualified to manage the present interests of the expedition than his companion. All at once he developed the attributes of a skillful commander, while his confederate seemed to have lost all his cunning and all his determination. "Now, let us run; and if we are caught we will fight for it," said Harry. The boys took to their heels, and having a fair start of their pursuer, they kept clear of him for a considerable distance; but Ben's wet clothes impeded his progress, and Harry had too much magnanimity to save himself at the sacrifice of his companion. It was evident, after the chase had continued a short time, that their pursuer was gaining upon them. In vain Harry urged Ben to increase his speed; his progress was very slow, and it was soon apparent to Harry that they were wasting their breath in running when they would need it for the fight. "Now, Ben, we can easily whip this man, and save ourselves. Be a man, and let us stand by each other to the last." Ben made no reply; but when Harry stopped, he did the same. "Keep off! or we will knock your brains out," cried Harry, placing himself in the attitude of defense.