"It isn't as easy as I thought it was," admitted Jed. "Still, it's more exciting. Farming is pretty dull." "Oh, you haven't begun to see excitement yet," put in Mr. Hurd. "Wait until you get to the new diggings, where the miners and gamblers are congregated." "Speaking of gamblers reminds me that I wish I could set eyes on Con Morton," said Mr. Harrison. "The more I get to thinking of how he swindled me out of the biggest part of my fortune, the angrier I am." "Do you think you'll ever see him again?" asked Jed. "I certainly hope so. I shouldn't be surprised if he was out at the new diggings. He generally hustles to where the miners have plenty of money for him to swindle them out of. Once I get sight of him----" Mr. Harrison did not finish, but the look on his face showed it would not be good for Con Morton if the old miner met him. When the travelers got down into the valley, after climbing one chain of mountains, they found their further progress barred by a swift stream. "Shall we ford it, or travel toward the head, where it isn't so wide?" asked Mr. Hurd. "I'm in favor of crossing here," returned Gabe. "We've lost considerable time as it is, and I don't fancy going fifty or a hundred miles out of my way because of a brook." "This is a pretty good-sized brook," said Mr. Curtin. "It looks dangerous. Suppose we wait until morning?" It was then getting dusk, and they were anxious to make camp. "Never stop on the near side of a stream, when night is coming on, is my motto," went on Gabe. "Can't tell but there'll be a big rain in the night, and the stream will be so risen that it will delay us a week. No, let's cross now, and camp on the other side. If it's too deep for wading, the horses can swim it." They prepared to follow his advice. Their camp outfits were tightly tied in water-proof bags, and securely fastened to the saddles of the steeds. When this had been done it was quite dark, but they thought the crossing of the stream would not take long, so they urged the rather unwilling beasts into the water. The horses proceeded cautiously, stepping slowly. Suddenly the animal on which rode the old miner got beyond its depth, and the next instant was swimming. "No ford here," cried Gabe. "Look out for yourselves, everybody! Don't lean too far forward so's the horses' heads will go under. Hold your guns over your heads." By this time the five horses were swimming for the other side of the stream, with the travelers on their backs. As they advanced the current became swifter and stronger. What had seemed like an ordinary mountain river was a dangerous one. For some reason Jed's horse seemed to be headed more down stream than did any of its companions. Gabe noticed this and called: "Head him up this way, Jed. It sounds like rapids below there, and maybe there's a waterfall."