Page:The Young Auctioneers.djvu/209

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THE YOUNG AUCTIONEER.
193

"Easier than I thought it would be!" exclaimed the freight agent, with a deep breath of relief. "I wish we were over all the way!"

"The second trip will be easier than the first was," remarked Andy. "It is much more shallow."

"I will wade ahead and make sure of the way," put in Matt, and without loss of time he started out.

It was not so deep toward the Pennsylvania shore, but the current appeared to run swifter, and the boy had all he could do when up to his thighs to keep his feet. But the horse and wagon came along all right, and inside of ten minutes they were high and dry upon the opposite bank.

Here it did not take long to rediscover the tracks made by the auction turn-out, and as soon as Matt could don what clothing he had taken off, they started to follow it up once more.

"I can't see why he crossed the river in that fashion," grumbled the freight agent, as he tapped his horse with the whip.

"I can," returned Andy. "He did it to throw us off the track. He had no time to get rid of the signs on the wagon, and he knew we would learn, sooner or later, in what direction he had gone. But he thought we would not find out how he had