"What are you going to do about the drift?" asked the foreman, who had been interestedly watching the preparations.
"We are going to tie ropes to the two wheels on the upper side. One is to be held on this side of the river, the other from the opposite side.
I think the kitchen will ford the river as straight as you could draw a chalk line," announced Tad.
"I guess it will," answered the foreman, with a suggestive glance at Professor Zepplin.
"All right when you get ready over there," called Tad to the waiting cowboys on the other side.
They had taken firm hold of the ropes with their right hands, their left hands holding to the pommels of their saddles.
"Ready!" came the warning cry from the other side.
"Haul away!" shouted Tad.
The ropes secured to the tongue of the trail wagon straightened, and the wagon began to move out into the stream.
"Be careful. Don"t pay out that rope too fast," directed Tad to the man on his side of the stream.
The trail wagon floated out easily on the swiftly moving current. It was greeted by a cheer from the Pony Rider Boys. Those of the cowboys who were not otherwise engaged joined with a will.
"There"s that fool Chinaman," growled Stallings, observing the grinning face of Pong peering from the tail of the wagon. "Look out, the dragon will get you, sure, if you fall out!" he warned. "I don"t care anything about you, but we can"t afford to be without a cook."
"There goes the fool!" cried Big-foot. "Now we sure will starve to death."
[Ill.u.s.tration: As the Wagon Lurched Pong Plunged Overboard.]
As the wagon lurched in the current, the Chinaman had plunged overboard and disappeared beneath the surface.
CHAPTER XVI
A BRAVE RESCUE
"Save him, somebody! The fool"s fallen overboard!" roared the foreman.
"I can"t let go this rope!"
Tad had not seen the cook take his plunge, so, for the moment, he did not realize what had occurred.
"Who"s overboard," young Butler demanded sharply.
"The cook," answered Stallings excitedly. "Can"t any of you slow pokes get busy and fish him out?"
"Pong!" cried Tad as the head of the Chinaman appeared on the surface.
Without an instant"s hesitation the lad leaped into his saddle.
"Yip!" he shouted to the pony, accentuating his command by a sharp blow with the quirt.
The pony leaped forward.
"Here, he"s not up there; he"s in the river I tell you!" shouted the foreman.
Tad had driven his mount straight up the bank behind them. He paid no attention to the warning of the foreman, having already mapped out his own plan of action.
Reaching the top of the sloping bank, Tad pulled his pony to the right and dashed along the bluff, headed down the river.
"Watch your lines or you"ll have the wagon overboard, too," he called back. "I"ll get Pong out."
Big-foot Sanders scratched his head reflectively.
"Ain"t the Pinto the original whirlwind, though?" he grinned. "I never did see the like of him, now. He"ll get that heathen out while we are standing here trying to make up our minds what to do."
"Yes, but I"m afraid the Chinaman will drown before Tad gets to him,"
said the foreman, with a shake of his head. "Here, don"t let go of this rope while you are staring at the kid. I can"t hold it alone."
Tad drove his pony to its utmost speed until he had reached a point some little distance below where the head of the Chinaman had last been seen.
All at once the lad turned sharply, the supple-limbed pony taking the bank in a cat-like leap, landing in the water with a splash.
Tad kept his saddle until the pony"s feet no longer touched the bottom.
Then he dropped off, clinging to the mane with one hand. The cook was nowhere to be seen, but Tad was sure he had headed him off and was watching the water above him with keen eyes.
"There he is below you!" shouted a voice on sh.o.r.e. "Look out, you"ll lose him."
Tad turned at the same instant, giving the pony"s neck a sharp slap to indicate that he wanted the animal to turn with him.
The lad saw the Chinaman"s head above the water. Evidently the latter was now making a desperate effort to keep it there, for his hands were beating the water frantically.
"Keep your hands and feet going, and hold your breath!" roared Tad.
"I"ll be----"
Before he could add "there," the lad suddenly discovered that there was something wrong with his pony. It was the latter which was now beating the water and squealing with fear.
One of the animal"s hind hoofs raked Tad"s leg, pounding it painfully.
Tad released his hold of the mane and grasped the rein.
Throwing up its head, uttering a snort, the pony sank out of sight, carrying its master under. Tad quickly let go the reins and kicked himself to the surface.
The pony was gone. What had caused its sudden sinking the lad could not imagine. There was no time to speculate--not an instant to lose if he were to rescue the drowning cook.
Throwing himself forward, headed downstream, Tad struck out with long, overhand strokes for the Chinaman. Going so much faster than the current, the boy rapidly gained on the victim.
Yet, just as he was almost within reach of Pong, the latter threw up his hands and went down.
Tad dived instantly. The swollen stream was so muddy that he could see nothing below the surface. His groping hands grasped nothing except the muddy water. The lad propelled himself to the surface, shaking the water from his eyes.