OH, SHOOT! 



adventure, Pat, who was in the lead, warned us 

 to follow in his tracks as nearly as possible. 



"The creek runs over a ledge here/' he 

 explained. "But you'll go through safe 

 enough if you stay on it. If you don't stay on 

 it, you'll drop off below and wet yourself and 

 all your fixtures." 



"Lead your ace!" we quavered, above the 

 turmoil of rushing waters. 



Pat spurred his horse in, and, after a breath- 

 less period of uncertainty, he emerged upon the 

 opposite side, giving voice to a shrill yell of 

 triumph and encouragement. He had carried 

 in his hand a long lead rope, made fast to the 

 camera horse. The animal had less success 

 with its endeavor. When the water foamed 

 about its belly, it stumbled, lost its footing, 

 slipped, and staggered downstream for a few 

 feet, then tore the halter out of Pat's grasp and 

 was washed away. 



"There goes the machine!" cried Miller. 



"And a thousand feet of film!" Fred 

 groaned. 



"And all our cigars!" I wailed. 



We were frozen with horror, but Bill 

 Vaughan seized a rope, and, with loop whirling 

 above his head, went loping down the bank 



164 



