"Whoa ! " cried Mr Buller

"Get up ! " exclaimed Mr Podington, applying his whip plunging beast

But exclamations and castigations had no effect horse The original bed stream ran close road, bank was so steep earth so soft impossible horse to advance or even maintain his footing Back, back he went, until the whole equipage was water wagon was afloat

This vehicle was road wagon, without top, joints box-body were tight enough the water from immediately entering it; so, somewhat deeply sunken, it rested water current part pond and it turned the wagon downstream The horse was now entirely immersed water, exception head upper part neck, and, unable to reach the bottom feet, vigorous efforts to swim

Mr Podington, the reins and whip hands, sat horrified and pale; the accident was so sudden, so startled and so frightened that, for moment, speak word Mr Buller, other hand, was now lively and alert The wagon had no sooner floated away shore than himself at home upon his favorite element; water had no fears for him that his friend was nearly frightened out wits, , figuratively speaking, step helm and take charge vessel He stood up and gazed about him

"Put her across stream ! " he shouted; " 't make headway against this current Head her clump of trees other side; the bank is lower there, and beach her Move little the other way, trim boat Now then, pull starboard rein "

Podington obeyed, horse slightly changed his direction

" ," said Buller, "it won't do to sail straight across, because the current would carry us down and land us below that spot "

Mr Podington said not word; he expected every moment the horse sink into watery grave

"It isn't so bad after all, , Podington ? had rudder and bit of sail it great help horse This wagon bad boat "

The despairing Podington looked at his feet "It's coming in," in husky voice "Thomas, the water is over my shoes ! "

" so," said Buller " so used to water I didn't notice it She leaks carry anything to bail her out with ? "

"Bail ! " cried Podington, now finding his voice "Oh, Thomas, sinking ! "

"That's so," said Buller; "she leaks like sieve "

The weight running-gear and two men was entirely buoyancy wagon body The water rapidly rose toward the top sides

" going to drown ! " cried Podington, suddenly rising

"Lick him ! Lick him ! " exclaimed Buller "Make him swim faster ! "

"There's nothing to lick," cried Podington, vainly lashing water, for reach the horse's head The poor man was dreadfully frightened; he had never even imagined it possible that drowned own wagon

"Whoop ! " cried Buller, water rose over the sides "Steady yourself, old boy, or you'll go overboard ! " next moment the wagon body sunk out of sight

But it go down very far The deepest part channel stream passed, and with bump the wheels struck the bottom

"Heavens ! " exclaimed Buller, " aground "

"Aground ! " exclaimed Podington, "Heaven be praised ! "

two men stood up submerged wagon the water was above their knees, and when Podington looked out over the surface pond, now so near his face, it seemed like sheet of water he had never seen before something horrible, threatening to rise and envelop him He trembled scarcely keep his footing

"William," said his companion, " sit down; don't, you'll tumble overboard and be drowned nothing to hold to "

"Sit down," said Podington, gazing blankly water around him, " 't ! "

moment the horse made slight movement Having touched bottom after his efforts in swimming across the main bed stream, with floating wagon in tow, he had stood for , his head and neck well above water, back barely visible beneath the surface Having recovered his breath, he now thought time to move on

first step horse Mr Podington began to totter Instinctively he clutched Buller

"Sit down ! " cried the latter, "or you'll have us both overboard " no help ; down sat Mr Podington; and, as with great splash heavily seat, the water rose waist

"Ough ! " said he "Thomas, shout for help "

"No use doing that," replied Buller, still standing nautical legs; "I don't see anybody, and I don't see any boat We'll get out all right Just you stick tight thwart "

"The what ? " feebly asked the other

"Oh, the seat, I mean get shore all right steer the horse straight Head him more across the pond "

" 't head him," cried Podington " dropped the reins ! "

"Good gracious ! " cried Mr Buller, "that's bad Can't you steer him by shouting 'Gee' and 'Haw' ? "

"No," said Podington, "he isn't an ox; but perhaps stop him " And with voice as summon, out: "Whoa ! " horse stopped

" 't steer him way," said Buller, " get the reins Lend me your whip "

" dropped that too," said Podington; "there it floats "

"Oh, dear," said Buller, "I guess I'll have to dive ; if he were to run away, in an awful fix "

"Don't get out ! Don't get out ! " exclaimed Podington " reach over the dashboard "

" 's under water," said Buller, " the same thing as diving; but it's got , and I'll try it Don't you move now; more used to water than "

Mr Buller took off his hat and asked his friend to hold it He thought watch and other contents pockets, but no place them, so them no more consideration Then bravely getting knees water, he leaned over the dashboard, almost disappearing from sight disengaged hand Mr Podington grasped the submerged coat-tails friend

In few seconds the upper part of Mr Buller rose water dripping and puffing, and Mr Podington but think what difference it made appearance friend his hair plastered close head

"I got hold of ," said the sputtering Buller, "but fast to something and I couldn't get it loose "

" thick and wide ? " asked Podington

"Yes," answer; "it did seem so "

"Oh, that was trace," said Podington; "I don't want that; the reins are thinner and lighter "

"Now I remember ," said Buller "I'll go down again "

Again Mr Buller leaned over the dashboard, and he remained down longer, and when up he puffed and sputtered more than before

" it ? " said he, holding up strip of wet leather

"Yes," said Podington, "you've got the reins "

"Well, take them, and steer found them sooner if his tail got into my eyes That long tail's floating down there and spreading itself out like fan; it tangled itself all around my head It much easier if he bob-tailed horse "

"Now then," said Podington, "take your hat, Thomas, and I'll try to drive "

Mr Buller put hat, the only dry thing about him, nervous Podington started the horse so suddenly that even the sea-legs of Buller were surprised, and very near going backward water; but recovering himself, he sat down

"I don't wonder like to , William," said he "Wet as , it's ghastly ! "

Encouraged by his master's voice, and feeling familiar hand upon his bit, the horse moved bravely on

But the bottom was very rough and uneven Sometimes the wheels struck large stone, terrifying Mr Buller, who thought they were going to upset; and sometimes they sank into soft mud, horrifying Mr Podington, who thought they were going to drown

Thus proceeding, they presented strange sight At first Mr Podington held his hands above the water as he drove, but he soon found this awkward, and dropped them usual position, nothing was visible above the water but the head and neck of horse heads and shoulders of two men

Now the submarine equipage came to low place bottom, and even Mr Buller shuddered water rose chin Podington gave howl of horror, horse, with high, uplifted head, was obliged to swim moment boy with gun came strolling along the road, and hearing Mr Podington's cry, he cast his eyes over the water Instinctively he raised his weapon shoulder, and then, in an instant, perceiving objects he beheld aquatic birds, he dropped his gun and ran yelling down the road toward the mill

But the hollow bottom was narrow one, and when passed the depth water gradually decreased The back horse came into view, the dashboard became visible, bodies spirits two men rapidly rose Now vigorous splashing and tugging, and then jet black horse, shining he newly varnished, pulled dripping wagon containing two well-soaked men upon shelving shore