"It's eight miles to Hobart's ranch, and there's no time to lose if we're going to get in there to-night." He shook the reins, and the girl clutched the side of the wagon as she felt the lash of the wind and noticed how the firs rushed past.

It was jolting horribly, and she was relieved when as the trail grew steeper she saw the man tightening his grip on the reins and heard the grating of the brake.

It ceased suddenly, one of the horses stumbled, then flung up its head, and they were going down faster than ever, while the man had flung his shoulders back and was dragging at the reins.

It dawned upon Miss Deringham that something had gone wrong and the team were running away.
There was now only white mist beneath them and the roar of water.
Trees came whirling up out of it, rock and bush swept past, while now and then the wheels hung almost over the edge of the declivity, and the girl could look down upon the sombre firs in the haze below.

After one glance, however, she felt that it would not be well for her to do so.
Suddenly one of the horses stumbled again, and the teamster flung her father the reins.