Give the telegraphic messages, and you go back to the mines with the letters, and if there's anything in them that they want to telegraph, let them write out the messages, and you bring them over to Lewston's cabin." Harry took the telegrams, and old Miles rode off, very much disturbed in his mind.

His confidence in the utility of the telegraph company was wofully shaken.
By this time Harvey had arrived on a mule, and the two operators dashed away as fast as their animals would carry them.
As they galloped along Harry shouted to Harvey, who kept ahead most of the time, for his mule was faster than Selim: "Hello, Harvey! If Miles couldn't get across, how can either of us go over ?" "Oh, I reckon the creek isn't much up yet," answered Harvey.

"Miles is easily frightened." So, on they rode, hoping for the best; but when they reached the creek they saw, to their dismay, that the water was much higher already than it usually rose in the summer-time.

The low grounds on each side were overflowed, and nothing could be seen of the bridge but the tops of two upright timbers near its middle.
It was certainly very unfortunate that both the operators were on the same side of the stream! "This is a pretty piece of business," cried Harry.

"I didn't expect the creek to get up so quickly as this.