Ralph Gurney's Oil Speculation

, in which he was forced, unwillingly, to take part, Ralph almost entirely forgot the dangerous load in advance, un

had driven in at that point, but there was nothing to show that the torpedo-wagon had been driven in there, and Ji

urged by both whip and word until they could no longer trot, but were running madly on, while the ligh

e of his friend's property, but he ent

. I think I understand why Hubbard got me away from the stream before George came down, and I say to you now, as I shall say to both of your friends, that it is a m

he tried to urge the already nearly-exha

driving at such a mad pace, Ralph was certain he was wrong, and if he wished to convey the imp

pace was too fast for them, and as Dick guided his team skillfully into the woods,

nd it only remained to be seen how muc

f what the result might be if they should meet any teams either coming or going. But, fortunately, it was so late in the night tha

ing their speed, until finally, when it was no longer

ot pull the horses up soon, you will ruin the

ad left the road, when Jim began to quiet the frightened animals, and before another

chanced to be very broad, Jim brought them to a

hite horses marked with small patches of black; their red, dilating nostrils and heaving flanks told of the effect t

t they were utterly ruined; but Jim treated his fears as chil

ss we do something for them at once. Let's rub them

d would have started the exhausted animals on the return

nd that you will do as I say in regard to caring for these horses, or there will be trouble between us.

of the carriage," replied Jim, pertly; "but I might have

se understand now that I have interfered, and that I shall do exactly what I say. You will come out here and help me to c

it is extremely probable that Jim might have tried to run away and leave him, instead of being left. As it was, however, he apparently did not think it either a pleasant o

h water from the side of the road, but taking good care not to allow them any to drink, and for an hour the two boys-one t

Jim and his partners had done him a grievous wrong in placing him in such a position as made it seem that he had aided in the ab

Ralph said to the sti

m now, and I will dr

Jim, "I've got nothing to do with it, a

air as much as you please; but you'll take the full

Ralph thought; but he assisted in harnessing the horses, and wh

horses to choose their own gait going back, a tenderness towar

they had no desire to go faster than a walk; and still, without speaking, the two boys

k, and more than once did Ralph stop the horses by the side of the road, calling vigoro

George's voice in reply, and then he and Pete came out to lead the horse

tude with which he examined his horses, that Bob had told the firs

all the way, Ra

far from being as

m down when we stopped, and to drive home," replied Ralph, almost indignant that

ed himself in caring for the animal

ter he had gone, George asked Ralph for the par

ry, not without several inter

e you going

as it is, we can do no better than to stay here a while, and early in the morning we will say good-by to Mr.

ything new?" aske

uantity of nitro-glycerine through it in the manner Bob did, I consider a great wrong has been done, for it endangers the lives of every one living there. We shall probably hear from it very soon, for my team is well known in Sawyer. Then again,

rstood from what George had said just how much trouble might grow o

t," he said, bitterly. "I felt that things were going wrong in some way when I first left here with Bob, but I didn't know i

hout caring how much he has injured us, he is probably congratulating himself on its perfect success. But come, let's go and lie down fo

to co