"I know it."

"Then, what are we going to do?"

"I'll stay here and hang on. You send Walter back with the pony as
soon as you get there. Better call to him to get Pink-eye or one of
the others saddled as soon as you can make him hear. We'll save
time that way. I'm afraid Bad-eye won't be able to make the return
trip."

"Now grab for the rock," cried Tad.

Ned did so, but he missed it.

Tad still clinging to Chunky fastened his right hand in
the broncho's mane. All three of the boys were now clinging to the
overburdened animal. Ned began swimming to assist the pony, for he
realized that they had dropped back a few feet in taking on the
extra weight.

"Work further back and get hold of the saddle," Ned directed.

Tad followed his instructions.

"I'm afraid he'll never make it," groaned Ned. "I----"

At that instant his hand came in violent contact with a hard, cold
object. It was the slender, pillar-like rock that Tad had been
clinging to for so long in the icy water.