Chapter 4.

Before the morning dawned, Hendelt and Wattel were up scouting the fallen trees. They found the logjam just as they had left it, solid as a rock and wide as a street. Hendelt tentatively walked out onto the largest log and found it slippery from the morning dew, but wide enough for the party to ride two abreast.

By the time they returned to camp, Astaria had breakfast ready and the children were wiping sleep from their eyes. Their complaints about having to sleep on the ground were bordering on whining but Astaria was quick to put a stop to it.

"You had better get used to it. It will be quite some time before you get to sleep in a bed again."

Breakfast was consumed, Wattel did the dishes yet again, the horses were saddled and the five travelers were off just as the sun fell on the campsite.

"Unca Andalt, whas that?"

"What's what, Antin?"

"That over there."

Following Antin's small finger, Hendelt sees a bright flash of reflected sunlight high up on the mountain side. The light seemed to flash at irregular intervals and Hendelt realized that the flashing coincided with the sun peaking out from behind the scattering of clouds overhead.

"I don't know, Antin, but it's just the sun reflecting off something shiny."

"Do you think it might be secwet tweasure?"

"I'll bet that's just what it is Antin," Hendelt chuckles. "Wattle, what do you think about it?"

"I'm with Antin, I think it's a secret treasure. I wonder how it got there though"

"Maybe by bandits, maybe it was hid there by bandits, maybe they had too much loot, then they forget where they hid it and then maybe... Maybe they are still looking for it?"

"I don't know Antin, maybe they are and we should get moving before they find out we know about their treasure. I think we better keep an eye peeled."

"Wattle, If you're scaring him, you'll be the one that looks after him when he wakes up screaming from nightmares. Antin, don't listen to them, they are just teasing you."

"I don't know Astaria, I would feel better if Antin was our bandit watch. What do you think Antin, could you be the one who looks out for bandits?"

"Can I, mamma? I wouldn't have nightmares, honest, I wouldn't."

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"OK, Antin, but as soon as you have a nightmare, Wattle will have to take over. Agreed?"

"Agreed, mamma."

Hendelt looks over his shoulder at Antin, "Looks like you got yourself a job, now lets get moving. I want to be across the river as quickly as possible."

Upon reaching the river crossing, it was evident that the river was still rising. The water had now reached just below the large tree that Hendelt had walked on earlier in the morning.

"That looks quite dangerous, are you sure we shouldn't look for a better place to cross?"

"It should be OK, Astaria, I'll cross first, and everyone will be tied to a life line before they attempt to cross. Wattel, you bring up the rear and make sure everyone is properly tied before they cross. I think walking and leading the horses is the best idea. Astaria, you'll have to carry Antin, I don't think he should walk."

Hendelt tied himself to the rope they had retrieved from the pack horse and slowly walked across the bridge, testing the footing as he went. Glacia was next and Hendelt had to yell at her to slow down. Her fear had heightened her adrenalin and she almost started running at one point. When she was safe on the other side he quickly hugged her and told her he was sorry for yelling at her. Astaria, with Antin strapped to her back crossed without incident.

The water had begun to rise quickly and was in danger of covering the log bridge before Wattel had a chance to tether his horse and the pack horse together. Just as he reached the half way point, Glacia screamed and pointed upriver. It looked like another log jam further up the river had let go and a mass of trees was raging toward their little walkway. Wattel began to run across and lost his footing, falling, flailing into the water below the bridge. He had the presence of mind to release the reins of the two horses and they came trotting across the tree.

"Wattel!! Astaria, grab the horses and get the children back from the trees. When that mass slams into this one, I doubt it will hold. I need to get to him before it hits.""

The rope began to tug Hendelt toward the water and he let loose some slack and ran for the first standing tree he could find. He ran around the tree twice and tied off the rope. By the time he had returned to the bank of the river, Wattel was about thirty yards downstream stroking for the bank with all his strength.

Grabbing a spare rope from one of the horses, Hendelt charged to where Wattel had reached the river bank and was trying to pull himself out.

Every time he got a handhold, it broke and he fell back into the water. Soon he would be too tired to help himself.

The wall of trees hit the walkway with such a force that it seemed to explode, raining timbers and shards in the water. The flow rushed downstream, increasing speed as it approached,

Wattel knew if he didn't get out of the way, he would be crushed. The river was packed from bank to bank with trees streaming toward him.

"Grab the rope!"

Wattel looked up to find a loop of rope dangling down from the edge of the bank. Winding one arm through the loop, he tugged on the rope and felt himself being drawn up out of the water. Using his feet, he tried to climb faster. He only had seconds to spare before the trees hit and he was climbing with all the strength he had. His eyes had cleared the level of the bank.

"Pull, Hendelt! I'm not going to make it."

The tree smashed into him and he heard a loud snap. Pained seared through his hip and leg and he felt himself being pulled back toward the water. Another snap and the sensation of being dragged down ceased. He felt the pull of the rope again and soon found himself on the bank gasping for breath.

"Astaria, bring the bandages! Now lie still, you have a nasty gash in your thigh and your leg is at an odd angle, it looks like it's broken."

Wattle, lay there and gasped for air, feeling his heart trying to break through his chest.

Before Astaria could reach him, the pain of his injury registers and he loses consciousness.