Even under the thick foliage of the trees the rain was coming down, although of course not nearly as hard as on the roadway beyond. The chains were straightened out on the grass, and each automobile was backed up a little so that the articles might be fastened on. The task took but a few minutes, and then those who had accomplished it got back into the machines. "I'll lead the way," called out Mr. Porter. "You had better not follow me too closely." "Very well, I'll watch out," answered Mr. Basswood. "Uncle Dunston, don't you want to let me drive?" queried Dave. "I've had a little more experience at it than you have had." "I can do it, Dave," was the reply. "But, at the same time, if you think it would be safer, take the wheel. I must own up that I'd rather be on a horse or behind one than steering a car like this in such a storm." Dave squeezed himself into the driver's seat, and a moment later they were off again over the plateau of the hill, and then down the other side. The wind was blowing as furiously as ever, and now from a distance came the low rumble of thunder. "O dear! What is that?" cried Laura. "I guess it was thunder, but I don't think it will amount to anything," returned Roger. The bottom of the hill gained, they traversed a narrow valley for a distance of seven or eight miles. Then came another climb over a winding highway, which at certain points was filled with loose stones and dirt. "Be careful, Dave. We don't want to do any skidding," cautioned the youth's uncle. "I'm watching out all I can," was the grim reply. Dave was bending over the steering-wheel, trying his best to see through the windshield. "I guess I'll have to open it a little," he went on, nodding in the direction of the glass. "I'll do it for you," answered Dunston Porter, and threw out the upper side of the shield. By this means Dave was able to get a clear vision of the roadway directly in front of the machine. But the opening of the windshield let in considerable of the driving rain. "Oh, Dave, you'll get wet from the knees down!" cried Jessie, solicitously. "Can't help it," he replied. "I can't see with the windshield closed." The rumblings of thunder had increased, and now from over a distant hill came various streaks of lightning. The sky was much darker, and in order to see better, Dave turned on the electric lights. Looking back, those in the tonneau of the forward car saw that the Basswood machine was also lighted. By the time the top of the next hill was gained, a distance of fully a mile, the thunderstorm was on them in all its fury. The wind tore through the woods, sending leaves and small branches flying in all directions. From the north and the west came vivid flashes of lightning, followed by sharp claps of thunder, which rolled and rumbled across the hills and mountains. "O dear, if we only had some place to stop!" cried Jessie, timorously.