"There isn't any sort of a building in sight," replied Dunston Porter, who had been looking on all sides for some time. "If there was I'd have Dave head for it pretty quick." "According to the map we ought to be within a few miles of Simpson's Corners," said Roger. "How about it, Dave?" "Just what I was thinking," answered our hero. "I was wondering if it wasn't on the other side of the next rise." They were running along another small valley, at the end of which was a sharp turn to the left and a rise of several hundred feet. Here the downfall of rain had flooded the road for a considerable distance. Coming to this place Dave had to slow down, but he still kept on some power, not wishing to get stuck. "Can you make it, Dave?" asked his uncle, anxiously, as the chains of the automobile ground deeply into the mud and loose stones. "We've got to make it, Uncle Dunston!" cried the boy, grimly. The car proceeded more and more slowly even with the power turned on. Dave had been running in second gear, but now he came down to low. Mud and stones flew in all directions, while the water was splashed out on both sides as if coming from geysers. Then, with one last effort, the automobile left the level roadway and started up the hill beyond. The Wadsworth car was almost at the top of the rise when a turn in the road enabled its occupants to see the second car. "Look!" burst out Roger. "I do believe they're stuck!" "Stuck! Do you mean in that wet place?" asked Dave, quickly. "That's it," put in Phil. "They are stuck just as sure as you're born!" he added, a second later. The forward car had now reached a spot on the side of the hill which was comparatively level, so that Dave had no trouble in coming to a halt. It was still raining as furiously as ever, and the thunder and lightning were just as incessant. Looking down on the wet portion of the road below them, they saw that the Basswood car was standing still, with water and mud half way up to the hubs. "He has shut off the power! That's no way to do!" cried Dave. "He ought to keep his engine going, and either try to go forward or backward. If he stands still he will sink deeper than ever." "He's trying to back now, Dave," returned Phil, and he was right. Soon they saw the wheels of the Basswood car revolving rapidly, and the turnout itself moved slowly to the rear. Then Ben must have reversed the power, for the car came forward, but this time headed for the left side of the road. "I don't think he'll gain much by that move," observed Dave. "I tried it, and found it rather soft over there." "Look, he is backing again!" cried Laura. "O dear! Whatever will he do if he gets stuck fast?" "Let us hope that nothing like that happens," answered her uncle, gravely.