The senator's son started up the automobile and made a circle on the top of the hill. Then, just as there came another flash of lightning and a loud crash of thunder, the boys began the long and perilous journey down the rough road leading from Sugar Hill. CHAPTER IV A QUESTION OF STOCKS "Some rain, believe me!" It was Dave who uttered the remark, as the touring-car commenced the long and dangerous descent of Sugar Hill. A sheet of water was dashing against the wind-shield, which had been raised as high as possible. "I wish it was driving the other way," answered Roger, who was peering forward. "It covers the glass so I can hardly see." "Better take it slow," suggested Dave. Another flash of lightning lit up the scene, accompanied by a crack of thunder that made some of the boys crouch down for a second. Then came more wind and more rain. "I hope the wind and lightning don't throw a tree down across the roadway," cried Phil, loudly, to make himself heard above the fury of the elements. "We've got our eyes open!" answered Dave. "I'll look over the wind-shield," he added, to Roger, and lifted a corner of the front curtain for that purpose. "You'll get wet, Dave." "Not a great deal, and I'd rather do that than have an accident," was the reply. Roger had thrown the car into low gear, so that the power was really acting as a sort of brake. Slowly they slid along, over the wet stones and dirt. Then came a sharp turn, and the senator's son slowed down still more. The touring-car skidded a distance of several feet, and all held their breath, wondering if they would go down into a small gully, or waterway, that lined the road on one side. But in another moment that danger was past, and all breathed more freely. But almost immediately a fresh peril confronted them. At another turn Dave sent up a warning cry: "Brake up, Roger, there's a tree or a big limb ahead!" Through the rain-covered shield the senator's son saw the obstruction. He set both the hand-brake and the foot-brake, and all heard the wheels and the chains scrape over the stones and dirt. But the car could not be stopped, and two seconds later crashed into the tree limb, a branch of which came up, striking the wind-shield and cracking it. "Look out for that glass!" yelled Bert, in fresh alarm. "Don't get any in your eyes, Roger!" The youth at the wheel did not reply. Dave, quick to act, seized a lap-robe that was handy and held it up in front of Roger, who did not dare to leave the wheel. Then came a jingle of glass, but the pieces fell at the feet of the boys in the front of the car. The automobile itself slid on another ten feet, dragging the tree limb with it. "Say, that was a narrow escape!" muttered Phil, when the danger seemed over. "We'll have to see how much damage has been done," declared Dave. He crawled from the car and Roger followed. The other boys were also coming out in the storm, but the senator's son stopped them.