They sped down the hill and there found the road turned to the left and crossed a small stream. Then they reached a corner with several signboards. "Hurrah! that's the way to Philly!" cried Sam. "But it doesn't say how many miles," protested Grace. "Never mind, we are bound to get there before dark, and that is all we care," came from Nellie. In the exhilaration of running the cars, Dick and Tom soon forgot about the trouble with the chauffeurs. It was great sport, and as soon as Dick "got the hang of it," as he said, he let the speed out, notch by notch. His car ran a trifle more easily than did the other and before long he was a good half mile ahead of that run by Tom. Those in the rear shouted for him to slow down, but the wind prevented him from hearing their calls. "This is something like, isn't it?" said Dick to Dora, who was beside him. "Oh, it is splendid!" she replied enthusiastically. "I feel as if I could go on riding forever!" "An auto certainly beats a team all to bits, if the road is good." They passed up another hill, and then through a patch of woods. Then they made a sharp turn, and the car began to descend over a road that was filled with loose stones. "Say, Dick, you'd better slow up," cautioned Sam, as the machine gave a quick lurch over a stone. "This road isn't as smooth as it was." "I know it." "I saw a road to our right," said Grace. "Perhaps we should have taken that." There was no time to say more, for the automobile was jouncing over the stones in too lively a manner. Alarmed, Dick, who had already shut off the power, applied the brake, but he was not used to this and he jammed it fast so it did not altogether prevent the car from advancing. "Oh, we must stop!" screamed Dora, a moment later. "Look ahead!" Dick did so, and his heart gave a leap of fear. Below them the stony road was narrow, and on one side was a rocky gully and on the other some thick bushes. In the roadway was a farmer with a large farm wagon filled with lime. Should they hit the turnout below somebody would surely be hurt and perhaps killed. CHAPTER XIV WHAT A ROMAN CANDLE DID It was a time for quick action, and it was a lucky thing that Dick Rover had been in perilous positions before and knew enough not to lose his presence of mind. As the others in the automobile arose to leap out he called to them: "Sit down! Don't jump! I'll look out for things!" Then, even as he spoke, Dick turned the steering wheel and sent the big machine crashing into the bushes to one side of the roadway. He chose a spot that was comparatively level, and in five seconds they came to a halt just in front of half a dozen trees. "We must take care of Tom's machine!" cried Sam, and leaped over the back of the automobile. The machine had cut down the bushes, so the path was clear and he ran with might and main to the roadway. At the top of the hill was the second car, coming along at a good speed.