"Stop! stop!" he yelled, frantically, and waved his arms in the air.
Tom saw the movement and knew at once something was wrong. He threw
off the power and applied the emergency brake and the automobile just
passed Sam and no more.
"What's the matter?" came from everyone in the second car.
"That's what's the matter," answered Sam, pointing to the foot of the
rocky hill. "That wagon--Well, I declare!"
The youngest Rover stared and well he might, for the farmer's turnout
with the load of lime had disappeared from view. The farmer had turned
into a field at the bottom of the hill just as Dick turned his car
into the bushes.
"I don't see anything," said Nellie. And then Sam had to explain and
point out the situation of the first car.
"I guess I can get down the hill well enough," said Tom. "But this
appears to be a poor road. We ought to try to find something better."
All those in the second car got out and walked to that which was
stalled in the bushes. They found Dick and Fred walking around the
machine trying to learn if any damage had been done.
"We might have kept right on," said Sam, and explained why.
"Well, we are here, and now comes the problem of getting back on the
road," said the eldest Rover. "I don't think I can back very well in
here."
"Better make a turn on the down grade," suggested Sam. "We can cut
down some of the big bushes that are in the way, and fill up some of
the holes with stones."
It was decided to do this, and all of the boys took off their coats
and went to work. Soon they had a fairly clear path, and after backing
away a few feet from the trees, Dick turned downward in a semi circle,
and got out once more on the road. This time he was mindful to use the
brake with care, and consequently he gained the bottom of the stony
hill without further mishap, and the second machine came after him.
"There is that farmer," said Songbird. "Why not ask him about the
roads?"
"I will," said Dick, and stalked into the field.
"This ain't no good road to Philadelphia," said the farmer, when
questioned. "Better go back up the hill and take the road on the
right."
"We can't get back very well."
"Then you had better go along this road and take the first turn to the
left and after that the next turn to the right. You'll have about
three miles o' poor roads, but then you'll be all right, but the
distance to the city is six miles longer."
There was no help for it and they went on, over dirt roads which were
anything but good. They had to go slowly, and Tom kept the second car
far to the rear, to escape the thick dust sent up by the leading
machine.
"This isn't so fine," declared Dick, with a grimace at Dora. "I am
sorry we took that false turn at the top of the hill."
"Oh, we'll have to take the bitter with the sweet," answered the girl,
lightly.
"I shan't mind it if you don't, Dora."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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