A crowd had collected at the alley entrance, and through it the boys pushed their way, the assemblage giving respectful room to Grit, who was in no gentle humor. It was plain that the stablemen, seeing a valuable dog, had enticed Grit into the barn--no hard task, since he was fond of horses--and had tried to prevent Dick from recovering his pet. But all's well that ends well, and soon the trio, with Grit on the seat of honor in front, were speeding to the outskirts of the town, where the auto was drawn to one side of the road, and preparations made to spend the night. They were off early the next morning. Cleveland was their next big city, and in accordance with Dick's plan they changed their route slightly, taking seldom-traveled roads to throw off any spies whom Uncle Ezra might send after them. Shortly before noon something occurred which nearly put an end to their journey. They had come through a bad stretch of roads and had ascended a steep hill, at the other side of which, according to a local guide, began a good highway. "Then we can make some speed!" exclaimed Dick. "We've been crawling all morning." He was at the wheel, and as he started to descend the slope he looked to see that the brake levers were clear. There were three on the big car--the ordinary foot-pedal brake, a hand one for hard stops, and an emergency that locked all four wheels. The _Last Word_ started down the slope, and half way to the bottom something snapped. "What's that?" cried Innis. "One of the brakes, I'm afraid," answered Dick. The car gathered speed. The young millionaire had shut off all power and was coasting. Now he reached for the emergency brake, but the handle was loose in his hand. The hill was steep--the car heavy, and it was acquiring speed. The foot and ordinary hand brake were powerless to check it. "We're running down hill!" cried Innis. "That's what we are," agreed Dick, grimly. As they flashed past a house a man rushed out. "Look out for that bridge!" he cried, pointing to the foot of the slope. "It's weakened by a flood. You'll never get over it if you hit it that fast!" His words died away as the car rushed on down hill, Dick vainly trying to check its speed by the two brakes still in commission. CHAPTER XXI MAROONED "Can't you hold her, Dick?" "Is there anything we can do?" Paul and Innis shouted their questions at their chum, as he sat at the wheel, guiding the ponderous car on its perilous way. Every stone that could be avoided Dick steered away from, yet to make too much of a swerve, he knew, would be disastrous. "I'm afraid--it's getting--away from me," he called through his clenched teeth. "The emergency brake is broken, and the others don't seem to hold." "Can't you put on the reverse?" asked Innis. "It would only strip the gears. I guess we've got to chance it, boys!" A man ran out at the foot of the hill, dancing up and down near the approach to the bridge, and waving a red handkerchief.