"That's it! That's the way to do it!" cried the man who had waved a warning. "The water isn't very deep!" "I hope not," murmured Dick. "Hold hard, boys!" With tense face he watched the path before him. His hands were gripped on the steering wheel so hard that it seemed as though he had no fingers at all--as if they were all in one. The car thundered on. It vibrated and trembled. The brakes that had been set--exclusive of the broken one--were bringing forth a shrill protest from the axle bands. "I--I guess you'll make it, Dick!" shouted Paul. "It won't be from lack of trying, anyhow," agreed Innis. Though he and Paul had come partly back into the car they were still ready to leap in case Dick's plan miscarried. But it seemed likely to succeed. There was a sudden twist to the steering wheel, and the _Last Word_ swerved dangerously. Paul and Innis clutched the sides. Then they saw that the auto was on the short slope that led down to the water. Dick had made the diversion in safety--so far. What would happen when he struck the stream, with its uneven bed, was a matter of conjecture. But the deep sand of the slope leading down to the water was already having its effect. No better brake could have been devised than that clinging material. "She's slacking up!" cried Paul. "We're all right!" added Innis. Into the water splashed the big touring car. A shower of spray shot up on either side. The machine was slackening speed. Dick was beginning to relax his grip on the steering wheel, and his chums breathed easier. Then, with a jolt that threw them all forward in a heap, the auto seemed to strike some obstruction in the bed of the creek. It careened to one side, so that they feared it was about to topple over. Then it righted itself, surged forward, and came to a groaning stop in the middle of the water, stuck fast in the cloying mud that formed the bed of the creek. "Safe!" exclaimed Paul. "Not a bone broken!" added Innis. "But we're marooned!" murmured Dick, gloomily. "It will take ten horses to pull us out of this mudhole. Hang the luck!" CHAPTER XXII AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM After their exciting ride down hill--a ride that might have ended disastrously but for Dick's good judgment and prompt action--the three chums were content to sit still in the stalled auto for a few moments. They were about in the middle of a small stream, that flowed under the partly wrecked bridge, and the water came up nearly to the tops of the big-tired wheels. This did not represent its real depth, however, as the weight of the car had caused it to sink down in the soft mud, which served to hold it fast. Paul, Dick and Innis looked about them. "Well, this is the limit!" grumbled the young millionaire. "It sure is," assented Paul. "What'd you want to come down hill so fast for?" asked the man with the red flag.