Part 10 (1/2)
He had hardly ceased speaking, when one of the automobiles appeared, so covered with snow that it was hard to believe that it was actually a car at all. Shortly afterward the Salper car appeared, came to a halt when its driver saw the other two at a standstill, and its French chauffeur descended and advanced stiffly to where Bob and the driver of the second Layton car were standing.
”Pah!” he exclaimed. ”In all France there is no road like that which I have just traverse. I am hire to drive ze petrol car, not ze snow plough. It eez ze so great mystery zat we have arrive so far.”
”Mystery is right,” agreed Jim, the injured driver. ”The only casualty up to date is my busted wing, which is a lot better than a busted neck. But you'd better get back in your gla.s.s house, Frenchy, because we're all frozen stiff, and the sooner we land at the hotel, the better. My arm feels as though it must be broken in twenty places.”
The Frenchman looked doubtfully at Jim when he spoke of an injured ”wing,” but evidently set it down as being one more incomprehensible vagary of the English language, for he only shrugged his shoulders and returned to his car without comment.
The short day was drawing rapidly into night when the little party at last saw the cheerful lights of the hotel s.h.i.+ning through the storm.
Fifteen minutes later the lads were all seated in front of a roaring open fire in the big parlor and were telling their experiences to the amazed guests.
Bob was the only uncomfortable one in the crowd, as he heard everybody speaking in praise of the way he had risen to the emergency and was thankful for more reasons than one when dinner was announced.
”Dinner!” exclaimed Jimmy, rapturously. ”Bob, I've got to hand it to you. Not only do you get us here through a howling blizzard, but you land us just in time for a turkey dinner. Oh my, oh my!”
The Mountain Rest Hotel had a reputation for serving generous meals, and for this the boys were thankful that night. Through all the long, cold day they had eaten nothing but a few sandwiches, and now they strove to make up for lost time. Not in vain, either. Even Jimmy had to own up that he could not eat another mouthful, which was a statement he could seldom truthfully make.
Owing to the sickness in Clintonia, there had been an unprecedented rush of visitors to the hotel, and the Layton party discovered that they would have to take one of the small cottages adjoining the hotel, although they would board in the main establishment.
The cottage was snug and comfortable, however, and they were all delighted with it. Indeed, it was better for the radio boys than rooms in the hotel, because they could set up their receiving set more readily. Of course, it was out of the question to erect an outdoor aerial, but they were not bothered by this and decided to use a loop aerial instead. They had brought with them a knock-down frame on which to wind their antenna, and this frame could be moved around and set against the wall when not in use.
The first night at Mountain Pa.s.s they had little thought, however, even for their beloved radio, and were content to tumble into bed shortly after dinner. But the next day they were up early, and after a hearty breakfast set to work to put up their set.
CHAPTER X
CONVINCING A SKEPTIC
It was a simple matter for the boys to wind the loop aerial, for they had become expert in the manipulation of wire, tape, and the numerous other accessories that go with the art of wireless telephony. After the aerial was completed they unpacked their receiving set and quickly connected it up. They worked skillfully and efficiently, and before the lunch bell rang at noon they were ready to receive signals.
But even their enthusiasm was not proof against the seductive summons of the genial looking old darky who rang the bell, and they washed hastily and started for the dining room at a pace that would have reflected credit on the hungriest boarder who ever lived.
”Gang way, Bob!” panted Jimmy, as they clattered down the last flight of stairs and dashed for the entrance to the hotel. ”I'm hungry, and, therefore, desperate. Get out of the way before I trip over you!”
”Good night!” shouted Bob. ”You're getting too fresh to live, Jimmy,”
and he picked up a handful of snow and dropped it carefully and with precision down Jimmy's fat neck.
”Ugh!” exclaimed that corpulent youth, stopping short in his wild rush and digging snow from under his collar. ”I'll get even with you for that, Bob, you old hobo. Just you wait!”
”Can't wait a second,” grinned Bob. ”I don't want to be late and miss all the good things, even if you do.”
”Come on, Doughnuts, don't stand there all day picking snow off you,”
entreated Herb. ”I can't see where there's any fun in that.”
Jimmy reached down, packed a handful of snow, and sent it flying after the others. They were close to the door, however, and ducked in unscathed, while the s...o...b..ll spread out in a big patch against the door casing.
Jimmy did not allow himself to be delayed very long at any time when there was food in prospect, however, and his friends had hardly seated themselves at the table when he came in, his collar badly dampened, but his appet.i.te in prime condition. He shook his fist surrept.i.tiously at the others, but he was incapable of staying angry long, and was soon his usual jolly and happy-go-lucky self.
The snowstorm had stopped during the night, the weather had grown warmer, and a brilliant sun now shone down on a dazzlingly white world. The snow had come ahead of time, as all the ”regulars” at the Mountain Rest Hotel united in a.s.serting, and now it gave every indication of disappearing as fast as it had come.
The boys wanted to get back to their radio set after dinner, but the snow looked so inviting that they could not resist the temptation to have a snow fight. Some of the men, seeing them hard at it, cast dignity to the winds and joined them, until quite a miniature battle was raging. Ammunition was plentiful, and there was a good deal of shouting and laughter before both sides became tired and agreed to call it a draw.