Part 39 (1/2)
”And as quickly as you can get us there,” added Tom.
The chauffeur surveyed the three Rovers in amazement. Then he took off his coat and shook it briskly.
”Sorry, but I can't take you,” he said, slowly. ”I've got another job in--er--in half an hour.”
”You are going to take us,” said d.i.c.k, firmly. ”And right away. What did those men pay you?”
”What is that----”
”How much--out with it? I haven't any time to spare.”
”Ten dollars.”
”All right. You'd like another ten, wouldn't you?”
”Sure. But----”
”Ten dollars to get us to the same place inside of twenty minutes,”
went on d.i.c.k, and showed a roll of bankbills.
”Can't do it--in this slippery weather,” answered the man, his eyes glistening at the sight of the money. ”Make it in half an hour.”
”All tight then.”
”I'll put on the chains,” cried the chauffeur, and brought out the anti-skidding chains for the rear wheels. The boys got the colored man to a.s.sist him, and the chains were soon adjusted. Then the car was backed out of the garage and the three Rovers leaped inside.
”Now, don't lose a minute,” said d.i.c.k.
”I won't. But we are taking chances on this road, sir, I can tell you that.”
It was still raining steadily, and the highway was a ma.s.s of oily mud,--a splendid compound upon which to skid. On and on rushed the touring car at a rate of speed varying from twenty to thirty-five miles an hour.
”I could eat this road up if it was dry,” shouted the chauffeur. ”The machine is good for fifty miles an hour.”
”Well, don't climb a tree, or a stone wall,” cautioned d.i.c.k, grimly.
Ordinarily the Rover boys might have been anxious because of such wild riding, but now every thought was centered on their father. How he was faring, and would they be able to rescue him?
Twice the touring car made dangerous lurches to one side, once fairly brus.h.i.+ng some trees which lined the roadway. But the driver stuck to his post, and gained the middle of the roadway again, and rushed on as rapidly as ever.
”I'll wager he doesn't own the machine,” muttered Sam. ”If he did, he'd be more careful of it.”
”Well, he owns his own neck,” returned Tom, grimly. ”So maybe he'll be careful of that.”
They pa.s.sed through several small villages, the inhabitants gazing out curiously at the rus.h.i.+ng and swaying car. Then they took to a side road, where the traveling was worse than ever.
Suddenly the car made a turn. They had struck a rut in the road and even the chains did not save them. Around swung the automobile. There was a grinding of the brakes and the power was shut off. Then came a jar that sent the Rover boys in a heap.
”Something has happened sure!” cried Tom, who was the first to get up.
They looked out of the door of the enclosed car. They had come up to a ma.s.s of bushes beside the road, and the left front wheel had struck a rock and was twisted around. The mud guard on that side had crumpled up.