Part 5 (1/2)

But almost immediately a fresh peril confronted them. At another turn Dave sent up a warning cry:

”Brake up, Roger, there's a tree or a big limb ahead!”

Through the rain-covered s.h.i.+eld the senator's son saw the obstruction.

He set both the hand-brake and the foot-brake, and all heard the wheels and the chains sc.r.a.pe over the stones and dirt. But the car could not be stopped, and two seconds later crashed into the tree limb, a branch of which came up, striking the wind-s.h.i.+eld and cracking it.

”Look out for that gla.s.s!” yelled Bert, in fresh alarm. ”Don't get any in your eyes, Roger!”

The youth at the wheel did not reply. Dave, quick to act, seized a lap-robe that was handy and held it up in front of Roger, who did not dare to leave the wheel. Then came a jingle of gla.s.s, but the pieces fell at the feet of the boys in the front of the car. The automobile itself slid on another ten feet, dragging the tree limb with it.

”Say, that was a narrow escape!” muttered Phil, when the danger seemed over.

”We'll have to see how much damage has been done,” declared Dave.

He crawled from the car and Roger followed. The other boys were also coming out in the storm, but the senator's son stopped them.

”No use in all of us getting wet,” he said. ”I don't think the damage amounts to much. A mud-guard is bent and the hood is scratched and the gla.s.s broken, but I guess that is all. But we'll have to get the limb from under the car before we can go ahead again,” he added, after an inspection.

”Can't you leave it as it is and use it as a drag down the hill?”

questioned Bert.

”I wouldn't do that,” advised Dave. ”It might hurt some of the machinery under the car. I think we can get it out somehow, Roger.”

Both set to work, in the wind and rain. It was far from a pleasant task, and despite the fact that each had donned a dust-coat, both were pretty well soaked before the limb was gotten away from the car. Then Roger made another inspection of the automobile.

”I think it's O. K.,” he said. ”Anyway, we'll try it.” And then they cranked up once more; and the journey was continued.

It was a slow trip, and at each turn on the hill the senator's son came almost to a stop. He was thinking they might meet a wagon coming the other way, but neither vehicle nor person appeared. Sometimes the visitors at the lake went to Sugar Hill for a picnic, but evidently the concert, and the thoughts of a possible storm, had kept them away this day.

”Down at last!” cried Roger, presently, and a moment later the touring-car rolled out on the smooth and broad highway that connected with that running around Lake Sargola.

”And I am mighty glad of it,” declared Phil, as he breathed a deep sigh of relief.

”Now for the hotel, and there I will see if I can't get you fellows some dry clothing,” said Bert. ”I guess each of you can wear one of my suits.

You are both about my size.”

They took the shortest route to the hotel, arriving there fifteen minutes later. Roger ran the automobile to the porch and allowed the others to alight and then took the car to the hotel garage.

”Well, I am glad to see you boys back!” exclaimed Mr. Pa.s.smore. ”How did you come to break the wind-s.h.i.+eld?” And then he listened with interest to the story the lads had to tell.

”Can't they stay here to-night, Dad?” asked Bert, a little later, when Roger came in. ”I want to let them have some of my dry clothing, and it is storming almost as hard as ever.”

”Certainly, they can stay, if they will and we can get rooms for them,”

replied Mr. Pa.s.smore.

The matter was talked over, and Roger called his parents up on the telephone. A big room containing two double-beds chanced to be vacant in the hotel, and the lads took that. Then Dave and Roger donned some clothing that Bert loaned them while their own garments were being dried and pressed. A little later all went into the dining-room for dinner.

”This will knock out the concert for to-night,” remarked Bert, during the meal.