Part 18 (1/2)
”hello there!” called out Mr Basswood ”I guess you'll have to get out that towing-rope again and give us a lift”
”Just what I thought,” answered Dave ”We'll have it out in a jiffy”
He and his uncle alighted once -rope that had been used before Mr Bassas already out of the car, standing in water and mud over his shoe-tops
”Here, catch the rope!” called out our hero, and sent one end whirling toward the other car in true cowboy fashi+on--a trick he had learned while staying at Star Ranch
Mr Basswood caught the rope, and soon had it adjusted to the front axle of the car In the meanwhile Dave and his uncle fastened the other end to the rear axle of their own turnout
”Now then, turn on your pohen I sound ht you are!” yelled back Ben, as at the wheel
Mr Porter res, while Dave re-entered the Wadsworth machine and turned on the power Then our hero sounded the horn and began to advance The towing-rope strained and cracked, and threatened for a moment to snap Slowly the Wadsworth car went ahead inch by inch The rear wheels of the Basswood machine churned the water andout of this very fast,” remarked Shadoas in the rear car beside Mrs Basswood
”Put on all your power, Ben It's the only thing you can do,” ordered the lad's father
The rear wheels of the secondthem and the water up into the air and even onto the cover of the -rope continued to creak ouard, everybody, if that rope breaks!” cried Mr Basswood, warningly He knew that if the towing-line parted near one end or the other there was grave danger of the flying rope coe one of the machines
Inch by inch the second car moved forward Dave had not dared to turn on all power, fearing to snap the towing-line, but now, as the second ained a little headway, he added power steadily
”Hurrah! Here we come!” shouted Luke, in a tone of relief And a few seconds later the Basswood car rolled out of the water and mud to the comparatively dry roadway ahead
”Say, that was soet out of there!” was Shadow's colad the other car was here to help us,” answered Ben ”If it hadn't been here I guess ould have stayed there for a while,” he added, gri after this trip,” observed Dave, with a grin, as he coiled up the towing-line onceto this trip!” observed Ben,a wry face
”We haven't seen the end of it yet, Ben,” answered Dunston Porter
”There may be worse roads than this ahead I don't believe they are very good around Carpen Falls”
With the rain pelting down unceasingly, the two cars proceeded on the journey The thunder and lightning had let up a little, but now, as the top of the next hill was gained, it seemed to become more violent than before
”Oh, this is dreadful!” cried Jessie, as a particularly bright flash lit up the interior of the automobile ”What if we should be struck!”
”Let us hope that nothing like that happens!” answered Laura Her face, too, showed her alare ahead,” cried Dave, who had been peering intently through the windshi+eld ”I think I saw the white steeple of a church”
”Maybe it's Siested Belle
”I hope there is a hotel there and a garage,” said Dunston Porter