"Did you ever know this Wilbur Poole, Dad?" questioned Ben.
"Yes, I met him years ago at Aaron Poole's home. But of course he was in his right mind then. Poor chap! I pity him very much."
"I think we all pity him," answered Dave. "Nobody can be responsible after his mind breaks down."
"I feel sorry for Nat Poole and his folks," said Laura. "This will give them a great deal of trouble, not to mention the expense."
"If Wilbur Poole was anywhere around Rayville it might pay to start a hunt for him," suggested Roger.
"I don't think you'll find him anywhere around here," answered Mr. Basswood. "But it won't hurt to take a look around, if you boys care to take a walk."
Ben's father went off to send his telegram to Aaron Poole, and all the boys set off on a hunt for the wild man. They covered the streets of the village and some of the roads on the outskirts, butwithout success. They met three people who had talked to the strange individual, and from what had passed Dave and his chums were sure that the man must have been Wilbur Poole.
"I guess we'll have to give it up," said Phil, when it was getting late. "I'm tired out. And remember, fellows, we have a hard ride before us to-morrow if we expect to reach Carpen Falls in time to hit the trail for Bear Camp before it gets dark."
When the boys reached the hotel the girls were anxious to hear what they might have to tell.
"It's too bad," said Jessie, soberly. "I am glad it is not one of my relatives who is roaming around like that."
Both Dunston Porter and Mr. Basswood had suggested an early start on the following morning, so the entire party were downstairs and to breakfast by seven o'clock. In the meantime the two automobiles had been overhauled, and provided with oil and gasoline, as well as with water.
"I've got rather a bad cut on one of the rear wheels," said Ben. "Perhaps I had better change the shoe before we start."
"Oh, take a chance on it!" cried Luke. "I think you'll get through all right enough."
"Perhaps Luke; but if I don't, that blow-out will cost me a fine inner tube. However, I'll take the chance. Get in everybody, and we'll be off!"
As Mr. Basswood's friend had said, the road leading from Rayville northwestward was in fine shape, and they were able to cover the next thirty miles at a fair rate of speed. But then they got in among the hills, and here the road became as winding and dangerous as ever.
Not knowing much about the stopping-places ahead, the grown folks had had the hotel people put up a substantial lunch for the tourists, packed in two hampers.
"It will be jolly fun camping out this noon," said Laura. "It ought to just suit you, Belle."
"It certainly will!" was the answer from the western girl. "I'd rather eat in the open than in the stuffy dining-room of a hotel any time."
"There may be one drawback to having lunch outdoors," said Phil. "It looks like rain."
"Phil, if you say rain again I'll throw you out of the car!" cried Roger.
"I must admit it does look a little like rain," said Laura, casting her eyes skyward. "That's an awfully black cloud over yonder. O dear, rain would spoil it all! I do hope it holds off!"
Dave had been running the car, but now his uncle insisted upon taking the wheel. Then Roger climbed over onto the front seat, giving the one he had been occupying beside Jessie to our hero. They were in the lead, with the Basswood turnout not far behind.
"This is more like," said Dave, in a low tone to Jessie.
"Oh, well, I suppose you had to do your share in running the car, Dave," she replied, giving him a bright look.
"I don't believe Uncle Dunston cares as much for driving as he pretends," went on the youth. "Behind it all, he is a good deal like Belle—he prefers to be on horseback. He was brought up to it."
"He has certainly been a great traveler, Dave."
"Yes, indeed! And I would like to be just like him. I'd love to travel."
"And where would you go if you had the chance?"
"I don't know. Maybe around the world," and Dave's eyes lit up as he spoke.
"Around the world! And would you go all alone?"
"All alone? Not if I could get anybody to go along with me! Wouldn't you like to take a trip like that, Jessie?" and he gazed at her fondly.
"Oh, Dave!"
"Well, it would be a great trip for both of us; wouldn't it?"
"Dave, don't be silly," and Jessie blushed deeply. "We are not going around the world yet, we are going to Bear Camp, and that's plenty far enough."
"Yes, I know, Jessie. But you see"—and Dave lowered his voice—"I want to make sure that when I go you'll go with me. It will then be the finest trip that ever anybody——"
Bang! It was a report like that from a small cannon, and came from close beside them. Jessie gave a scream, and so did Laura and Mrs. Basswood, while cries of wonder and alarm came from the boys. The Basswood car had come up alongside of the other automobile, and just at that instant the tire which Ben had said was cut blew out, sending a shower of dirt and stones in all directions. Mr. Basswood, who was at the wheel, brought the car to a quick stop, and Mr. Porter also halted.
"Well, it went, just as I thought it might," remarked Ben, grimly.
"Too bad!" returned Luke. "I reckon it was my fault. I should have let you put on that other shoe before we started."
"It's nobody's fault!" cried Mr. Basswood, quickly. "Now then, boys, we'll see how soon we can get another shoe on."
Many hands made the labor of jacking up the car and changing the tire a light one. Fortunately the automobile was equipped with a pump attached to the engine, so that blowing up the tire by hand was unnecessary.
"This is only a little exercise to get up anappetite for that lunch," remarked Dave, gaily. "We want to do full justice to the stuff in the hamper."
"As if there was ever anything the matter with your appetite!" cried Phil, dryly.
"Why Philip, my son, you know I never eat more than a bird!" retorted Dave, with a twinkle in his eye.
"Humph! A bird, eh? I guess you must mean an ostrich," retorted the shipowner's son, and at this sally there was a general laugh in which even Dave joined.
"Just eleven o'clock," remarked Luke, consulting his watch. "When do we stop for that lunch?"
"At twelve o'clock precisely," answered Mrs. Basswood. "That is, of course, if we happen to be in the right kind of a place. We don't want to stop just anywhere."
"Might eat the lunch while we were running," suggested Roger. "It would make it last so much longer."
"Wow! What a joke!" cried Phil.
"Say, that puts me in mind of a story!" burst out Shadow. "A fellow named William took his best girl for a trip by train to another town, and on the way they went into the dining-car for lunch. He said afterwards that it was the longest lunch he had ever eaten, and as the girl had orderednearly everything on the bill of fare it was also the longest bill he had ever paid."
"A long bill but a short story, Shadow!" cried Luke.
"I'd like to know one thing, Shadow," observed Dave. "Was it William who paid the bill or was it Bill who had to put up several Williams to pay for it?"
"Good gracious, Dave! What are you talking about?" queried his sister, with a puzzled look on her face.
"Oh, that's easy, Laura," answered Roger. "William—Bill, Bill—William. Don't you see the joke?"
"Yes, of course! How thick I am!" returned the girl, quickly.
Soon they were once more on the way. They had a long hill to ascend, the road winding in and out among the trees and around the rocks. It was a hard pull, and several times they had to change to second gear and even to low.
"O my, what a beautiful view!" cried Belle, when the top of the hill was gained. And in her excitement she stood straight up in the automobile to look around her.
"It certainly is beautiful," returned Jessie. "One can see for miles and miles in every direction!"
"Oh, Mrs. Basswood, don't you think this would be a lovely place to have lunch?" cried Laura.
At the mention of lunch, Luke, Shadow, and Phil brought out their watches simultaneously.
"Seventeen minutes of twelve," announced the shipowner's son.
"I've got quarter of," cried Luke.
"You must both be off," put in Shadow. "I'm only fourteen minutes and a half of twelve," he announced, gravely. "Have we got to wait till twelve o'clock?" he continued, anxiously.
"I guess it'll be twelve o'clock before we get anything to eat," answered Mrs. Basswood, with a smile. "I think this would be just an ideal spot to rest."
"Oh, we've just got to stay here for a while, whether we eat or not!" cried Belle. "I'm going to get out and run up on to the rocks over there," and suiting the action to the words, she leaped out of the automobile and started to make her way to the spot she had indicated.
"Look out that you don't fall over into the hollow," cautioned Dave, as he assisted Jessie and his sister to alight.
To one side of the roadway was something of a cleared space, and into this the two automobiles were run. The boys got out the hampers and other things, and took them over to the spot whichBelle's quick eyes had picked out. Here there was a patch of green grass shaded by several large trees, and in front of it a flat rock, beyond which was spread out a vast panorama of hills and valleys stretching for many miles.
"It's a perfect picture!" cried Jessie. "I must get a photograph of it."
"Yes. And we must take a photograph of the crowd at lunch," returned Dave.
"Let's eat before we start to take any photographs," put in Luke, who seemed to be extra hungry. "I never did look well in a picture taken before eating," and at this there was a general laugh.
While the boys brought the various things from the cars, the girls and Mrs. Basswood spread a lunch-cloth partly on the grass and partly on the flat rock, and on this placed the various good things which had been brought along.
"First call for lunch!" sang out Dave, loudly, when all was in readiness.
"I guess your first call will be the last, too, Dave!" exclaimed Jessie. "Here! what will you have—a ham sandwich or one with chicken?"
"I think I'll try the chicken," he answered.
"Oh, don't be backward about coming forward, Dave!" cried Luke. "Why don't you try them both?"
"I will before I get through."
"We all will," declared Roger. "There is nothing the matter with this air for giving one an appetite," he added. "I believe after we have been up at Bear Camp for a while we'll all be eating like wolves."
"Why not like bears, if we are going to Bear Camp?" suggested Phil.
"Say, I can't bear a joke like that!" broke in Roger.
"It was a little barefaced; wasn't it?" commented Dave.
"Oh, quit your joking, I'm hungry," pleaded Luke. And then all the young folks fell to eating with great gusto, and it must be admitted that the older heads followed suit.
The lunch lasted the best part of half an hour, and was thoroughly enjoyed by every one. Then the young people got out their cameras, and various snap-shots and time-pictures were taken, to be developed and printed later on.
"Now then, let us pack up as quickly as we can, and finish this trip," said Mr. Basswood, presently.
As he spoke he looked up at the sky, and the others did the same. Off to the westward they saw a number of black clouds rolling up rapidly.
"Say, Dave, that looks like a real storm to me," remarked Roger, anxiously. "What do you think of it?"
"It's a storm, all right," was the answer. "And if we don't catch it before we reach the end of our journey we'll be lucky."
And then all the young folks fell to eating with great gusto.And then all the young folks fell to eating with great gusto.—Page 102.ToList
And then all the young folks fell to eating with great gusto.—Page 102.ToList
As quickly as possible, the various things were packed up and placed in the two touring-cars. Then they started off once more, with Mr. Porter and Mr. Basswood at the steering wheels. They had covered less than five miles when they heard a rushing of wind through the woods. It seemed to come by fits and starts, but steadily increased in volume. The sky grew darker, and soon some large drops of rain fell.
"We'll have to put up the tops!" cried Dave.
The Basswood car had already come to a stop and those in it were hurrying to put up the top. As Dave unfastened the straps on the Wadsworth automobile, the drops of rain came down faster than ever.
"We didn't get that up any too soon," remarked the boy's uncle, when the job was finished.
"Hadn't I better put up the side curtains, too?" queried Dave.
"You'll have to put up everything you've got, Dave!" cried Roger. "Just look at what's coming!"
There was no need to look, for already the rain was driving in on them. Working with all possible speed, the boys soon adjusted the curtains.
"Uncle Dunston, we can't run without chains if the road gets wet," cried Dave.
"I am going to run under yonder trees. We can put the chains on there," answered Dunston Porter, and they started forward once again, with the rain pelting down upon them furiously.
"I guess I was right about the rain," remarked Phil, grimly, as the drops pattered unceasingly on the cover of the automobile.
"You sure were, Phil!" cried Belle. "It's coming down just as hard as ever it can."
"If only the wind would stop blowing!" said Jessie. "Do you think there is any danger of our being blown over?"
"Oh, it isn't as bad as all that," answered Dave.
A few minutes later Mr. Porter espied a suitable place under several large trees, and here he brought the touring-car to a standstill. Then the Basswood car come close alongside.
"Going to put on the chains?" called out Mr. Basswood, to make himself heard above the noise of the elements.
"I think we had better," returned Dave's uncle. "I imagine we've quite a hill to descend a little farther on."
There were raincoats in each touring-car, and these were now donned by Dave and his uncle, and by Ben and his father. Then the chains forthe back wheels for both automobiles were brought forth.
Even under the thick foliage of the trees the rain was coming down, although of course not nearly as hard as on the roadway beyond. The chains were straightened out on the grass, and each automobile was backed up a little so that the articles might be fastened on. The task took but a few minutes, and then those who had accomplished it got back into the machines.
"I'll lead the way," called out Mr. Porter. "You had better not follow me too closely."
"Very well, I'll watch out," answered Mr. Basswood.
"Uncle Dunston, don't you want to let me drive?" queried Dave. "I've had a little more experience at it than you have had."
"I can do it, Dave," was the reply. "But, at the same time, if you think it would be safer, take the wheel. I must own up that I'd rather be on a horse or behind one than steering a car like this in such a storm."
Dave squeezed himself into the driver's seat, and a moment later they were off again over the plateau of the hill, and then down the other side.
The wind was blowing as furiously as ever, and now from a distance came the low rumble of thunder.
"O dear! What is that?" cried Laura.
"I guess it was thunder, but I don't think it will amount to anything," returned Roger.
The bottom of the hill gained, they traversed a narrow valley for a distance of seven or eight miles. Then came another climb over a winding highway, which at certain points was filled with loose stones and dirt.
"Be careful, Dave. We don't want to do any skidding," cautioned the youth's uncle.
"I'm watching out all I can," was the grim reply. Dave was bending over the steering-wheel, trying his best to see through the windshield. "I guess I'll have to open it a little," he went on, nodding in the direction of the glass.
"I'll do it for you," answered Dunston Porter, and threw out the upper side of the shield.
By this means Dave was able to get a clear vision of the roadway directly in front of the machine. But the opening of the windshield let in considerable of the driving rain.
"Oh, Dave, you'll get wet from the knees down!" cried Jessie, solicitously.
"Can't help it," he replied. "I can't see with the windshield closed."
The rumblings of thunder had increased, and now from over a distant hill came various streaks of lightning. The sky was much darker, and in order to see better, Dave turned on the electric lights. Looking back, those in the tonneau of theforward car saw that the Basswood machine was also lighted. By the time the top of the next hill was gained, a distance of fully a mile, the thunderstorm was on them in all its fury. The wind tore through the woods, sending leaves and small branches flying in all directions. From the north and the west came vivid flashes of lightning, followed by sharp claps of thunder, which rolled and rumbled across the hills and mountains.
"O dear, if we only had some place to stop!" cried Jessie, timorously.
"There isn't any sort of a building in sight," replied Dunston Porter, who had been looking on all sides for some time. "If there was I'd have Dave head for it pretty quick."
"According to the map we ought to be within a few miles of Simpson's Corners," said Roger. "How about it, Dave?"
"Just what I was thinking," answered our hero. "I was wondering if it wasn't on the other side of the next rise."
They were running along another small valley, at the end of which was a sharp turn to the left and a rise of several hundred feet. Here the downfall of rain had flooded the road for a considerable distance. Coming to this place Dave had to slow down, but he still kept on some power, not wishing to get stuck.
"Can you make it, Dave?" asked his uncle, anxiously, as the chains of the automobile ground deeply into the mud and loose stones.
"We've got to make it, Uncle Dunston!" cried the boy, grimly.
The car proceeded more and more slowly even with the power turned on. Dave had been running in second gear, but now he came down to low. Mud and stones flew in all directions, while the water was splashed out on both sides as if coming from geysers. Then, with one last effort, the automobile left the level roadway and started up the hill beyond.
The Wadsworth car was almost at the top of the rise when a turn in the road enabled its occupants to see the second car.
"Look!" burst out Roger. "I do believe they're stuck!"
"Stuck! Do you mean in that wet place?" asked Dave, quickly.
"That's it," put in Phil. "They are stuck just as sure as you're born!" he added, a second later.
The forward car had now reached a spot on the side of the hill which was comparatively level, so that Dave had no trouble in coming to a halt. It was still raining as furiously as ever, and the thunder and lightning were just as incessant. Looking down on the wet portion of the roadbelow them, they saw that the Basswood car was standing still, with water and mud half way up to the hubs.
"He has shut off the power! That's no way to do!" cried Dave. "He ought to keep his engine going, and either try to go forward or backward. If he stands still he will sink deeper than ever."
"He's trying to back now, Dave," returned Phil, and he was right.
Soon they saw the wheels of the Basswood car revolving rapidly, and the turnout itself moved slowly to the rear. Then Ben must have reversed the power, for the car came forward, but this time headed for the left side of the road.
"I don't think he'll gain much by that move," observed Dave. "I tried it, and found it rather soft over there."
"Look, he is backing again!" cried Laura. "O dear! Whatever will he do if he gets stuck fast?"
"Let us hope that nothing like that happens," answered her uncle, gravely.
But that was just what did happen, and although both Ben and his father did their best to free the car from the mud, it was without avail. They managed to get to within fifteen feet of the end of the wet place, and there they stayed, unable to budge either forward or backward.
"Listen! he is sounding his horn!" cried Roger, during a brief lull in the storm.
"I guess he wants us to come back and help pull him out," answered Dave, and sounded a reply to show that he had heard the call of distress.
"What are you going to do, Dave—try to turn around here or back down?" asked Roger.
"Oh, it's too narrow to turn here!" cried Laura, in alarm.
"You'll have us all over in the ditch if you don't look out!" came from one of the others in the car.
"I see a little wider spot further ahead," answered Dave, and turned on the power once more.
Soon he had reached the place in question, and there, by skillful maneuvering, he managed to turn the touring-car the other way. Then he came down the hill slowly until within a few feet of the bad spot in the highway.
"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 more, taking with them the towing-rope that had been used before. Mr. Basswood was 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 fashion—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 power when I sound my horn," directed Dave.
"Right you are!" yelled back Ben, who was at the wheel.
Mr. Porter remained on the ground to watch proceedings, 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 and mud furiously.
"Say! we don't seem to be getting out of this very fast," remarked Shadow, who was 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 second machine ground deeper into the mud and loose stones, throwing them and the water up into the air and even ontothe cover of the machine. The towing-rope continued to creak ominously.
"Be on guard, 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 coming back to damage 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 machine gained 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 some stunt—to get out of there!" was Shadow's comment.
"I'm mighty glad the other car was here to help us," answered Ben. "If it hadn't been here I guess we would have stayed there for a while," he added, grimly.
"I think both our cars will need washing after this trip," observed Dave, with a grin, as he coiled up the towing-line once more and stowed it away.
"This sure is some ending to this trip!" observed Ben, making 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 alarm.
"I think I saw some sort of a village ahead," cried Dave, who had been peering intently through the windshield. "I think I saw the white steeple of a church."
"Maybe it's Simpson's Corners," suggested Belle.
"I hope there is a hotel there and a garage," said Dunston Porter. "We'll want to have a chance to dry ourselves and get supper."
"Then you don't think we'll reach Carpen Falls to-night?" questioned Phil.
"I don't know what to think, Phil. Perhaps we may——"
Mr. Porter did not finish what he was saying. Just at that instant came a vivid flash of lightningthat nearly blinded them. It was followed by an ear-splitting crash of thunder. Then came another crash closer by, and an instant later Dave and his uncle saw a large tree fall directly toward the roadway in front of them!
"Look out!"
"We are going into that tree!"
"Jam on both brakes, Dave, just as hard as you can!" cried Dunston Porter.
Even before his uncle had spoken Dave had pressed down both feet hard, thus putting on the foot-brake and releasing the gear-clutch. Now his hand shot over to the emergency brake, and this came up with all the power at his command. But the grade was downward, and the road slippery from the rain, and instead of stopping, the touring-car went on, sliding through the mud and over the rocks until it was practically on top of the tree. Then came a jar that threw everybody forward. The steering-wheel saved Dave, but his uncle's elbow struck the windshield, cracking it in several places.
"Look, we've run into a tree!"
"Did the lightning hit the machine?"
"Say, Roger, take yourself off my feet; will you?"
This last cry came from Phil, who was huddled up in a corner of the tonneau.
"It isn't me, it's the handbag, Phil," gasped out Roger, who hung partly over the front seat of the touring-car.
"Anybody hurt?" questioned Dunston Porter quickly, as soon as the shock had come to an end.
"I—I—think I am all right, Uncle Dunston," panted Laura. "But dear me! wasn't it awful?"
"I thought I was going to fly right over Dave's head," wailed Jessie, who had come up behind the youth with a great thump. "Oh, Dave, did I hurt you?"
"Knocked a little of the wind out of me, Jessie; that's all," he answered. "But I won't mind that if only you are not hurt."
"Say, that was some stop, believe me!" was Phil's grim comment, as he managed to straighten up and look ahead. "Stuffed mackerel! what did we try to do, Dave—climb a tree?"
"No. We tried to take a running jump and go over it," replied Roger, with a faint attempt at humor.
"Sound the horn, Dave, as loudly as you can!" cried his uncle, quickly. "We must warn the others." And thus admonished, Dave put his finger on the button of the electric horn and held it down for some time. Looking backward, thosein the Wadsworth car soon saw the Basswood machine come into sight and then slow down. The heavy clap of thunder was now followed by another fierce downfall of rain, while the sky grew blacker than ever. In the midst of this outburst the second touring-car came slowly forward.
"Did the lightning strike you?" yelled Ben.
"No. But we had a close call of it," answered Mr. Porter. "It hit this tree when we were less than one hundred and fifty feet away. Then the tree came down as you see, and we ploughed right into it."
"Phew! That's some escape!" was Mr. Basswood's comment. "Anything broken?"
"We don't know yet," answered Dave.
He alighted from the car, and his uncle did likewise. An examination showed that one of the mudguards in front had been badly bent, and that a headlight had snapped off, but beyond this, and the windshield, the big touring-car seemed to be undamaged.
"I'm thankful it's no worse," remarked Dunston Porter.
"It's too bad the light had to go," returned Dave. "It will make running at night rather dangerous until we can get it fixed."
"Oh, let us be thankful that no one was hurt!" cried Laura.
While Dave and his uncle had been examiningthe car, Mr. Basswood and the others had been looking for some way around the tree, which covered the roadway completely.
"I think I see a path through yonder trees," said Ben, pointing to his left. "The ground seems to be pretty good there, and I think the opening is plenty large enough for our cars."
Mr. Basswood moved forward in the direction his son indicated, and soon called to Ben to start the car. He led the way on foot, and the machine followed slowly. They passed in and out among several trees, and then emerged once more on the highway, some distance beyond the obstruction.
"Hurrah! That's the way to do it!" cried Luke. "Now the others can back up and follow us."
"So they can," answered Shadow. "But what about leaving that tree in the roadway? It's mighty dangerous, and will be more so after dark."
"We can notify the authorities at Simpson's Corners," said Mr. Basswood. "They can send somebody up here with a lantern."
He went back to tell the others of what had been accomplished, and soon the Wadsworth car was backed out from between the branches of the tree that shut off the highway.
"Well, I think the rain is letting up a little, anyway," announced Roger, after the twotouring-cars were once more under way. And he was right. That last downfall seemed to clear the sky, and soon they saw the clouds scattering.
Wet from end to end, and covered with mud, the two automobiles rolled into the little settlement that went by the name of Simpson's Corners. Here an old man named Simpson kept a general store to which, in the rear, was attached a small livery stable and garage.
"You certainly must have had some trip over the hills in this storm," remarked Mr. Simpson, after the party had trooped into his place. "It's about as heavy a rainfall as we have had in some time. Where are you bound?"
"We wanted to get to Carpen Falls if we could," answered Dunston Porter. "But perhaps we'll stay in Simpson's Corners, if there are any accommodations."
"Ain't no hotel here," answered the storekeeper. "Used to be one some years ago, but it didn't pay, so the feller that run it gave it up. But Mrs. Whittle serves lunch to travelers if you are hungry."
"Me for Mrs. Whittle's!" whispered Phil.
"Good gracious, Phil! You seem to be hungry all the time on this trip," was Belle's good-natured comment.
"Maybe if we stay here an hour or two it will clear off," said Dave, who was examining the skyclosely. "I think the storm is shifting very rapidly."
"I believe you're right, Dave," answered his uncle. "Yes, we'll stay here and get dried out a little, if nothing else."
It was learned that Mrs. Whittle's place was just across the street, and the lady said she would be very glad to furnish them with a hot supper, and added that they could come in and dry themselves in her sitting-room, where she started an open fire. The machines were placed in Mr. Simpson's garage, and they purchased from the storekeeper some gasoline and oil.
"Only a little after five o'clock," announced Roger. "I think by six o'clock the storm will be over," he added.
While they were eating the supper provided by Mrs. Whittle, it stopped raining, and a little later they saw the setting sun over the hills to the westward.
"How many miles is it to Carpen Falls from here?" asked Luke.
"Fourteen by the automobile blue book," answered Dave.
"And what of the road?" questioned Ben.
"Mr. Simpson said it wasn't so bad but that it might be worse," answered Dunston Porter, who had been interviewing the storekeeper and who had told the man about the fallen tree, havinglearned that Mr. Simpson was the head of the township committee.
"We don't want to get stuck, especially after it gets dark," said Ben.
"I wish we could stay here," sighed Mrs. Basswood. "But there don't seem to be any accommodations."
"Oh, we'll get through; come ahead!" cried Dave. "If we don't reach Carpen Falls to-night Mr. and Mrs. Wadsworth will worry about us."
Feeling in somewhat better spirits after having eaten, and after having had an opportunity to dry themselves, the tourists brought out their automobiles again, and soon Simpson's Corners was left behind. They had a long hill to climb, and then the road wound in and out among some particularly rough rocks. Then they came out along the edge of a cliff with a vast panorama of woods and waters below them.
"Oh, isn't it perfectly lovely!" cried Belle.
"If I'm not mistaken, Mirror Lake lies off in that direction," said Dunston Porter, pointing with his hand. "That sheet of water away off yonder may be it."
Leaving the cliff, the road wound in and out of the forest for a distance of several miles. Then they came to another little valley, in which the highway was wet and, in some spots, suspiciously spongy.
"Now then, Dave, be careful," warned his uncle. "We don't want to get stuck if we can possibly help it."
"I'll do my best, Uncle Dunston," was the answer.
With the wheels sucking and sousing in the mud, the Wadsworth machine moved forward as rapidly as the conditions would permit. Close behind was the Basswood car, and this time Ben took care not to let the engine slow down too much. Once Dave was afraid that he was going to be stuck, but in a few seconds the danger was past, and in two minutes more they were out on the solid roadway once more.
"We are coming to some sort of a settlement!" cried Mr. Porter, after several miles more had been covered. "See, there it is—right down at the foot of this hill!"
"It must be Carpen Falls," announced Dave. "See, there are the Falls off to the right!" and he pointed to where a fair-sized stream of water came down between the trees and fell over the rocks. The Falls were fifteen to twenty feet high, and made a beautiful sight.
Carpen Falls was a settlement of some importance, for the campers on the lakes for miles around came there to do their trading. There were two general stores, one containing the post-office, and also a blacksmith's shop, livery stableand garage combined, and a small summer hotel.
"Oh, look! My father and mother!" cried Jessie, as the two machines rolled up to the hotel.
To the surprise of all, Mr. and Mrs. Wadsworth stood on the piazza watching their approach.
"Oh, we thought you would never get here!" cried Mrs. Wadsworth, in relief. "We thought sure you had had some sort of accident on the road."
"And how is it you are here?" asked Dave, quickly.
"We came in this morning to do some trading at the store," answered Mr. Wadsworth. "We were going back, when it began to storm so hard that we decided to stay here until the rain let up, and until you arrived. It certainly was a hard downpour!"
"We came pretty near having several accidents," answered Ben. And then after the party had alighted, they told of the various happenings on the journey.
"We can remain here all night if you want to," announced the jewelry manufacturer. "But if you would rather go on to the bungalows I think we can make it. There are two old stages here, and the drivers are perfectly willing to make the trip."
"Now we have gotten so far, let us finish thetrip," urged Laura. "I think I would rather be at the bungalows than at this hotel," she added, with a look around that hostelry—a place that was not particularly inviting.
"But you'll want supper first; won't you?" questioned Mrs. Wadsworth.
"We had something to eat at Simpson's Corners," answered her daughter.
The stages that Mr. Wadsworth had mentioned were certainly old-fashioned and dilapidated, but each was drawn by a pair of sturdy horses, and the drivers said that they were perfectly safe and could make the journey to Mirror Lake without trouble. So, having transferred the baggage from the automobiles to these ancient vehicles, and having placed the touring-cars in the garage, with orders to have the damaged car repaired, our friends piled into the turnouts, and then, with various calls to the animals and loud crackings of the whips, the two stages started for Bear Camp.