scouts climbed into the cars which were soon speeding along. They were keen, now, for something new that they could write in their diaries, and many interesting things were seen and dilated upon as they rode past.
As the autos neared Schenectady, one of the scouts began singing; in a few moments all the girls were singing with her. But a hound ran out of the gate of a farmhouse and barked at the oncoming singers. Then the distracted dog sat down and lifted his snout high in the air. His dismal prolonged howl of protest at such singing effectually ended the song, and Julie called to the animal, "Wise doggy – to be able to tell singing from singing!"
The weather was all that could be desired, and the two cars were in fine shape for the run. After they left Amsterdam, where the large carpet-mills would have offered interesting entertainment had not the scouts a greater ambition in view, that of reaching camp – they voted to stop for no sightseeing along the way. So they kept along the road to Fonda. Here they left the railroad turnpike and went northward to Johnstown.
At this place Mrs. Vernon made an error in judgment. She should have gone westerly, through Rockwood, Lascelville, Oppenheim, and so on to Delgeville. But she took the northward road, which looked better and was more traveled. Not until she came to Gloversville did she realize the mistake. Then she stopped and questioned a policeman how to reach her destination. And he explained about the country road she must follow due west in order to reach Rockwood, where the state roads would be picked up again.
This advice was followed, and they traveled over the bad road until a crossroad was reached. There was no mention made of this spot on the road-map, and there was no signpost to direct a lost tourist. So the Captain said, "We'll take the right-hand turn, it looks best."
Further on, the road descended and ran close to a river. "Dear me, I hope we didn't take the wrong turn, anyway!" cried Mrs. Vernon. "That officer never told me about a crossroad."
"And it's going to pour, too. Just look at that black cloud," said Joan.
"It hasn't thundered yet," Hester said, trying to be cheerful.
At the same moment a flash satisfied every one that a shower was imminent, and Jim failed to relieve their fears when he said, "We don't want to get caught on this low land when it rains. The road is lower than the river and will soon be flooded over."
That spurred on the Captain, and she made the car fairly fly, in order to reach higher ground before the shower came. But the storm won out.
"I felt a drop of rain!" called Julie.
"So did I – two drops more!" seconded Ruth.
"We'd better stop to button down the rain-curtains, Captain," advised Jim.
"Maybe we can reach high ground soon, Jim!" called back Mrs. Vernon, still speeding along the marshy road.
A loud peal of thunder and inky clouds warned her, however, that this would be no trifling shower, so she stopped reluctantly for the curtains to be fastened down over the sides of the cars. The girls got out while the rain-curtains were sought in the box under the seat, and Jim removed numerous items before he reached them in the bottom.
"Gee! everything under the sun was piled in here!" growled he. And by the time he did get the covers out, the rain was falling hard.
While Jim and Mrs. Vernon secured the curtains on the buttons, the scouts transferred the pyramid of camping necessities back into the boxes under the seats. Then when all were snugly sheltered from the rain, the Captain proceeded to start her car. It failed to respond, however. She tried again, with no success. Then she turned and called to Jim.
"Something must be wrong, Jim!"
"Mebbe it's 'cause the wheels is sunk so deep in that soft mud," said he. "It's 'most up to the hubs."
"No – something is wrong with the engine," returned she.
"I'll slip on my oilskin and see," said Jim, finally.
"Oh, Jim! Don't slip on it – just put it on," giggled Julie, the irrepressible.
"Humph!" was all the reply she got at the stale joke.
"Jim, I'll help you," now offered Betty, willingly.
"You gals just sit still, will you?" growled Jim impatiently, as he jumped out into the muddy road.
The wind came tearing down the valley that lay between the mountains, driving shreds of storm-clouds before it. Gusts of rain dashed against Jim's face as he peered and poked about the stubborn engine, but still the obstinate machine refused to budge.
"I can't see a durn thing that's the matter with it!" shouted he, trying to make himself heard above the whistling of the wind.
"Better get back in your car until the worst is over," called back Mrs. Vernon.
So they all waited patiently for the rain to cease, but the storm grew worse, while the clouds seemed to fairly empty themselves right over the stalled cars. Suddenly Jim gave a frightened cry:
"Great Scott, Captain! The river's overflowin' her banks, and this road's gettin' under water!"
"Then we've just got to get out of this fix somehow!" wailed Mrs. Vernon, gazing helplessly around for aid.
"I'll try to work my car close up to the other and see if I can't push you ahead," suggested Jim, starting his engine as he spoke. But this idea failed to render the assistance they looked for.
"I think you need a good hard impact to send you out of that mud. The wheels are stuck," called Julie, who had been considering the plight.
"But how can we get an impact? Jim can't crush in the radiator on his car, you know! And the fender won't do it," said Ruth.
"Let a few of us get some of those stout rails from that fence and shove them under the back of the machine. The rest of the girls can tie a rope to the front and pull. Then when we give a signal, Jim can push with his machine, while Verny throws hers into high – something ought to happen with all that!" suggested Julie.
Anything seemed better than sitting helplessly while seeing the water slowly rising in the roadway. So the plan proposed by Julie was put into operation. Two long rails were shoved, one under each side of the back of the car, with two scouts ready to apply all their youthful muscle up on each rail. Four scouts stood in front holding to a rope, ready to pull. The Captain sat at the wheel ready to speed, and Jim waited in his car behind, ready to drive on.
"Now, when I yell 'go,' every one strain your muscles fit to crack. It's the only way we'll get out of this," ordered Julie.
"Tell us when you're going to say 'go'!" begged Ruth.
"I'll shout 'One, two, three – go' – then go!"
Julie braced herself, took a deep breath, and cried, "All ready – one, two, three – go!"
Four in front pulled with might and main. Mrs. Vernon's engine chugged ready to break. Jim almost pushed the radiator in, and the four scouts pushing on the rails – well, "they were not."
Jim was heard roaring unrestrainedly, while four girls in front were standing and staring as if at an apparition. All the time, the rain fell in a deluge, but Mrs. Vernon jumped out into the mud to see what had happened at the rear. Then she, too, gasped.
Both the rails were completely worm-eaten, but how should girls have known that? They were placed under the car at a dangerous angle for their future use in the fence, and when the good strong muscles of four scouts brought their weight upon the rails to lift the car somewhat, the timber quickly split up and precipitated the four boosters, face downward, in the mud.
"Oh, dear me! This is the last straw!" moaned Mrs. Vernon.
"No – the last rails!" sputtered Julie, trying to laugh.
"Girls – hold your faces up to the rain and it will wash the mud from your eyes!" yelled Judith, who waited on the running board for further developments.
She had hardly spoken when a swift shaft of blinding light and a deafening crack of thunder sent a panic into every one. They were stunned for a moment, and then such a howl as went up from nine lusty throats!
"We're