University of Virginia Library

CHAPTER II
HO FOR THE WEST!

"Put on the brake!" yelled Ned.

"Shut off the power!" shouted Jerry.

A frightened cry came from the farmer whose load of fodder had overturned in the road. He was unhitching his horses, and jumped to one side as he saw two big autos bearing down on him.

"You're in for a spill, lads!" called the man in the green car. At that instant he applied his emergency brake and shut off the power. His car came to such a sudden stop that he was thrown from his seat, high into the air.

Bob seemed unable, from the very terror of fright, to make a move to stop the auto he was steering, and clung to the wheel like grim death.

"Put on the brake!" yelled Ned again. "We'll be killed!"

The load of hay was not ten feet in advance. Bob gave the wheel a sudden twist. The red car shot to one side, out into a ditch along the road. It skidded on two wheels, the boys were nearly thrown out, and bounced high in the air.

With another quick twist, Bob sent the car straight ahead. Then another turn of the wheel and he was back in the road again!

He had passed the obstruction, going between it and the green auto, and had reached the highway in safety after as daring a bit of steering as ever a boy undertook. Then he shut off the power and applied the brakes hard, the car coming to a stop with a groan and screech as the emergency band gripped the axle.

"Whew! That was a close shave!" came from Jerry, as he drew a long breath.

"A little too near for comfort!" was Ned's opinion.

"Bet your life!" was all Andy could say, his rapid fire of words failing to discharge this time.

"I thought it was the only thing to do," remarked the stout steersman. "I was afraid to stop too suddenly, and I figured we just had room enough to get through. But I wouldn't do it again."

"Speaking of sudden stops, I wonder what has become of the man in the green car?" spoke Jerry. "We must go back and find out."

The four lads leaped from their machine and ran back past the load of hay. The farmer was rapidly walking about in a circle, wringing his hands and crying:

"He's killed! He's killed! I know he is!"

With rather anxious hearts the boys hurried around to the other side of the big pile of dried grass. As they reached the place they saw a man attired in an automobile suit, with big goggles on, wiggle out from the mass of hay. He pulled several wisps from his hair and then saw the boys.

"Did you shoot right through the pile and come out on the other side?" he asked.

"We ran around it," explained Bob. "We beat you," he added, not without pride.

"So I see. It came pretty near being the end of all of us. You're a plucky lad. I don't mind being beaten by you. I thought I had a good car, but yours is better."

"Ours is much lighter; I guess that's why we went ahead," returned Jerry, willing to concede something to a vanquished rival. "But are you hurt?"

The man carefully felt of different parts of his body. Then he took off his goggles and looked over as much as he could see of himself.

"I don't seem to be," he said, finally, with a laugh. "It was like falling into a feather bed to land in that hay-pile the way I did. That's all that saved me. I wonder how my machine stood the emergency brake."

He examined his car carefully, and was apparently satisfied that no injury had been done by the sudden stopping of it.

"Where is he?" asked the farmer, suddenly appearing from behind the hay. "Is he dead?" And then he seemed to realize his error and joined in the laugh that followed.

"No, I'm not dead yet," replied the owner of the green car. "Well," he went on, "I must be going. Are you boys coming along? If you are, no more races."

"We'll have to go back to Cresville," answered Bob. "We promised to return for supper."

The man bade the boys good-by and soon the big, green dragon was throbbing down the road in a cloud of dust. The boys, finding they could not help the farmer in his trouble, got in their machine and, promising to send help from the first farmhouse they passed, they left the owner of the hay and were soon speeding toward Cresville.

"Isn't this glorious!" exclaimed Jerry, as the auto sped along. "I wish we could take a long trip."

"Why can't we?" asked Ned.

"We talked of a tour when we found we had a chance to get a car," put in Chunky. "I for one would like to go out West."

"Ho for the West!" piped up Andy. "Over the plains--herds of cattle--cowboys in chase--rattlesnakes and horned toads--sandy deserts--Indians--bang! Shoot 'em up! Lots of excitement--take me along--whoop!"

"Easy!" pleaded Jerry. "One thing at a time, Andy. Haven't we had excitement enough for one day?"

"We ought to make a strike to go on a western trip, though," spoke Ned, in serious tones. "Here we have a car that we could cross the continent in. Let's speak about it at home. It can't do any harm. Maybe the folks will let us go."

"It's worth trying for," said Jerry. "What do you say, Chunky?"

"I'm with you," replied Bob. "It will be the best sport ever. But wouldn't we have to wait until next spring? It's fall, and if we go West it may be very cold, with lots of snow soon."

"We can bear off to the south," said Jerry.

"Sure enough," agreed Chunky.

That night, when the automobile had been safely put away in the barn at Bob's house, three anxious boys broached the subject to their respective parents. So insistent were they that it was not long before a general council was arranged. Mrs. Hopkins and Mr. Slade were induced to call at Mr. Baker's house, where, with the three boys, the whole subject was gone over.

"I'm afraid it's too much of an undertaking, said Mr. Baker.

"That's my idea " agreed Mr. Slade, and Mrs. Hopkins nodded to indicate that that was her view.

The boys set up a chorus of pleadings. The parents

had many objections. The distance was too great, the boys did not know enough about automobiles, they would lose their way and break down far from help. In fact, so many negative reasons were given that it looked as if the plan would not go through.

"Will you please wait ten minutes before you make a final decision?" asked Jerry, appealing to the trio of parents.

They agreed, wondering what he was about to do. Jerry got his hat and hurried from Mr. Baker's house. In a little while he returned, all out of breath.

"He'll be here in five minutes," said the boy.

"Who?" asked Mr. Slade.

"Mr. Wakefield." Jerry referred to Horace Wakefield, an instructor at the Athletic Club, who was quite a friend of the boys, and who himself had recently purchased an automobile. He lived near Mr. Baker.

"What's all this I hear about a trip to the West these boys are going to take?" asked Mr. Wakefield, a few minutes later, coming into the parlor where the conference was going on.

"You mean the trip they think they are going to take," corrected Mr. Slade, with a laugh. "I suppose Jerry told you it was all settled."

"To be honest, he wanted me to come over and settle it for him and his chums," replied the instructor.

"He said there was some doubt about the feasibility of making the trip."

Mr. Baker explained how matters stood. He and the other parents were willing the boys should have a good time, he said, but did not want them to run into danger.

"Do you think they could make a trip away out west in their car?" asked Mr. Slade.

"From what I know of the boys, and from the build of their car, I have no doubt it could be done with perfect safety, as far as ordinary conditions are concerned," said Mr. Wakefield. "Of course, there will be some few troubles, but none that cannot be overcome with a little work. I think the trip is perfectly possible. In fact, you know, autos have gone clear across the continent."

"Then you think we ought to let the boys go?" asked Mr. Slade.

"I--think--you--ought to," replied the instructor, with purposed deliberateness, smiling at the anxious lads.

"Hurrah!" yelled Bob, forgetting that he was in the house.

"Lucky I thought to go and get him," spoke Jerry to Ned.

"I might add," went on Mr. Wakefield, "that I am going to make a trip as far as Chicago. If you decide to let the boys go, they could accompany me

that far, at least. It would be a good experience for them."

"Oh, dad! Please let us go!" pleaded Bob.

"Yes, yes!" chimed in Jerry and Ned.

There was a moment of silence, while the parents were gravely considering the matter. During it the boys could almost hear the beating of their own hearts.

"Well," began Mr. Baker, "I'm willing, if the rest of you are."

"I suppose I may as well say yes," spoke Mr. Slade.

"Then the only thing left for me to do is to agree with the majority," said Mrs. Hopkins, with a laugh.

"Westward ho!" fairly shouted Bob, and he began to do an impromptu jig until his father stopped him.

"We'll take Andy Rush along," said Ned, "and we'll start the first of the week!"

"Hark! What was that?" asked Mr. Baker, suddenly.

Out on the night air sounded an alarm.

"Fire! Fire! Fire!"