t as smooth as it was."

"I know it."

"I saw a road to our right," said Grace. "Perhaps we should have taken
that."

There was no time to say more, for the automobile was jouncing over the
stones in too lively a manner. Alarmed, Dick, who had already shut off
the power, applied the brake, but he was not used to this and he jammed
it fast so it did not altogether prevent the car from advancing.

"Oh, we must stop!" screamed Dora, a moment later. "Look ahead!"

Dick did so, and his heart gave a leap of fear. Below them the stony
road was narrow, and on one side was a rocky gully and on the other
some thick bushes. In the roadway was a farmer with a large farm wagon
filled with lime. Should they hit the turnout below somebody would
surely be hurt and perhaps killed.

CHAPTER XIV

WHAT A ROMAN CANDLE DID

It was a time for quick action, and it was a lucky thing that Dick
Rover had been in perilous positions before and knew enough not to lose
his presence of mind. As the others in the automobile arose to leap out
he called to them:

"Sit down! Don't jump! I'll look out for things!"

Then, even as he spoke, Dick turned the steering wheel and sent the big
machine crashing into the bushes to one side of the roadway. He chose a
spot that was comparatively level, and in five seconds they came to a
halt just in front of half a dozen trees.

"We must take care of Tom's machine!" cried Sam, and leaped over the
back of the automobile. The machine had cut down the bushes, so the
path was clear and he ran with might and main to the roadway. At the
top of the hill was the second car, coming along at a good speed.

"Stop! stop!" he yelled, frantically, and waved his arms in the air.

Tom saw the movement and knew at once something was wrong. He threw off
the power and applied the emergency brake and the automobile just
passed Sam and no more.

"What's the matter?" came from everyone in the second car.

"That's what's the matter," answered Sam, pointing to the foot of the
rocky hill. "That wagon--Well, I declare!"

The youngest Rover stared and well he might, for the farmer's turnout
with the load of lime had disappeared from view. The farmer had turned
into a field at the bottom of the hill just as Dick turned his car into
the bushes.

"I don't see anything," said Nellie. And then Sam had to explain and
point out the situation of the first car.

"I guess I can get down the hill well enough," said Tom. "But