if that suits you any better. I'll get out and
see if I can help them----"

"No need; they've started up again," said Tabitha, waving her hand at
Carrie and wishing that she had been fortunate enough to get a seat in
Mr. Carson's machine.

The delayed procession started onward again, and without further
difficulty crossed the muddy river-bed and sped swiftly away down the
smooth road on the other side. But that same river had to be reckoned
with seven more times, and each time at least one of the cars sank in
the treacherous mud and had to be dug out.

"Well, thank fortune, this is the last time we cross!" breathed Myra,
as they approached the winding river for the eighth time. "Ours is the
only auto that hasn't stuck fast so far. Let her out, Dad, and we'll
be on the other bank in a jiffy. I never knew the river to be so high
at this season of the year."

"Knock on wood, Myra, knock on wood!" cried Gwynne in mock alarm. "Too
late, we've stuck fast! Why on earth couldn't you wait until we had
safely reached the other side before you commenced bragging?"

"Huh! You superstitious duck, did you think we could escape? Oh,
pshaw, we're out! Not even the fun of having to be helped across like
the others were! Well, never mind, Mr. Catt's machine is sure to stick
again. It has every time so far. There, didn't I tell you? Hurrah!
Watch your father puff, Kitty. Ain't he a sight? Get out your shovel,
Mr. Catt!"

Myra was excitedly dancing on the lid of the luncheon-filled chest, as
she hung precariously over the back of the tonneau, and bawled her
remarks at the unfortunate occupants of the auto behind them, which
seemed to sink deeper and deeper in the mire with every effort to dig
her out.

"Fasten this rope to your car and we'll try dragging you out," finally
suggested the ponderous Mr. Haskell, clambering heavily down from his
seat at the wheel and going to the aid of his unlucky neighbor, who was
not yet much skilled in the art of running an automobile. So they tied
the two cars together with a heavy rope, and tried to drag the captive
machine loose, but without success.

"Let me drive," suggested Myra, after they had tugged in vain for
several minutes, "and you get out and pull on the rope, too."

"What good will that do?" growled her father crossly. "If sixty horse
power won't budge the thing, do you suppose man's puny strength will?"

Nevertheless, he crawled out of his seat once more, and s