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 for the
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 th