was decided that the automobile, which since the
accident had lain upturned by the roadway, should be brought to the
ranch buildings. Dave harnessed his team, and, instead of riding one
of the horses, walked behind, driving by the reins, and accompanied by
the girl, who had proclaimed her ability to steer the car. When they
reached the stream she hesitated, remembering her mishap, but the boy
slipped his unoccupied hand firmly under her arm, and they walked the
log in safety. It seemed to Irene that he continued his assistance
when it was no longer needed, but she accepted the courtesy without
remark.

With the aid of the team and Dave's lariat the car was soon righted,
and was found to be none the worse for its deflection from the beaten
track. Irene presided at the steering wheel, watching the road with
great intentness, and turning the wheel too far on each occasion, which
gave to her course a somewhat wavy or undulating order, such as is
found in bread knives, or perhaps a better figure would be to compare
it to that rolling motion affected by fancy skaters. However, the mean
of her direction corresponded with the mean of the trail, and all went
merrily until the stream was approached. Here was a rather steep
descent, and the car showed a sudden purpose to engage the horses in a
contest of speed. The animals were suspicious enough at best of their
strange wagon, and had no thought of allowing it to assume the
initiative. Now, Irene knew perfectly well where the brake was, and
how to use it. In fact, there were two brakes, operated by different
members, and perhaps it was this duplication, intended to insure
safety, that was responsible for her undoing. Her first impulse was to
use the emergency, but to do so she must remove her hand from the
steering wheel, where it was very fully occupied. She did start to put
this impulse into effect, but an unusually violent deflection caused
her to reconsider that intention. She determined to use the foot
brake, a feat which was accomplished, under normal conditions, by
pressing one foot firmly against a contraption somewhere beneath the
steering post. She shot a quick glance downward, and to her alarm
discovered not one, but three contraptions, all apparently designed to
receive the pressure of a foot--if one could reach them--and as similar
as the steps of a stair. This involved a further hesitation, and in
automobiling he who hesitates invites a series of rapid