at the point.

The banks, steep elsewhere, almost wall-like in fact, were still
graded at the place where the old crossing spot had been.

He jerked over the steering wheel with a suddenness that threatened to
overturn the Wondership. The auto-craft plunged wildly to one side and
then rushed downward.

Before he realized it, Jack had steered her into the rushing waters of
the swollen creek.

"All the power you've got," he cried to Tom, as the Wondership
careened and tipped madly and then recovered an even keel. Jack headed
her up stream while Tom, who hardly knew what had happened, blindly
obeyed orders.

Jack's chief fear was that the rush of the torrential water would
carry him too far down to make a landing on the opposite side of the
old ford. In that case they would be in a bad fix, for the creek ran
for some distance between steep walls of limestone rock.

It was a hard struggle. The twin propellers beat the air furiously,
clawing the Wondership up stream, while the water hissed and roared
all about her, and the engine labored with a noise like that of a
giant locust.

And then, almost before he knew it, and before either Tom or the
doctor realized in the least what had happened, they found themselves
safe on the other side. They had gained the opposite slope of the ford
with hardly an inch to spare, but that was enough.

The Wondership sped up the bank as if glad to be free of the battle
with the swollen creek, and not half an hour afterward they rolled up
to High Towers.

Dr. Mays was met almost tearfully by Mrs. Bagley.

"How is he?" was his first question.

"He seems to be better, doctor, but something is worrying him," said
the worthy woman.

"I'll go up to him at once. You boys had better stay here," said the
doctor.

The physician was upstairs a long time. When he came down he looked
grave.

"Is dad any better?" asked Jack anxiously.

"He is suffering from a nervous breakdown due to overwork," said the
doctor. "The cut on his head is a mere flesh wound. But he appears to
have something on his mind. Do you know what it is?"

Then, and not till then, for in the rush of events he had completely
forgotten it, Jack remembered the letter from the brokers.

"Dr. Mays," he said, "you are an old friend?"

"I hope so, my boy. You may confide in me freely if you know any
reason for your father's disquiet."

"If you will read this, doctor, you will understand," and Jack handed
him the letter