e I spoke of it." Mollie seemed to be doubtful.

"Oh, it's certain to turn out all right," said Betty, with conviction.
"Everything has that we have ever planned before, and there is no reason
why this should be an exception."

"And even if it doesn't, just think what fun we will have thinking about
it," added Grace, philosophically, at which they all laughed.

"Anyway you are a dear, Mollie, for having such lovely relatives,"
cried Betty gaily. "If I could only climb over this seat, I'd give you
two great big hugs, one for each of them."

"Nobody calls me a dear and offers to hug me, and I've got the loveliest
relatives in the world--you can ask them if you don't believe me," and
Frank managed to look very pathetic and forlorn.

All this time they had been getting farther and farther out into the
country and now Frank put on extra speed to ascend the rather steep
incline directly in front of them.

"Your car runs like a dream, Frank," Betty was saying as they reached
the top. "Look at that great big haystack down there--it must have taken
some time to gather it in. Why don't you slow down a little? Don't you
think--oh, what is it, Frank?" for she had noticed the set lines of his
mouth and the look of terror that had flashed into his eyes. "Oh,
Frank!" she cried again.

"Sit tight," he muttered through clenched teeth. "The brake won't work!"

On, on dashed the great machine, swaying from side to side and gaining
velocity with each second, while the girls, with terror tugging at their
hearts, sat still--and waited.

CHAPTER II

A LUCKY ESCAPE

To those who are already acquainted with the Outdoor Girls, no
explanations are necessary, but for the benefit of my new readers I will
take advantage of this moment to make them better acquainted with the
characters and setting of the story.

In the first book of this series, called "The Outdoor Girls of
Deepdale," the girls, Betty Nelson, sometimes called the Little Captain,
because of her fearless leadership, Mollie Billette, Grace Ford and Amy
Blackford, had gone on their famous walking tour, and during their
wanderings had solved the mystery of a five-hundred-dollar bill.

The second volume, "The Outdoor Girls at Rainbow Lake," tells of a
summer full of interest and adventure during which the horse Grace was
riding ran away with her. This misfortune led to the loss of some very
valuable papers, with a subsequent strange happening on an island,
about whi