Then came a jingle of glass, but the pieces fell at the feet of the boys in the front of the car. The automobile itself slid on another ten feet, dragging the tree limb with it.

   "Say, that was a narrow escape!" muttered Phil, when the danger seemed over.

   "We'll have to see how much damage has been done," declared Dave.

   He crawled from the car and Roger followed. The other boys were also coming out in the storm, but the senator's son stopped them.

   "No use in all of us getting wet," he said. "I don't think the damage amounts to much. A mud-guard is bent and the hood is scratched and the glass broken, but I guess that is all. But we'll have to get the limb from under the car before we can go ahead again," he added, after an inspection.

   "Can't you leave it as it is and use it as a drag down the hill?" questioned Bert.

   "I wouldn't do that," advised Dave. "It might hurt some of the machinery under the car. I think we can get it out somehow, Roger."

   Both set to work, in the wind and rain. It was far from a pleasant task, and despite the fact that each had donned a dust-coat, both were pretty well soaked before the limb was gotten away from the car. Then Roger made another inspection of the automobile.

   "I think it's O. K.," he said. "Anyway, we'll try it." And then they cranked up once more; and the journey was continued.

   It was a slow trip, and at each turn on the hill the senator's son came almost to a stop. He was thinking they might meet a wagon coming the other way, but neither vehicle nor person appeared. Sometimes the visitors at the lake went to Sugar Hill for a picnic, but evidently the concert, and the thoughts of a possible storm, had kept them away this day.

   "Down at last!" cried Roger, presently, and a moment later the touring-car rolled out on the smooth and broad highway that connected with that running around Lake Sargola.

   "And I am mighty glad of it," declared Phil, as he breathed a deep sigh of relief.

   "Now for the hotel, and there I will see if I can't get you fellows some dry clothing," said Bert. "I guess each of you can wear one of my suits. You are both about my size."

   They took the 

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