CHAPTER III
CAUGHT IN A STORM
"Some class to Roger's driving!" cried Phil, as the little touring-carswept along, in the direction of Lake Sargola. "Roger, if you ever wanta recommendation as a chauffeur----"
"We'll give it to him on gilt-edged paper," finished Dave, with a grin."But, I say, don't make the turns quite so swift," he added, as theyswept around a curve at such speed that he was thrown up against Phil.
"Don't get scared--I know this car as well as Mary knew the tail of herlamb," responded the senator's son, gayly. "Why, we are only makingthirty-five miles an hour," he added, half reproachfully.
On and on they rolled, up hill and down dale, and through severalvillages. At one spot they went through a flock of chickens, thatscattered in all directions. Not one was touched, but an old farmershook a hay-rake at the boys.
"Kill my chickens an' I'll have th' law on ye!" he yelled.
"Never came within a mile of 'em!" cried Roger, gayly, and then the carwhirled out of hearing.
As they passed on, the lads frequently looked at the sky. But theclouds, that had been gathering, appeared to drift away to thenorthward.
"Maybe the storm is going around us," suggested Phil.
"I hope so," answered Dave. "I don't like to travel in an auto in wetweather--too much danger of skidding."
A little later they came in sight of the lake and the first of thecottages, and then they ran up to one of the big hotels. A young fellowon the veranda waved his hand to them.
"There is Bert, now!" cried Roger. And then the young fellow, who hadbeen telephoned to early in the morning, ran down the steps to meetRoger and was speedily introduced to the others.
"It's going to be a dandy concert this afternoon," said Bert Passmore."The bandmaster is going to play one of his new marches and a medley ofpatriotic airs, as well as a piece called 'A Hunt in a Storm.' They sayit's fine."
"I hope they don't have to play it in a storm," returned Dave, withanother look at the sky.
"Oh, that storm has gone the other way," answered Bert Passmore. "Theyoften do up here."
"Did you get tickets?" asked Roger.
"Sure; and I've reserved seats for you at our table, too, for lunch, andfor dinner to-night, if you'll stay."
"I don't know about to-night, Bert. But I'm thankful to you, just thesame. After the concert we want to give you a ride around the lake."
"That will be fine!"
The car was put under the hotel shed, and the boys went in the hotel toprepare for lunch. Mr. and Mrs. Passmore were present and wereintroduced, and a little later all sat down to eat.
There was an amusement park not far from the hotel and the band concertwas to be given there, in a large pavilion that was open on the sides.As it was but a short distance away, the boys allowed the car to stay inthe shed and walked to the place. A big crowd was collecting, and by thetime the concert commenced, the spot was jammed with people.
"It's a lucky thing your friend got reserved seats for us," observedDave to Roger. "Just look at the crowds coming in!"
Phil had gone off--to get some programs. Now, as he pushed his way tohis seat, his face showed unusual excitement.
"Guess whom I saw!" he gasped, as he sat down.
"Who was it?" demanded his chums, quickly.
"Job Haskers."
"Never!" cried Roger.
"What is he doing here?" demanded Dave.
"I saw him for only a moment," explained the shipowner's son. "He wasright in the crowd and I couldn't follow him."
"Was he alone?" asked Dave, with increasing interest, for he had notforgotten the trials and tribulations this former teacher of Oak Hallhad caused him.
"I don't know that, either--there were so many people around him."
"Maybe you were mistaken, Phil," said Roger.
"Not much! I'd know Job Haskers out of a million."
"I think we all would," murmured Dave. "Did he see you?"
"I don't think he did. He was over there--that's all I know about it,"and Phil pointed with his hand into a crowd on their left.
"We can take a look around for him between the parts and after theconcert," said Dave; and then the brass band struck up and the concertbegan.
The various musical numbers were well rendered, and encores werenumerous. The concert was divided into two parts, with fifteen minutesintermission, and during that time the boys from Oak Hall and Bertwalked around, the former looking for Job Haskers. But if the formerteacher of Oak Hall was present the boys failed to locate him.
During the second part of the concert came the wonderful new march andthe fantasy, "A Hunt in a Storm," and both came in for prolongedapplause. Then came a medley of national airs, ending with the "StarSpangled Banner," at which the audience arose; and the performance cameto an end.
"Wasn't it fine!" cried Roger, enthusiastically.
"Yes, indeed," answered Dave, warmly. "I am glad we came over."
"Couldn't have been better," was Phil's comment.
"Quarter after four," said Roger, consulting his watch. "Bert, we cantake you around the lake with ease before we start for home."
"Yes, and you can have dinner with us, too, before you go," was thereply. "Now don't say 'No', for father and mother expect it, and so doI."
"All right, then, we'll stay," answered Roger, after a look at Dave andPhil. "We can start for home about eight o'clock, or half-past."
The boys walked back to the hotel shed and got out the touring-car.Bert took the vacant seat beside Roger, and away the party bowled overthe highway that ran around Lake Sargola.
"I wish we had a car," said Bert. "But dad won't get one, because, lastsummer, a friend of his was killed in an automobile accident."
"Well, that's enough to take the nerve out of any one," was Dave'sanswer.
The car rolled on, and Bert asked about the doings of the boys at OakHall, and told of life at the technical training school which heattended. They had almost circled the lake when Roger slowed down.
"What do you say to a trip to the top of Sugar Hill?" he asked.
"Sugar Hill?" cried Bert. "Can you go up that hill with this car?"
"Sure!" was Roger's prompt reply. "It's pretty steep, I know, but I'msure I can make it."
"It's a fine view from there, Roger. But the hill is pretty steeptowards the end."
"Oh, I'm not afraid of it." The senator's son turned to the others."What do you say?"
"I'll go anywhere," declared Phil.
"Same here," laughed Dave. "But don't be too long about it, Roger."
"Why?"
"I think that storm is working its way back again."
"Oh, nonsense, don't be a croaker, Dave! It won't rain in a year ofMondays!" cried the senator's son, and then he put on speed once more,and headed the touring-car for Sugar Hill.
The place mentioned was an elevation about a mile back from the lake. Itwas almost a mountain in size, and the road leading to the top wasanything but a good one, being filled with ruts and loose stones. Butthe engine of the car was powerful, and it was not until they werealmost to the top of the hill that Roger had to throw the gears intosecond speed.
"Some climb and no mistake!" murmured Dave. "Can you make it, Roger?"
"Top or bust!" was the laconic answer.
Scarcely had the senator's son spoken when there came a loud report fromthe front end of the car.
"A blowout!" gasped Phil.
"The front tire on this side has gone to pieces!" announced Bert. "Willyou have to stop?"
"Can't--not here!" announced Roger, grimly. And then he shut his teethhard and turned on more gasoline. Up and up they bumped, the burst tirecutting deeply into the rough stones. But the power was there, and inless than thirty seconds more the car came to a standstill on the leveltop of Sugar Hill.
"Phew; that was a narrow shave!" remarked Bert, as the boys got out ofthe car. "Roger, what would you have done if you couldn't go ahead?There wasn't room to turn."
"I knew there wasn't room, Bert; that's the reason I made the car goup," was the reply. "It was a bad hole to get caught in."
"I guess it cost you the shoe," remarked Dave, as he examined thearticle. "Pretty well cut up."
"It was an old one, anyway, Dave. Now we'll have the pleasure of puttingon one of those new ones," and he smiled grimly, for he did not likethat task any better than does any other autoist.
"Oh, we'll all help," cried Phil. "It won't be so bad, if we all taketurns at pumping in the air."
"Wish I had one of those new kind of machine pumps on the car," answeredRoger. "But I haven't got it, so it's got to be bone labor, boys." Andthen the damaged wheel was jacked up and a new shoe with its inner tubewas put on and inflated. All told, the job took the boys a fullhalf-hour, for the new shoe was a tight fit and did not want to go overthe rim at first.
"Hello, what do you know about this!" cried Phil, as they were finishingthe blowing up of the tube. "It's raining!"
"Yes, and look how black it is getting over yonder!" exclaimed Bert. "Weare in for a storm now, sure!"
"I was almost certain we'd catch it," said Dave. He unscrewed the pumpfrom the wheel. "Roger, we had better get back to that hotel just asfast as we can."
"My idea, exactly, Dave, for I don't want to be caught on this hillyroad in a storm."
"Better put the top up," advised the shipowner's son. "It's going topour in a few minutes."
"And hadn't we better put on the chains, too, Roger?" questioned Dave."It may be dangerous work going down the hill if it rains hard."
"Yes, we'll put up the top and put on the chains," was the quick replyof the senator's son. "You fellows attend to the top and I'll see to thechains."
By the time the top had been put up and fastened it was rainingsteadily. Also, the wind was beginning to blow, showing that thedownpour was liable to become worse.
"Fasten the side curtains, Phil; I'll help with the chains!" sang outDave, and while the shipowner's son and Bert fastened the curtains, soas to keep out the driving rain, our hero aided Roger.
"You'll get wet, Dave; better get in the car," panted Roger, who wasworking as rapidly as circumstances permitted.
"No wetter than you," answered Dave, and then he pulled the secondchain in place and fastened it. Both boys got into the touring-car justas a heavy crash of thunder sounded out.
"Phew! listen to that, and look at the lightning!" cried Phil. "Say, ifyou are ready, Roger, we had better get out of here!"
"If you can only get back to the hotel," murmured Bert, anxiously. "If Iwere you I'd not think of going home until the storm clears away."
"Back to the hotel will be enough for me," answered Roger. "All ready?"he asked, for he had already cranked up.
"All ready," answered Dave, who had gotten on the front seat, thusallowing Bert and Phil the better shelter of the tonneau of the car.
The senator's son started up the automobile and made a circle on the topof the hill. Then, just as there came another flash of lightning and aloud crash of thunder, the boys began the long and perilous journey downthe rough road leading from Sugar Hill.