CHAPTER XIII
THE STORM
Silence followed an exclamation that came from the lips of each of thegirls--an involuntary cry from each one, brought out by the words ofGrace.
"Shadow Valley!" murmured Mollie.
"And the--the----" it was Betty who began this, it being her evidentintention to make a remark about the haunted house. Then her usual goodsense came to her rescue, and she refrained. There was pressure enoughnow on the nerves of her chums, she reasoned.
"Well, what of it?" she asked in a voice meant to be cheerful, and Bettywas an adept at simulation under necessity.
"Don't--don't you understand?" faltered Grace, in a low voice--a tonecalculated to add to the tenseness of the situation, rather than torelieve it.
"I understand that our car has balked for some reason or other," saidBetty in brisk, business-like tones, "and we have to fix it. If wedon't we are likely to be caught in a thunder storm. So get out, girls,and let's hunt for trouble. Grace, if you have any chocolates left youmight offer them as a prize for the one who first discovers thedifficulty--and why the motor won't mote. Cousin Jane will bethe--stake-holder is the proper term, I believe."
"The idea!" cried Mollie. "That's only When there is betting. We don'tdo anything like that."
"I meant to say prize-holder then!" admitted Betty, with a laugh.
"Well, there's no use discussing it--I haven't a chocolate left," sighedGrace. "But oh, do you realize our position?"
"I do indeed, and that's why I say we must make this car go," went onBetty. "Come," and she got out, followed by Mollie. "It seems hard linesto get a thunder storm after all the rain we've had, but it isthreatening. Let's get busy."
"I think that suggestion very practical," said Mrs. Mackson. "Girls, youhad better do as Betty says and try to find out what is the matter withthe car. I don't know anything about such things or I'd help. If ahairpin will be of any use I have an extra paper of them with me."
"Hairpins! Oh, dear!" laughed Amy half hysterically. "A hairpin to menda broken auto!"
"I have known one to be of service on a motor boat," spoke Betty. "Ibent it in the shape of a spring, and used it on a valve in the _Gem_."
"I'm afraid there's more than that the matter here," spoke Mollie, asshe raised the hood of her car. "That one cylinder must have affectedthe others, in some way."
"Gracious!" exclaimed Amy, "I didn't know auto diseases were catching inthat way. We must be careful, girls."
"It's getting darker," observed Betty. "We must be quick Mollie, ifwe're to get to shelter before the storm breaks."
It was growing dark and gloomy, and though it was not yet seven o'clockthe lowering clouds had added to the dusk of approaching night.Occasionally, in the distance, could be heard the low rumbling ofthunder.
"Oh dear!" exclaimed Grace. "We are in for a drenching, that's sure."
"Not necessarily!" said Mollie, a bit sharply. "I'd remind you that mycar has a top, and we can put it up."
"That's all right," spoke Betty, soothingly, for she noted that Mollie'stemper might get the best of her under the stress of the trouble."Let's look at the engine first. Shall I light the lamps, Mollie?"
"Yes, do. I didn't think of them. Light the oil ones as well as switchon the electrics. We may need both, and I am not sure of that storagebattery. The last place I had it looked at the man said it would needre-charging soon."
While Betty, with the aid of Grace, set the oil and electric head lampsaglow, and saw that the tail light was also in service, Mollie waspeering at the motor.
"Just push the self-starter button," she directed Betty after a moment,during which she had primed the cylinders with gasoline, and changed theadjustment of the carburetor slightly. She had really made quite a studyof the troubles that might beset a motor, and the garage man had addedsome further instructions.
Mollie watched while Betty pushed the lever, and set the electricstarter in motion, but when the gasoline and spark levers were set atthe proper places, the motor did not respond, the fly wheel merelyrevolving under the impulse of the starter.
"What is it?" asked Grace. "Can you tell what is the matter?"
"No, I can't!" and Mollie spoke shortly. "I'll tell you as soon as I'vefound out," she said. "Please don't make me nervous, Grace--dear."Mollie added the last as a polite concession.
"Nervous! If anyone is more nervous than I am, I'd like to know it,"murmured Grace. "Oh, how I wish I had a chocolate!" and she hurriedlysought among her possessions, but in vain.
"I wonder how we happened to get here--at the entrance to ShadowValley?" queried Amy. "I thought we were far away from it."
"We are far enough from the other end," replied Grace. "I guess Molliedidn't know this road took us here, or she wouldn't have come. We arenearer--nearer the--oh, you know what I mean, Amy."
"Yes, you mean--that house!"
"That's it. I--I hate to mention it. But we are nearer to it than eversince--since Mr. Lagg told us about the--the trouble there. I wish wewere--back home. Gracious--what's that?" and she jumped nervously,clutching Amy's arm.
"Only thunder--a sharper clap than usual--don't be a goose!" said Betty,sharply. "Shall I try it again, Mollie?" for Mollie was still inspectingthe motor by the light of one of the oil lamps held over it by CousinJane, while Betty was at the steering wheel, manipulating the levers.
"Yes, try it once more. I can't seem to see what is the matter. Theignition seems to be all right, but when you throw in the gas, and setthe spark, the motor doesn't take it up. Try again."
Again Betty tried, but the fly wheel would only revolve, and that wasall.
"It's no use!" sighed Mollie. "I'll have to have a garage man look atit. Probably it's some simple little thing. That's generally theway--it's the little things of life that make so much trouble. You canfight a big thing better."
"But where will you find a garage man around here--and at this time ofnight?" asked Amy, for it was really night now, with the clouds addingto the darkness.
"I don't know, I'm sure," and Mollie's voice did not have its usualpleasant note. "Maybe one will come along in an airship," she added abit sarcastically.
"Mollie," spoke Betty soothingly.
"I don't care--I don't like foolish questions asked of me when I'mworried."
"I didn't mean to bother you," said Amy gently.
"Oh, I know it!" and Mollie's voice trembled. "It was horribly mean ofme to answer you as I did. I beg your pardon, but I am _so_ bothered!Isn't it mean to have things go wrong this way, and at such aninconvenient time and place?"
"Never mind," spoke Betty, laughing. "To-morrow we will only think thiswas fun. And now I suggest that we go down the road a bit, and look fora garage. It's true that this isn't a main highway, but nowadays eventhe country blacksmiths are calling themselves auto repairers. We maycome upon one unexpectedly, and if his shop is closed he may live nearenough so that we can get him out here. Let's try, anyhow."
"Betty, dear, you're such a comfort!" exclaimed Mollie, putting her armsaround her chum. "Come, we'll go on a hunting expedition."
"All of us?" asked Grace.
"No, there's no need for all of us to go," said Betty. "Mollie and Iwill take a lantern--one of the oil ones--and walk down the road. Therest of you can stay here."
"And I think you'd better put the top up while we are gone," suggestedMollie. "It may rain suddenly, and with the top and the side curtainsand wind-shield in front, we can at least keep dry until morning."
"What! Stay here all night?" cried Amy.
"Why not? Where else can we go?"
"I'll not stay," declared Grace. "I'll walk anywhere--even in therain--to get away from--this place," and she could not repress a shudderas she looked back over her shoulder at the entrance to gloomy ShadowValley.
Betty again took her position at the wheel--why, she hardly knew. Molliehad closed the bonnet over the motor, evidently giving up trying todiscover the trouble. Idly Betty pushed on the button and lever of
theself-starter, and then she exclaimed:
"I have it!"
"What! Have you found the trouble?" asked Mollie, excitedly.
"No, but I have a plan. We can run the car down to the foot of theslope. It's more sheltered there--bigger trees, you know--and we'll bethat much nearer where we want to go."
"But how can you make the car go--when it won't?" asked Mollie.
"The self-starter! It's guaranteed to run the car under electric powerfor nearly a mile, without the motor being operated. All we'll have todo will be to set the starter going--that turns the fly wheel, you know.Then we can put in low gear, slip in the clutch, just as if the motorwas in operation, and get the car to the top of the hill. We're reallyat the top now, for it's level here. But we can get it to the edge ofthe downward slope, and let it coast. Then, on the next level, we cando the same thing again. In that way I am almost sure we can make over amile."
"Good!" cried Mollie. "You should have a car instead of me, Bet, mydear!"
"Oh, I don't take any credit for that think! I just recalled anadvertisement I had read about self-starters. Nearly all of them say thestarters alone will propel the car for some distance. Let's try it,anyhow."
They all felt better on hearing this, and Amy even laughed. She startedto get into the car, when Betty said:
"Perhaps it will be just as well to wait about getting in until the caris at the beginning of the slope. The less weight in the auto the easierit will move. Mollie, do you want to try the scheme?"
"No, you do it--you thought of it. We'll walk along with you if you getit to go."
Betty soon demonstrated that she could get the auto to move, and slowlybut surely it rolled along until it had started down a long, gentleslope. Then Betty shut off the electric motor, which was run by astorage battery, and applied the brakes.
"Get in now," she directed, and a little later the party was coastingdown hill, the foot brake serving to prevent too great speed.
"So far--so good!" cried Betty, when they had reached the level. "Now tosee how far the starter will carry us."
As she spoke a more vivid flash of lightning, and a rumbling crash ofthunder, made all the girls, and even Cousin Jane, jump.
"We're going to get it!" predicted Grace, with a shiver.
Betty again repeated her operation with the starter. The car wentforward slowly, and the girls were very hopeful, and then suddenly theauto came to a stop with a sort of whining groan, and the electriclights went out.
"Oh, dear! What's happened now?" asked Amy.
"The storage battery has given out," said Mollie. "I was afraid itwould. Now, girls, we'll either have to stay here in the auto, or elsewalk--and be caught in the rain."
"Well, let's get the top up, at all events," suggested Betty. "Thenwe'll be sure of some shelter."
It began to rain, gently at first, even while they were struggling withthe rather refractory top, in the dim light of the two oil lamps. Butthey managed to get it in place. Then, as they were fastening the sidecurtains, the storm burst in all its fury, with a suddenness that wasalmost terrifying.
Grace and Amy, who were trying to fasten a curtain on the side of theauto whence the wind came, screamed and let go of the flap. In aninstant, so powerful was the wind, it had ripped off the curtain,sending it scurrying away in the blackness of the night, that was tornand pierced by frequent flashes of lightning.
"Now we have done it!" cried Grace. "Oh, Mollie, I'm so sorry!"
"Never mind! Don't talk about that now. Get on your raincoats, girls, oryou'll be drenched!" and, fastening the last strap of her curtain,Mollie donned her garment--the girls and Mrs. Mackson carrying them in aseat locker that Mollie had utilized for this purpose.
But the rain came in at the place where there was no side curtain,sweeping over them all. The wind blew fiercely, and the auto swayed inthe blast. Miserable indeed was the plight of the Outdoor Girls. Theywere possibly having just a little too much of out doors.