CHAPTER XXII
IN A DITCH
Through the streets of Shopton went Tom Swift and his friends. News ofthe big contest the young inventor was about to take part in, hadcirculated around town, and there were not wanting many to wish himgood luck. The lad responded smilingly to the farewells he received. Asthey passed the bank, Ned Newton came out on the steps.
"Wish I was going along," he called.
"So do I," replied Tom. "How's everything? Is the bank all right sincethe run?" for he had not had time to pay much attention to theinstitution since his memorable race against time, to get the money.
"Stronger and better than ever," was Ned's answer, as he came to thecurb, where Tom slowed up. "I hear," he added in a whisper, "that theother fellows are going out of business--Foger and his crowd you know.They loaned money on unsecured notes to make a good showing, and nowthey can't get it back. But we're all right. Hope you win the race."
"So do I."
"What will a certain person do while you're away?" went on Ned, with awink.
"I don't know what you mean," replied Tom, trying not to blush. "Doyou mean my dad or Mrs. Baggert?"
"Neither, you old hypocrite you! I meant Miss Mary Nestor."
"Oh, hadn't you heard?" inquired Tom innocently. "She is going to LongIsland to visit some friends, and she'll be at the race."
"You lucky dog," murmured Ned with a laugh, as he went into the bank.
Once more the electric auto started off, and was soon on the quietcountry road, where Tom speeded it up moderately. He hoped to be ableto make the entire distance to the shore cottage on the single chargeof current he had put into the battery at home, and, as there was nospecial need for haste, he wanted to save his power. The machine wasrunning smoothly, and seemed able to make a long race against time.
The travelers ate lunch that day at Pendleton, a town some distancefrom Shopton. They had covered a substantial part of their trip. Aftera brief rest they started on again. Tom had planned to spend two daysand one night on the road, hoping to be able to reach the shore cottageon the evening of the second day. There, after recharging the battery,he would spend a night, or two, and proceed to the track, ready for therace.
They found the roads fairly good, with bad stretches here and there,which made it necessary for them to slow down. This delayed them, andthey found the shadows lengthening, and darkness approaching, when theywere still several miles from Burgfield, where they intended to sleep.
"Will it be all right to travel at night?" asked Mr. Damon, a bitnervously.
"Why, are you thinking of hold-up men?" inquired Mr. Sharp.
"No, but I was wondering about the condition of the roads," replied theeccentric man. "We don't want to run into a rock, or collide withsomething."
"I guess this will light up the road far enough in advance, so that wecan see where we are going," suggested Tom, as he switched on thepowerful electric search-light. Though it was not dark enough toilluminate the highway to the best advantage, the powerful gleam shonedazzlingly in front of the swiftly moving auto.
"I guess that will show up every pebble in the road," commented theballoonist. "It's very powerful."
Tom turned off the light, as, until it was darker, he could see tobetter advantage unaided by it. He slowed down the speed somewhat, butwas still going at a good rate.
"There's a bridge somewhere about here," remarked the lad, when theyhad gone on a mile further. "I remember seeing it on my road map. It'snot very strong, and we'll have to run slow over it."
"Bless my gizzard, I hope we don't go through it!" cried Mr. Damon. "Isyour car very heavy, Tom?"
"Not heavy enough to break the bridge. Ah, there it is. Guess I'll turnon the light so we can see what we're doing."
Just ahead of them loomed up the super-structure of a bridge, and Tomturned the searchlight switch. At the instant he did so, whether he didnot keep a steady hand on the steering wheel, or whether the auto wentinto a rut from which it could not be turned, did not immediatelydevelop, but the car suddenly shot from the straight road, and swervedto one side. There was a lurch, and the front wheels sank down.
"Look out! We're going into the river!" yelled Mr. Damon.
Tom jammed on the brakes and shut off the current. The auto came to asudden stop. The young inventor turned the searchlight downward, toilluminate the ground directly in front of the car.
"Are we in the river?" asked Mr. Sharp.
"No," replied Tom in great chagrin. "We're in a muddy ditch. One atthe side of the road. Wheels in over the hubs! There should have been aguard rail here. We're stuck for fair!"