Her companions noticed this at about the same time.

"The gas is giving out," exclaimed Jane. "Isn't that provoking? With
us it is one continuous round of surprises."

"What are we going to do?" questioned Margery apprehensively.

"Just the same as before: keep on going," replied the Irish girl.
"I've driven without lights before this. I guess I can do it again. I
can see the road and so can you."

"Please reduce your speed a little," urged Miss Elting. The driver did
so, for Jane was not quite so confident of her ability to keep to the
road as she would have had them believe. "There comes some one. Please
stop; I want to ask him a question."

A farmer on a horse had ridden out to one side of the road, where he
was holding his mount, the horse being afraid of the car. Miss Elting
asked him how they might reach the Lonesome Cove. The girls were very
deeply interested in this question as well as in the answer to it.
They had never heard of Lonesome Cove. So that was to be their
destination? They nudged each other knowingly. The farmer informed
Miss Elting that the Cove was about eight miles farther on.

"Take your third right hand turn and it'll lead you right down into
the Cove," he said. "It's a pretty lonesome place now," he added.

"Yes, I understand," replied the guardian hurriedly, "but we know all
about that. Thank you very much. You may drive ahead now, Jane." Jane
smiled and started on. "I keep watch of the turns of the road. You pay
attention to your driving exclusively," added Miss Elting. "And,
girls, you keep a sharp lookout, too."

"Where ith thith Lonethome Cove?" questioned Tommy. "I don't like the
thound of the name."

"You will like it when you get there," answered the guardian. "But I
said I would not tell you anything about it. Time enough when we reach
there. You shall then see for yourselves. You are going too fast,
Jane."

"I'd like to reach there some time before morning. The road is clear
and level. I'm going only twenty miles an hour, as it is. That's just
a creeping pace, you know," reassured Jane.

"Yes, I know," answered the guardian, with a shake of her head. They
continued on, but without much conversation, for Jane was busy
watching the road, her companions keeping a sharp lookout for the
turns. They had already passed two roads that led off to the right.
The next, according to their informant, would be the one for them to
take to reach the Lonesome Cove.

"Here is the third