or nothing he must justify his ownership and prove he was
worthy of the gift and the woman he hoped to marry.

When he ran out upon the low ground the mist got thicker and rolled in
low belts across the fields. The carbide in his lamps was exhausted
and the feeble beam that leaped up with the jolts flickered puzzlingly.
He knew where he was, however, when he reached the marsh road that ran
like a causeway across the boggy ground. Tall, stiff reeds bordered
the straight track. The lights were sinking fast and since he must
reach Langrigg before they went out he let the engine go.

The fog streamed past him, the wind whipped his face, and he clenched
the wheel as he rocked with the jolts. He was not far from home now
and looked for the curve where his road branched off. The curve was
sharp and ran between two rows of old thorn trees; Jim remembered that
he had meant to cut them down. There was a deep ditch between the
trees and a belt of rough grass, then the narrow road, and a ditch on
the other side. After a few minutes a dark mass loomed in the haze and
Jim knew it would be prudent to slacken speed, but his lamps were
nearly out, and a little farther on he must avoid an awkward gatepost.

A shadowy tree came out of the fog and he felt the wheels sink in boggy
soil. He was obviously taking too wide a sweep, and he turned inwards.
The damp road was indistinct, but he could see the white reeds that
grew along its edge, and the trunks of the thorns across the ditch. He
was going round the corner, looking for a triangular patch of grass,
when he felt a violent jolt and fell forward on the wheel. The car
swerved and the front wheels plunged into the soft ground between the
road and ditch.

Jim was badly shaken, but he got the car straight while she plowed up
the grass. Then the wheel was torn from his grasp, the car swerved the
other way, and he jambed [Transcriber's note: jammed?] on the brakes,
knowing it was too late. He felt her run across the road; she rocked
as she took the grass, and then he was thrown out and knew nothing more.

In the meantime, Jake and Carrie stood on the steps at Langrigg,
talking to Halliday and Mordaunt. The latter had brought a car from
Dryholm and it stood close by with its lamps burning. The night was
calm, the noise of the sea came out of the distance, and presently they
heard the throb of a car running across the marsh.

"That's Jim," Carrie said to Dick. "Since you want