o eat.

Passing through a small village, which was now thickly covered with snow
from the storm that was getting worse and worse all the while, Uncle
Toby drove the car once more out in the country. Suddenly he leaned
forward and shifted the gear lever.

"What's the matter?" asked Ted.

"I'm going into second speed," was the answer, and the boys knew what
this meant. "There's quite a hill ahead of us," Uncle Toby went on.
"Though I could take it on high if it wasn't for the snow, I can't do it
now. We'll try it on second, and if that won't bring us up we'll have to
go back into first speed."

"Shall we get to your house to-night?" asked Jan.

"Oh, yes," answered Uncle Toby. "Don't worry!"

But Jan could not help feeling a bit anxious. She was more worried over
what might happen to Trouble than herself, her other brother or her
playmates, for they were all older. But Trouble was used to his mother
at night.

How he would behave now, away from home for the first time, remained to
be seen. Jan wondered what her father and mother were doing now, and she
hoped Daddy Martin would not lose that money. She wondered if they would
be poor. That wouldn't be at all pleasant, she thought.

However, her ideas and those of the others were suddenly switched into
new places, for the big car gave a lurch to one side and came to a stop
with a jolt, awakening Trouble.

"What's matter?" he asked sleepily.

"I am afraid we are stuck," said Uncle Toby.

"There's a big drift right in front of us," announced Ted.

"Yes," agreed Mr. Bardeen. "I thought I could go through it but it's
deeper than I had any idea of. No you don't!" he quickly cried as the
automobile seemed about to slip backward. He put on both brakes and
brought the car to a stop.

"Oh, is anything going to happen?" asked Lola.

"No! No!" laughed Uncle Toby. "Don't be afraid. I didn't change into
first speed quickly enough and stalled, or stopped my engine. I'll start
up again in a minute. But I guess I'd better put some stones under the
wheels, to block them so they won't slide downhill as I start up again
with the brakes off."

"We'll get some stones!" cried Ted. "I know how to do that! I often do
it for dad on a hill. Come on, Tom!"

The two boys scrambled from the car out into the storm. As the door was
opened in came a swirl of white flakes, and Trouble tried to catch them
by sticking out his red tongue.

"I guess you'll have hard work to find any stones,