s, and they
wondered what would happen should they meet another car going in the
opposite direction. But in the whole fifteen miles they met only one
other motor, and fortunately that was at a wide place in the road.

The scent of spring and growing things was strong in the air, and
compensated somewhat for the atrocious road. The boys were often tossed
high in the air as the car bumped over logs and stones, or came up with
a lurch out of some deep hole. But they hung on to each other, or
whatever else was most convenient, and little minded the rough going.

After one particularly vicious lunge, however, the heavy car came down
with a slam, and there was a sharp noise of snapping steel. With a
muttered exclamation the driver brought his car to a halt and climbed
out.

"Just as I thought!" he exclaimed. "A spring busted, and the nearest
garage twenty miles away. Now we're up against it for fair!"

"Do you mean that we can't go on?" asked Mr. Fennington anxiously. "It
will be dark in another hour."

"I know it will," replied the chauffeur. "But what can we do about it?"

"Can't we make a temporary repair?" suggested Bob. "We can't have much
further to go now."

"Well, I'm open to suggestions, young fellow," growled the driver. "If
you can tell me how to fix this boiler up, go to it. It's more than I
can do."

Bob and the others made a thorough examination of the damage, and they
were not long in concocting a plan. Bob had brought with him a small but
very keen-edged ax, and it was the work of only a few minutes to cut a
stout limb about six inches in diameter from a tree.

With this, and a coil of heavy rope that was carried in the car for
emergencies, they proceeded to make the temporary repair.

CHAPTER XVI

PUT TO THE TEST

First of all the boys trimmed the branch to a length slightly greater
than the distance between axle and axle of the car. Then, near each end,
they cut a notch about two inches deep, one to fit over the front and
one over the rear axle. Next they placed the branch in position, and
with the heavy rope lashed it securely into position. Thus the front and
rear axles were kept at the proper distance from each other, and,
moreover, the side of the car that was over the broken spring could rest
on the stout pole.

The driver, who at first had watched their efforts with a derisive grin,
took their plan more seriously as he realized the scheme, and now he
examined the completed job