they made another
turn, and Dave found it advisable to come down to low gear.

"What will you do if you can't make it, Dave?" queried Phil.

"Oh, we'll make it--don't worry," was the answer. "I threw into low gear
just for safety's sake. This road twists so a fellow can't see fifty
feet ahead of him."

"I don't hear the other car any more," declared Roger, a moment later.

To this Dave did not reply. There was another turn ahead, and a
particularly hard climb over some rather rough rocks. Then, with a jolt,
the big touring-car came out on the top of the hill. Here was another
turn, and then began a sharp descent.

"Stop here a minute, Dave!" ordered the youth's uncle, and then, as our
hero brought the machine to a standstill, he added: "That's rather a bad
road ahead, and you had better give the other car a chance to get down
before we try to make it."

"A good idea, Uncle Dunston. We'll wait," answered Dave.

As they stood there all strained their ears to catch some sound from the
other car.

"I don't hear it at all," said Roger.

"All I hear is the breeze in the trees," put in Laura.

"They must be running without power," answered Dunston Porter.

"If they are going down a really steep hill, it's a wonder we don't hear
some squeak from the brakes," was Phil's comment.

"Listen!" cried Dave, suddenly, and held up his hand.

All strained their ears once more, and now far below them they heard
several cries mingled with a shriek. Then came a sudden crash, followed
by more shrieks.

"They've had an accident!"

"Wonder what it was?"

"We'll have to go and see!" cried Dave, and put on the power once more.

"That's right!" cried Dunston Porter: "Get down there as fast as you
can, Dave. But be careful--we don't want to run into them, or have any
accident of our own. There must be something wrong down there!"

CHAPTER IX

ON THE ROAD

"Perhaps they have gone off into some ditch!"

"Maybe they bounced off a rock and hit a tree!"

"A fellow could easily break a wheel on this rough road!"

"Oh, I hope none of them have been hurt!"

Such were some of the remarks that came from those in the tonneau of the
touring-car, as Dave put on the power and started down the winding road
which led to the bottom of the long hill.

"Better keep her in low gear, Dave," said Dunston Porter, as the car
struck a rather steep incline. "The engine will help hold her back."

"I think I can hold her with the bra