o
the westward they saw a number of black clouds rolling up rapidly.

"Say, Dave, that looks like a real storm to me," remarked Roger,
anxiously. "What do you think of it?"

"It's a storm, all right," was the answer. "And if we don't catch it
before we reach the end of our journey we'll be lucky."

[Illustration: AND THEN ALL THE YOUNG FOLKS FELL TO EATING WITH
GREAT GUSTO.--_Page 102._]

As quickly as possible, the various things were packed up and placed in
the two touring-cars. Then they started off once more, with Mr. Porter
and Mr. Basswood at the steering wheels. They had covered less than five
miles when they heard a rushing of wind through the woods. It seemed to
come by fits and starts, but steadily increased in volume. The sky grew
darker, and soon some large drops of rain fell.

"We'll have to put up the tops!" cried Dave.

The Basswood car had already come to a stop and those in it were
hurrying to put up the top. As Dave unfastened the straps on the
Wadsworth automobile, the drops of rain came down faster than ever.

"We didn't get that up any too soon," remarked the boy's uncle, when the
job was finished.

"Hadn't I better put up the side curtains, too?" queried Dave.

"You'll have to put up everything you've got, Dave!" cried Roger. "Just
look at what's coming!"

There was no need to look, for already the rain was driving in on them.
Working with all possible speed, the boys soon adjusted the curtains.

"Uncle Dunston, we can't run without chains if the road gets wet," cried
Dave.

"I am going to run under yonder trees. We can put the chains on there,"
answered Dunston Porter, and they started forward once again, with the
rain pelting down upon them furiously.

CHAPTER XI

FROM ONE HARDSHIP TO ANOTHER

"I guess I was right about the rain," remarked Phil, grimly, as the
drops pattered unceasingly on the cover of the automobile.

"You sure were, Phil!" cried Belle. "It's coming down just as hard as
ever it can."

"If only the wind would stop blowing!" said Jessie. "Do you think there
is any danger of our being blown over?"

"Oh, it isn't as bad as all that," answered Dave.

A few minutes later Mr. Porter espied a suitable place under several
large trees, and here he brought the touring-car to a standstill. Then
the Basswood car come close alongside.

"Going to put on the chains?" called out Mr. Basswood, to make himself
heard above the noise of the elements.

"I think we