hes that are in the way, and fill up some of
the holes with stones."

It was decided to do this, and all of the boys took off their coats
and went to work. Soon they had a fairly clear path, and after backing
away a few feet from the trees, Dick turned downward in a semi circle,
and got out once more on the road. This time he was mindful to use the
brake with care, and consequently he gained the bottom of the stony
hill without further mishap, and the second machine came after him.

"There is that farmer," said Songbird. "Why not ask him about the
roads?"

"I will," said Dick, and stalked into the field.

"This ain't no good road to Philadelphia," said the farmer, when
questioned. "Better go back up the hill and take the road on the
right."

"We can't get back very well."

"Then you had better go along this road and take the first turn to the
left and after that the next turn to the right. You'll have about
three miles o' poor roads, but then you'll be all right, but the
distance to the city is six miles longer."

There was no help for it and they went on, over dirt roads which were
anything but good. They had to go slowly, and Tom kept the second car
far to the rear, to escape the thick dust sent up by the leading
machine.

"This isn't so fine," declared Dick, with a grimace at Dora. "I am
sorry we took that false turn at the top of the hill."

"Oh, we'll have to take the bitter with the sweet," answered the girl,
lightly.

"I shan't mind it if you don't, Dora."

"Don't worry, Dick, I am not minding it a bit. I am only glad we got
rid of that intoxicated chauffeur. He might have gotten us into far
more trouble than this."

Inside of an hour they found themselves on a good stone road and
reached a signboard put up by the automobile association, telling the
exact distance to Philadelphia. This set them at ease mentally, and
they started off at a speed of twenty miles an hour. Tom wanted to
"let her out," as he put it, but Nellie demurred and so he kept to the
rear as before.

"But some day I am going to have a machine of my own," said he, "and
it is going to do some speeding, I can tell you that."

"Yah, and der first dings you know, Dom, you vos ub a dree odder you
sphlit a rock insides owid," warned Hans. "Ven I ride so fast like dot
I valk, I pet you!"

It was dark long before the city was reached and they had to stop to
light the lamps, and they also had to fix the batteries of the second
car. F