is brake had been loose for some time. They had thought to tighten it up, but other matters had claimed their attention, and they had not

k, quickly, as the big car gath

Tom's reply. "Bu

anything," put in Sam

d thus leaving Tom free to manipulate the steering wheel. Dick also set the hand br

trees, with nasty gullies in several spots. Here and there were "resting spots" for teams, and over

Sam and Dick together, when about thre

motive power to the low gear, and thus the engin

u and bring up several long ropes to which were attached a number of hooks. He had placed these in

e. At the same time he leaned over and allowed the ends of the

something-anyway I

ck had commenced to toot the horn again. With a slipping and sliding, the touring car went ove

a second later. "A carriag

nk of nothing but the turn, for the machine was running closer than ever to the gully. If they

utomobile back into the roadway, two wheels for a second spinning in midair. Then he h

draw up to the side of the road. But the incline was still steep

ing car. This was followed by a series of jerks, and then came one final jerk that brought

, when he could catch his breath.

" And he pointed to the ropes and hooks. One hook, the biggest, had caught in a roc

Tom. "It saved us from ru

e of the ladies, noticing that t

ish. We'll wait until you get down to the bottom of the h

f the ladies, tartly; and then the carriage wen

wheels with stones, so that it might not get awa

the hooks might," said Dick. "But I c

warmly. "I was a fool to let her out as I did,

eadstrong but quick t

It was found that one of the hooks had gone into a tire, causing a blowout that, in the general excitement, nobody had notic

nearest blacksmith shop," said Dick,

hat big hook caught i

ike running the car further and readily agreed to let Sam take hold, after another tire had been adjusted. To keep the automobile from going down the rema

re called on the blacksmith to repair the broken brake rod. While waiting they ran

he said, in admiration. "You get what

oes when that brake rod broke,"

" replied

ng and now the machine went along well, and almost before they knew it they were at Rayville and asking the way to the Marley farm. This was on

s he came out to greet them. "You kin put that 'mo

go after the bipla

want to pay fer ridin'," added the farmer shrewdly. He was a good man

come in handy for hauling the biplane,-and besides

ropes and hooks, and Sam keeping beside Dick, who looked a trifle pale in spite of his efforts to appear all ri

cut down to feed the old saw-mill, which still stood on the bank of a good-sized stream. Th

Marley, as he led the way. "An' as she wasn't runnin' v

Dick. "And I hope, too

other way? Ain't much to 'em, is

ighs several h

t's great how they kin stay up!" burst out the farmer i

f the party looked to the right and the l

e to the river on which the old saw mill was located. "T

the airship went into t

wered Dick. "It might save it from being wre

h was broad and smooth at this point. In the middle the stream was

ks like a flying machine," sai

ver into the woods on the

'm afraid we'll have to go up the stream

a good ford?

a mile tudder side

Tom at this moment. "What do

in the direction indicated, a point close to the op

of the planes of the flying mac

," exclaimed Tom. "W

anes," answered the older brother. "But do

ere," murmured Sam. "Supposi

"We'll all go around by way of the fo

re if it was the mac

there anyway-to continue the se

t the old mill. The boys came close at his heels, and as t

losed up fer years," said Peter Marley. "Once in

neglect. As they rode up Tom chanced to glance towards a side window and was surprised to catch sight o

" gasped Tom. "

asked his

mill! Unless I am greatly mis