The Meadow-Brook Girls by the Sea | Page 4

"I'd like to reach there some time before morning. The road is clear and
level. I'm going only twenty miles an hour, as it is. That's just a
creeping pace, you know," reassured Jane.
"Yes, I know," answered the guardian, with a shake of her head. They
continued on, but without much conversation, for Jane was busy
watching the road, her companions keeping a sharp lookout for the
turns. They had already passed two roads that led off to the right. The
next, according to their informant, would be the one for them to take to
reach the Lonesome Cove.
"Here is the third turn," announced Jane finally, bringing her car to a
stop. The highway on which they had been riding was shaded with
second-growth trees, as was the intersecting road. The latter was
narrow; but, from Jane's investigations, she having stepped down to
examine it, it was hard though not well-traveled. "Have you been here
before, Miss Elting?"
"No, Jane; I have not. Go ahead and drive carefully, for I hardly think it
a main road."
"It's a good one, whether it is a main road or not."
They moved on down the side road, and, gaining confidence as they
progressed, Jane McCarthy let out a notch at a time until she was
traveling at a fairly high rate of speed. Their way wound in and out
among the small trees and bushes that bordered the road, the latter
narrowing little by little until there was barely room for turning out in
case they were to meet another vehicle. However, there seemed little
chance of that. The motor car appeared to be the only vehicle abroad
that night.
The road now was so dark that it was only by glancing up at the tops of

the bordering trees, outlined against the sky, that the driver of the car
was able to keep well in the middle of it. She was straining her eyes,
peering into the darkness ahead.
"How far?" demanded Jane shortly, never removing her gaze from the
trees and the roadway.
"We must be near the place. Surely it cannot be far now," answered the
guardian. "I thought we should have seen a light before this."
"We're coming into the open," broke in Jane. "I'm glad of that. Now we
needn't be afraid of running into the trees or the fences, if there are any
along the track. I can't make out the sides of the road at all. I--"
A sudden and new sound cut short her words. The girls, realizing that
something unusual was occurring, fell suddenly silent. The roadway
beneath them gave off a hollow sound, as if they were going over a
bridge. The fringe of trees had fallen away, while all about them was
what appeared to be a darkened plain or field. Yet strain their eyes as
they would, the travelers were unable to distinguish the character of
their surroundings, though Harriet Burrell, with chin elevated, had been
sniffing the air suspiciously.
"I smell water," she cried.
"Tho do I," lisped Tommy. "But I don't want a drink."
Jane began to slow down as soon as the new sound had been heard. The
car was rolling along slowly. For some unaccountable reason the driver
put on a little more speed. Then came Jane McCarthy's voice, in a
quick, warning shout:
"Here's trouble. Jump, girls! Jump! We're going in!"
They did not know what it was that they were going into, but not a girl
of them obeyed Jane's command. Margery half-arose from the seat.
Hazel pulled her back.

"Sit still, girls!" commanded Miss Elting. "Stop the car, Jane!"
The driver shut off and applied the brake. But she was too late. The
automobile kept on going. The roadway underneath it seemed to be
dropping away from them; for a few seconds they experienced the
sensation of riding on thin air; then the car lurched heavily forward, and,
with a mighty splash, plunged into water. A great sheet of solid water
leaped up and enveloped them.
"Everyone for herself!" cried Harriet Burrell. "Jump, girls!"
This time they did essay to jump. Before they could do so, however,
they were struggling to free themselves from the sinking car, the water
already over their heads.
CHAPTER II
WHAT CAME OF A COLD PLUNGE
Five girls and their guardian struggled free from the sinking motor car
and began paddling for the surface. All knowing how to swim, they
instinctively held their breath when they felt the water closing over
them. Fortunately for the Meadow-Brook Girls, the top had been
removed from the car, else all would have been drowned before they
could have extricated themselves. Jane had the most difficulty in
getting out. She was held to her seat by the steering wheel for a few