"Why, we are safe here. The water will never rise to this height."
"I know it! I know it!" groaned Tom, falling back in his seat and paling because of the pain from his arm, which he had twisted. "But don't you see? There are many down the valley who won't know of this until too late. Why, they can't see it at the bridge—at Culm Falls—until the flood is right upon them."
"It's true!" gasped Helen. "What shall we do?"
"We must warn them—we can warn them, can't we?" demanded Ruth. "This car runs so fast—you control it so well, Helen. Can't we warn them?"
"Try it, Sis!" shouted Tom. "You can do it!"
And already his sister, setting her teeth hard upon her lower lip, was backing and turning the motor car. In twenty seconds they were dashing off upon the track over which they had so recently come—on the road down the valley with the flood following fast behind them.
CHAPTER X
THE RACE
The two girls on the front seat of the flying automobile were not prepared for racing. Of course, Ruth Fielding had no proper automobile outfit, and Helen had not expected such an emergency when she had started with her crippled brother for this afternoon run. She had no goggles, nor any mask; but she had the presence of mind to raise the wind-shield.
Already they could have heard the steady roaring of the advancing flood had not the racing motor car drowned all other sounds. There was, however, no need to look behind; they knew the wave was there and that it was sweeping down the valley of the Lumano with frightful velocity.