It was a fine day, the auto was in good shape, and, on the hard roads they made good time. Of course Professor Snodgrass was ready with his net, and on the lookout for any prizes he might spy, but the boys hoped he would not stop too often, and delay them.
They had covered perhaps thirty miles, and were bowling along at fast speed, Mr. Snodgrass being a little disappointed that he had not seen anything worth capturing, when, as they swung around a turn in the road, they saw, just ahead of them, a place where a ditch was being dug along the highway, to allow the laying of pipes. Dirt had been thrown up on either side of the road, leaving only a narrow path for the auto to pass through.
“Look out for that spot, Jerry,” called Ned to the tall lad, who was steering.
“All right,” was the ready response, and the speed of the car was somewhat checked.
“Can you make it?” asked Bob. “It looks pretty narrow to me.”
“Oh, I’ll do it,” answered Jerry, but, as he came nearer, and saw how very narrow the opening was, he brought the car to a stop. “Whoever did this excavating had lots of nerve to take up so much of the road,” he went on, as he got out to measure the space more carefully. “They’ve gone off and left it, and I don’t see any signs that they have lights here at night. It would be a bad place to get to after dark.”
While he was looking at the obstruction they were all startled by hearing the sound of an auto horn, blown with an energy and persistence that seemed to be a protest at their occupancy of the road.
“Some one’s in a hurry,” commented Ned, and, looking down the road, in the direction in which they were going, they saw coming toward them an auto containing two figures. It advanced swiftly.
“Hold on! Look out! Stop!” yelled Jerry, holding up a warning hand. “I don’t believe there’s room to pass!”