“You’re in for a spill, lads!” called the man in the green car. At that instant he applied his emergency brake and shut off the power. His car came to such a sudden stop that he was thrown from his seat, high into the air.
Bob seemed unable, from the very terror of fright, to make a move to stop the auto he was steering, and clung to the wheel like grim death.
“Put on the brake!” yelled Ned again. “We’ll be killed!”
The load of hay was not ten feet in advance. Bob gave the wheel a sudden twist. The red car shot to one side, out into a ditch along the road. It skidded on two wheels, the boys were nearly thrown out, and bounced high in the air.
With another quick twist, Bob sent the car straight ahead. Then another turn of the wheel and he was back in the road again!
He had passed the obstruction, going between it and the green auto, and had reached the highway in safety after as daring a bit of steering as ever a boy undertook. Then he shut off the power and applied the brakes hard, the car coming to a stop with a groan and screech as the emergency band gripped the axle.
“Whew! That was a close shave!” came from Jerry, as he drew a long breath.
“A little too near for comfort!” was Ned’s opinion.
“Bet your life!” was all Andy could say, his rapid fire of words failing to discharge this time.