“All right, the Conover road it is,” answered Dave; and forward they went once more as fast as ever.
They soon passed the Crossroads, and then took the long, winding road that led around one side of the hill just mentioned. Here travel since the snow had fallen had evidently been heavy, for the roadway was packed down until it was almost as smooth as glass. Over this surface the spirited grays dashed at an increased rate of speed.
“Some team, believe me!” was Ben’s comment. “Mr. Wadsworth ought to put them on a race-course.”
“Papa does not believe in racing,” answered Jessie. “But he always did like to have a horse that had some go in him.”
“Hark!” cried Laura, a moment later. “What is that sound?”
“It’s an auto coming,” announced Ben, looking behind them. “A big touring-car, and whoever is in it seems to be in a tremendous hurry.”
“I wish they wouldn’t cut out their muffler,” was Dave’s comment, as he saw the grays pick 12 up their ears. “They have no right to run with the muffler open.”
As the touring-car came closer those in the sleigh who were able to look back saw that it was running at a great rate of speed and swaying from side to side of the roadway. It contained four young men, out, evidently, for a gloriously good time. Dave did not dare look back to see what was coming. The grays had their ears laid well back and their whole manner showed that they were growing more nervous every instant.
“Hi! Stop that noise!” yelled Ben, jumping up and shaking his hand at the oncoming automobile. But those in the car paid no attention to him. The fellow at the wheel put on a fresh burst of speed, and with a wild rush and a roar the touring-car shot past the sleigh and the frightened horses, and in a few seconds more disappeared around a turn of the road.
As might have been expected, the coming and going of the big machine, with its unearthly roar, was too much for the mettlesome grays. Both reared up wildly on their hind legs, backing the sleigh off to one side of the roadway.