The boys gazed ahead and saw that some wooden horses and planking had been placed across the highway. This side of the barrier some bars had been taken from a fence, so that those using the road might drive around, through an orchard belonging to a farmer named Darrison.
"We are going to strike those planks!" cried Dale Blackmore.
"Maybe the team will try to jump them!" came from Fred.
"If they do, they'll smash the carryall sure!" answered Pepper. "Perhaps we had better drop out at the rear."
"Look out!" sang out somebody, and just then the carryall left the highway and turned into the orchard. Then came a scraping, as the top of the turnout hit the low-hanging branches of some apple trees.
"Whoa! stop that wagon!" yelled a man's voice, and Amos Darrison appeared from among the trees. He made a leap for the team, but they swerved to one side. Then came a crash, as one of the wheels caught in a stump. Over went the carryall, with the boys in it. Andy, quick to act, used his acrobatic abilities by leaping into the branches of a nearby tree. Then the farmer caught the team and stopped them.
"Anybody hurt?" was Pepper's question, as he crawled out of the wreck.
"I'm all right," answered Fred.
"I got a twisted ankle, that's all," came from Dale, as he limped out.
"Look at Jack!" cried several. "He's hurt!"