“What’s the matter?” he asked, as he piled forward. “Can’t you stop it?”
“No, the lever is stuck!” gasped the woman. She was on the point of fainting through excitement and fear.
Jack bent down, and his knowledge of automobiles stood him in good stead. He saw how the lever had become bent. With all of his might he tugged upon it, and brought it back. At once the automobile began to slacken its pace. Then came another pull, and the ponderous machine came to a complete standstill.
“Oh!” murmured the lady, and sank back in a deathlike swoon.
“Oh, Aunt Annie is dying!” shrieked the little girl. “Oh, dear, I never want to ride like this again!”
“She isn’t dying,” said Jack. “She’ll soon be better.”
He looked back and saw some of the cadets hurrying along the road. Soon Pepper came up, followed by Andy and a dozen others, and then Captain Putnam put in an appearance.
The lady was lifted from the automobile and carried to a shady spot under a tree. She had smelling salts with her, and was treated with these, and her face was bathed with water from the brook. Soon she opened her eyes and stared around her.
“You are safe, madam,” said the captain. “Pray take it easy.”
“And Jennie, my niece?”