"They are the guilty ones, I am sure of that," said Dick. "I wish we had seen their faces."
The youths went back to the auto and told of their adventure. Sam and the girls listened with interest to what they had to say.
"Those boys must be very wicked," said Nellie. "If we had been running fast we might have had a serious accident."
"Shall you accuse them of it?" asked Dora.
"I don't know. I'll think it over," answered Dick.
"The cut-up tire has got to be paid for," said Tom. "Whoever is guilty ought to be made to foot the bill."
While Dick and Sam jacked up the axle of the automobile and put on a new tire—inner tube and shoe combined—Sam set to work and cleaned up the roadway, throwing all the glass into the bushes. Then the new tire was pumped up and tested.
"Now we are all right again," said Dick.
"I am glad we had to mend but one," said Tom. He felt pretty dirty from the job, but he was not going to tell the girls.
All entered the touring car again, and Dick turned on the power. He ran slowly at first to test the new tire.