“You try the engine. Maybe she’ll work now.”
Hester scrambled into her seat and tried the starter. The engine began to buzz like a saw-mill.
“Great Scott, Laura!” cried her brother. “What did you do to it?”
“Turned on the gasoline,” said his sister, drily. “When Hester looked at her carburetor she turned it off. No wonder the engine wouldn’t run.”
“Thanks,” muttered Hester, in a choked tone, while the crowd in the other auto smothered their laughter, and she prepared to start the car when Chet should have stepped aside.
“Hold on!” said young Belding. “This isn’t any way to be traveling, Miss Hester.”
“Why not?” she snapped at him, for the situation was getting on her nerves now.
“The wind is likely to change. If it veers around it will drive the fire directly up this road,” said Chet.
“What’s burning?” demanded the girl, sharply.
“The whole forest back yonder through the cut. We came through a big cloud of smoke.”