“You might have caused an accident,” added Ted.
“I—er—now—I now—jest did it so our auto wouldn’t run away,” explained Trouble.
“Oh, dear!” sighed Mrs. Martin. “What will you do next, Trouble?”
“I don’t know,” he said, and he probably meant it. For not even small William himself knew what next would pop into his mind.
“Well, it’s lucky no great harm was done,” said Mr. Martin. “If I had started off too suddenly I might have broken a tire chain. Then when we needed it to use on a wet and slippery pavement, William, we wouldn’t have had it. I might skid and break a wheel.”
“Yes, ma’am—I mean yes, sir, I—I’m sorry,” said Trouble.
By asking Trouble questions they learned how it had happened. When they got out to “stretch their legs,” as Mr. Martin called it, William alighted with the others. Then, when no one saw him, he took one of the tire chains from the front of the car. He tangled one end of the chain around the rear spring, and the other end of the chain he wound around the small tree.
Consequently, when Mr. Martin started his machine he pulled over and broke off the small tree, this causing the cracking, splintering sound.
“Well, it might have been a lot worse,” said Mr. Martin, as he loosed the tire chain and put it, with the second one, in the tool box under the seat.
“Better look to make sure there’s nothing else loose that William can make trouble with,” suggested Mrs. Martin, with a smile.