Meanwhile the man driving the load of poles which he had cut in the woods, was doing his best to find some place along the narrow road where he could pull to one side. The Curlytops were near enough now to see that one of the rear wheels of the wagon was sliding along in an iron “shoe.”
This is what is often used in the country, and on heavy lumber or stone wagons, to keep them from going downhill too fast. The “shoe,” as it is called, is made so that the wheel fits in it. The front of the shoe is fastened by a chain to the body of the wagon, and thus one wheel is dragged along the ground, acting as a brake. It is just the same as when you may be coasting along on one roller skate, you drag the other foot to act as a brake.
Nearer and nearer the automobile of the Curlytops came to the wagon load of poles. And just when it seemed as if they must “bunk,” as Janet called it, though perhaps the “bunk” would not be very hard—just then the driver, who was walking beside his horse, with the reins in his hand, came to a wider place in the road.
“I’ll turn in here and you can pass me!” he called.
“All right—thank you!” shouted Mr. Martin.
Carefully he guided the automobile past the load of poles. There was just about room enough to pass, and not much more. Soon after that the hill ended and they were on level ground again.
“Mah good land ob goodness, Ah’s glad dat’s ended!” sighed Lucy.
“I guess we’re all glad,” said Mrs. Martin. “You must have your brakes looked after, Dick!”
“I will,” he said. “I thought they were all right. Some sand must have gotten in them from the roads. But now we’re all right.”
They were driving along a pleasant road through the woods. All danger seemed to be over, and Mr. Martin said he wished he had taken the other way instead of the one the farmer had told about as being the “least mite shorter.”