"I smell water," she cried.
"Tho do I," lisped Tommy. "But I don't want a drink."
Jane began to slow down as soon as the new sound had been heard. The car was rolling along slowly. For some unaccountable reason the driver put on a little more speed. Then came Jane McCarthy's voice, in a quick, warning shout:
"Here's trouble. Jump, girls! Jump! We're going in!"
They did not know what it was that they were going into, but not a girl of them obeyed Jane's command. Margery half-arose from the seat. Hazel pulled her back.
"Sit still, girls!" commanded Miss Elting. "Stop the car, Jane!"
The driver shut off and applied the brake. But she was too late. The automobile kept on going. The roadway underneath it seemed to be dropping away from them; for a few seconds they experienced the sensation of riding on thin air; then the car lurched heavily forward, and, with a mighty splash, plunged into water. A great sheet of solid water leaped up and enveloped them.
"Everyone for herself!" cried Harriet Burrell. "Jump, girls!"
This time they did essay to jump. Before they could do so, however, they were struggling to free themselves from the sinking car, the water already over their heads.