The latter did not reply for a moment, and then he looked up at the sky, studied the clouds for a moment before he said:
"I don't want to look on the dark side, but I'm very much afraid we are going to be later getting to Grand View than I thought."
"Why?" asked Daddy Bunker.
"Because I think we are going to run into a storm, and that will delay us," said Captain Ben. "The roads are none too good, and with a heavy rain, such as it seems likely we'll have, we can't make very fast time."
"I just love to be in a rain in an auto when the side curtains are up, don't you?" asked Rose of Russ.
"I do if they don't leak," he answered.
"It's just like playing house in our attic," said Vi. "When do you think it will rain, Captain Ben?" she went on.
"Very soon, I'm sorry to say," he replied.
The sun went behind the clouds, and the afternoon changed from a bright, smiling one to a dark, frowning one. Then the wind began to blow, and in the west, behind some dark clouds, flashes of lightning could be seen.
Captain Ben made the automobile go as fast as was safe, hoping they might reach some place of shelter before the storm broke. It was not possible to get to his bungalow, as they were too far away.