"There's more danger trying to turn around and go back down that steep slope on a dark night and in a pouring rain when the roads may be washed out than there is in going ahead," said Tom.
"I can't quite see that," and Ned shrugged his shoulders. "The roads up ahead may be even worse than those we came up, as far as washouts go."
"Well, it will be awkward turning around, anyhow," Tom decided. "There isn't any too much room to maneuver, and it will be safer to go ahead, I think."
"Then I'm with you!" declared Ned.
Switching on the most powerful headlights, Tom Swift looked ahead as well as he could up the dark and rain-swept road along which he was soon guiding his vehicle. Back of him Ned was beating up the eggs and slicing and chopping the ham to make an omelet. Already the delicious aroma of boiling coffee permeated the House.
"Grub'll be ready soon now!" called Ned, as he slipped the omelet into the frying pan.
"Good for you!" called back Tom from the driver's seat where he was watching the road. It went on up the mountain in an easy slope and was a fairly good highway.
"Going to eat with one hand and drive with the other, or are you coming back and sit at the table?" asked Ned, when the meal was almost ready.
"Oh, I'll slow down and eat properly," Tom replied. "My coffee would slop all over me if I tried to drink it while going along here."
A little later Tom came to a wider place in the road. Here he pulled to the right and, putting on the brakes, but leaving the engine running, in case they had to get out in a hurry, Tom climbed back and joined his chum at the table.