"This is the life!" cried Ned gaily. "When do we eat, Tom?"
"Not on this trip. I didn't pack in any grub. And you can't turn in and go to bed, either. This is just a preliminary run so I can decide what changes are needed."
"It seems to me that everything is fine," said Ned. "She's running now like a sewing machine."
"Got to try her on a hill yet," was Tom's answer.
"I suppose so. If you go honeymooning in this you'll have hills to climb," observed Ned, and he noticed that Tom did not now resent a reference to a possible approaching marriage.
"We'll soon know what she can do on the up grade," said the young inventor, with a look ahead. "We're coming to a hill now and it grows stiffer the higher you climb. Yes, this will be a good test."
The first part of the hill was taken in fine fashion, somewhat to Tom's delighted surprise. He had imagined the machine might labor, especially while new and stiff. But up went the House, never faltering.
Then, after a little comparatively level stretch, the hill took a sudden upward climb. For the first part of this the machine did well, there being no undue strain. But suddenly, when about half way up, there was a little jar, a sort of nervous shiver, and the motor stopped dead.
So quickly did it happen that Tom had no time to apply the brakes and Ned cried:
"Were backing downhill, Tom!"