In the excitement the reverse lever of the machine had been turned, and the machine was loaded to go backward; but nobody knew this, and the spectators all were lined up in the rear of the machine as the safest place to be. Again Sam turned on the steam, and this time the machine made a quick, unexpected dash to the rear. The crowd stampeded right and left, and everybody got out of the way except Fatty Childs," the postmaster's boy, who was only fourteen and weighed two hundred pounds. The machine struck Fatty amidships as he turned to flee, knocked him flat, and ran over his leg. The bystanders roared as the unwieldy fat boy scrambled to his feet in a frantic effort to escape the scalding steam that squirted in his direction. He was n't hurt much, and limped away, while Sam brought the machine to a standstill and carefully turned the reverse lever. Once again they made a start, and this time they got away without mishap, and went sailing up the street toward the business part of the village at a good rate of speed, the small boys cheering and chasing on behind. It was a proud moment in Sam's life. How the people did stare! And it was curious to see the changes on their faces when they saw the machine coming surprise, wonder, a look as though they could n't believe their own eyes, and then, as they made out what it was, an expression of immense amusement. People could be seen running out of their door-yards as the machine passed by, and beckoning to others to come and see. It is safe to say that Sam's automobile caused more talk in the village that day than anything that had ever happened there. Leading south out of the village was a long, level piece of road known as the Dorset Street Road, and up this road Joe steered the machine. "Open her up a little, Sam," said Joe, "and let's see what she can do." Sam let on a little more steam, and the machine shot ahead at increased speed. It was exhilarating now, and the breeze caused by the smart pace swept coolly back into the boys' faces. A little way out on the road the boys gained rapidly on a team which proved to be that of Deacon Calkins. The deacon heard the noise and turned round. Maybe he was n't surprised! But there were a whole lot of surprises coming to the deacon. When he saw what the vehicle was he stood up in the wagon to look back. Like all the rest, he could n't comprehend at first, and then, as he took in the situation, a broad grin spread over his features. The boys rapidly caught up to him, and the deacon was shouting something at them as he pulled one side to let them pass; but he had n't reckoned on his horse. The horse, hearing the unusual noise, turned its head in a nervous fashion, and caught sight of the machine. One look was enough for that horse. Any decent horse would have been scared. It made one jump that nearly snapped the deacon's head off, and then, with the bits in its teeth, tail up and mane flying, it started on a dead run. Well, the deacon did n't waste any more time looking at that automobile. He gathered up the lines, and you could hear him yell, "Whoa! whoa, boy!" away back in the village. Sam was scared, and started to shut off the steam; but in the excitement he turned it completely on, and the machine shot ahead at a terrific rate. When he tried to turn the rod the opposite way it just twisted round loosely; it had slipped a cog somewhere. "Shut her off, Sam!" shrieked Joe, getting on his feet in excitement. "Can't; it's busted!" yelled Sam. "Shall I turn the reverse lever? shouted Joe. "Don't do it; she 'd blow up!" yelled Sam. Maybe that home-made automobile did n't go when it got the full force of the power! It simply flew. The deacon's horse was running something like a mile a minute on ahead, but it was a fact that the automobile began to overhaul the runaway horse. "We 're going to run him down!" yelled Joe, who was clinging to the steering-bar for dear life. "I'm going to ju-m-m-p!" he jerked out, as the machine struck a stone. "Don't do it; you'll be killed. Stick to the machine!" shrieked Sam, as his hat flew off and his hair stood back in the wind. About an eighth of a mile farther on the road ran down in a steep hill, and just this side of the hill was the entrance to the Moore farm. " "THE DEACON GATHERED UP THE LINES, AND YOU COULD HEAR HIM YELL AWAY BACK IN THE VILLAGE. (SEE PAGE 251.) "If the gate's open steer her up into Moore's place!" yelled Sam. "If it's shut run her into the fence and jump. Don't go down that hill!" The machine kept gaining on the galloping horse and the shouting deacon, and if there had been a hundred yards farther to go they would have rammed him from the rear; but just before they were up to him the horse swept by the entrance to the Moore farm, and on down the hill, in spite of the deacon's frantic efforts to turn him. As the machine came opposite the entrance to the Moore farm, Joe turned the steering-bar; the machine made the curve with two wheels in the air, and shot up the short lane into the farm-yard. The entrance, fortunately, was up quite a steep incline, which checked the speed of the machine a great deal. In a whirlwind of excitement, the boys were looking for the place where they were going to strike, and never noticed the clothesline, which, as they went under it, caught them in the usual spot, under the chin, and mowed them off from the top of the automobile on to the ground. The machine kept right on-chased a yelping dog with its tail between its legs up on to the back piazza, frightened a girl at the milkpans into hysterics, and then, making a short turn, swept down a steep incline, and went, bang! right through the light doors of the barn. There was a whole lot of live stock in the barn, and as the wheels to the automobile still kept spinning by fits and starts, it raised an awful babel of noises in that barn. And every now and then a wild-eyed cow or calf, with, perhaps, a piece of rope dangling from its neck, would make a frantic break out of the broken barn doors, and disappear at a wild gallop that made it look as if it was trying to throw handsprings, while hens and chickens were fluttering from the windows in all directions. It seemed a miracle that the boys were not killed outright, but they were not even badly When Laura plays with Lulubel Their parties are so fine! With china fragile as a shell, And silver all ashine, And Nurse Celeste and Mademoiselle When Laura goes to play with Lou For over there 's a dolly, too, That 's old, but very dear to Lou. When Laura plays with Lulubel Miss French Doll is on hand, For all the dolly folks that dwell Up there are very grand, With names like Clarice and Estelle, Those Paris dolls of Lulubel. And so when Laura goes to play, One easily can tell If she is off to spend the day In style with Lulubel, Or in a simpler way, 't is true, |