The auto-van kept on moving and Bunny noticed that it was going up a little hill in the driveway that went all the way around the house.

“I don’t see what makes it go uphill all by itself,” said Bunny to himself, giving the steering wheel a little turn, as there was a curve in the pathway just ahead of him.  “If I were running downhill I’d know what made it go—­the same thing that makes my sled slide downhill in Winter.  But if this auto stood on the level I don’t see what started it, nor why it keeps on going uphill.  Bunker Blue must have left the brakes off.”

Bunny looked at the handle brake and at the one worked by the foot pedal.  Both were off, for Bunker had released them when he left the car, since it stood on a level bit of the driveway.

“But what makes it go?” asked Bunny again.  Then, as he heard the low grinding noise, he remembered the self-starter, which Bunker had spoken of.

“I must have kicked the handle or touched it,” thought Bunny, “and that started the machine.  I don’t know how to stop it.  I guess I’d better—­Oh, whee!  There’s a tree I’m going to smash into!” cried Bunny Brown.

The thought of getting out of the way of the tree drove from Bunny’s mind, for the time being, every other thought.  He must not hit the tree which grew a little over the side of the driveway.

“I’ve got to steer out of the way, that’s what I’ve got to do!” thought Bunny in a flash.  “I’ve got to steer out of the way!”

Once he had made up his mind to that, he did not think so much about the motion of the automobile.  That could be taken care of later.

“Let’s see, which way do I turn the wheel to get out of the way of the tree,” thought Bunny.  He had often been in boats with his father and Bunker Blue, and sometimes, when the way was clear, he had been allowed to steer.  Once or twice, while out with his mother in her car, she had let him steer along a quiet road.

He was closer to the tree now.  The automobile was not moving very fast, and perhaps if it had hit the tree it would not have done much damage.  But Bunny did not know that, and then, too, he might be hurt in case the big car hit the tree.  So he was going to do his best to avoid it.

Like a flash it came to Bunny.

“I must turn the steering wheel the way I want the auto to go!”

No sooner said than done.  Bunny gave the wheel a twist.  Then he saw the auto slowly move that way, and away from the tree.  It went past with a few inches to spare, but Bunny had not acted any too soon.

Now he was on the straight part of the driveway again, at the back of the house, and all he had to do was to hold the steering wheel steady, and the automobile would move itself along.

“But there’s another curve by the kitchen door,” thought Bunny.  “I wonder if I’ll get around that all right.”

On went the automobile.  As it rolled slowly past the kitchen, Mary, the cook, looked out and saw the small boy at the steering wheel, which seemed almost as large as he was.