Somehow Bess had managed to distance the big car and had swung to second place.  Cora thought she had her machine going at full speed, but either it had not “warmed up” yet, or she was not properly feeding the gasolene, and had not correctly adjusted the sparking device.

Just as Cora was about to pass the wagon, which feat Bess had now safely negotiated, the old man driving it seemed to awaken from a nap.  He appeared to remember something he had forgotten and pulled his horses to one side—­the wrong side—­toward Cora’s car, which was rushing right at him!  The Whirlwind was almost upon the wagon!

“Mercy!” screamed.  Mary.  “We’ll be smashed!”

“Steady!” called Cora, though her face went white.

Walter reached over, as if to take the wheel from the girl.  She stopped him by a shake of her head, and then braced herself for what was coming.  She screamed at the top of her fresh, clear voice: 

“Stop! stop!  Don’t turn! stop!”

The farmer heard just in time.  He fairly pulled the horses back on their haunches, and the wagon came to a stop.  There was barely room for the auto to get past, but Cora managed it.

“Oh!” sighed Mary in thankfulness.  “Wasn’t that awful?”

“A narrow escape,” assented Isabel.  “But not as bad as the other one was.  You should have seen that!  We’re safe now.”

The Whirlwind careened along the road, from the shelving gutter back into the middle of the highway.

“Why didn’t you let me take the wheel?” asked Walter, looking at Cora in a strange sort of way.

“I couldn’t seem to let go,” she said with a nervous little laugh.  “I knew, of course, that you could run it more safely than I could, but somehow I couldn’t seem to let go.  My fingers appeared to be glued to the wheel.”

“I certainly could not have done better,” admitted Walter.  “But I thought I might help you.  Look at Ida, though!  She is going like grim death.”

“If she doesn’t encounter another farmer she may be all right,” said Cora.  “But I wonder why I don’t go faster.  Oh, no wonder.  I’m on second speed.  I forgot to throw in the high gear.  Here it goes.  Now watch me pass them.”

She advanced the lever, and the car shot forward.  It was going at a greatly increased speed, and easily passed Bess and Jack.

“Here’s where we leave you,” called Cora.

“It’s about time,” replied Jack.  “I thought something was wrong with you.

“Third gear,” answered Cora.  “Forgot I had it.”  Her voice floated back on the wind.

With a merry shout she turned on more gasolene and advanced the spark.  She was almost up to Ida.

The race was to end at a bridge, which was only a few rods ahead.

“Careful,” cautioned Walter to the fair driver beside him.  She was making some rather reckless curves.

“I’m all right,” declared Cora.

“I’m sure we’ll win,” exclaimed Mary.