Slowly and cautiously, Tom guided the machine along, trying to keep as much as possible to the high points of the various sandbars which ran in a diagonal direction to the stream itself.  Once or twice they bumped over some rather large stones, and once they went into a hollow which was somewhat deeper than expected, but, with it all, they managed to keep the working parts of the car above the surface of the stream, and inside of five minutes found themselves safe and sound on the opposite shore, and headed for another side road which joined the main highway less than a quarter of a mile beyond.

“I am mighty glad we are out of that,” remarked Sam, as they left the rather uneven side road and came out on the smooth highway.  “I must say, I don’t like autoing in the water.”

“Pooh, that wasn’t so bad!” replied Tom.  “But it would be, I think, after a heavy storm, when the river was swollen.  It must be getting late,” he added.  “Better speed her up a little, or we’ll get to Hope just in time to say ‘good-night,’” and he smiled grimly.

Fortunately for the boys, there was very little traveling that night.  They met but two wagons and one automobile; and these on straight stretches of the road where there was little danger of collision.  Tom was now running at thirty-five to forty miles an hour, and this was rather dangerous where the highway curved, and where what was ahead was partly hidden by, trees and bushes.

“Here we are at last!” cried Tom, presently, as they came in sight of Hope Seminary, a fine collection of buildings nestling in a pretty grove of trees.  All the dormitory windows showed lights, and there was also a light in the reception parlor of the main building, for which the lads were thankful.

“Give ’em the horn, Tom,” suggested Sam.

“Sure!  I was only waiting to get a little closer,” was the answer, and then, as the automobile turned into the seminary grounds and ran along the road leading up to the main entrance, Tom sounded the horn in a peculiar fashion, a signal which had been arranged between the boys and the girls long before.

“Tom!”

“Sam!”

The cries came from two girls dressed in white, who had been seated on a rustic bench near a small fountain.  Now, as Tom brought the car to a quick stop, the girls hurried forward.

“Hello, here we are again!” sang Tom, merrily, and leaping to the ground he caught Nellie Laning by both hands.  “How are you?”

“Oh, I am pretty well, Tom.”

“And how are you, Grace?” came from Sam, as he, too, left the automobile.

“Oh, Sam, I am so glad you have come!” cried Grace Laning.  “Nellie and I have been waiting for you.”

“Well, we are glad we are here.  We have had quite an adventure to-night.”

“Oh, did you have a breakdown?” questioned Grace, anxiously.

“No, but we had to go to the rescue of a fellow who ran into the river.”