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smoothly； and seemed able to make a long race against time
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
The travelers ate lunch that day at Pendleton； a town some distance
from Shopton。 They had covered a substantial part of their trip。 After a
brief rest they started on again。 Tom had planned to spend two days and
one night on the road； hoping to be able to reach the shore cottage on the
evening of the second day。 There； after recharging the battery； he would
spend a night； or two； and proceed to the track； ready for the race。
They found the roads fairly good； with bad stretches here and there；
which made it necessary for them to slow down。 This delayed them； and
they found the shadows lengthening； and darkness approaching； when they
were still several miles from Burgfield； where they intended to sleep。
〃Will it be all right to travel at night？〃 asked Mr。 Damon； a bit
nervously。
〃Why； are you thinking of hold…up men？〃 inquired Mr。 Sharp。
〃No； but I was wondering about the condition of the roads；〃 replied the
eccentric man。 〃We don't want to run into a rock； or collide with
something。〃
〃I guess this will light up the road far enough in advance； so that we
can see where we are going；〃 suggested Tom； as he switched on the
powerful electric search…light。 Though it was not dark enough to
illuminate the highway to the best advantage； the powerful gleam shone
dazzlingly in front of the swiftly moving auto。
〃I guess that will show up every pebble in the road；〃 commented the
balloonist。 It's very powerful。〃
Tom turned off the light； as； until it was darker； he could see to better
advantage unaided by it。 He slowed down the speed somewhat； but was
still going at a good rate。
〃There's a bridge somewhere about here；〃 remarked the lad； when they
had gone on a mile further。 I remember seeing it on my road map。 It's not
very strong； and we'll have to run slow over it。〃
〃Bless my gizzard； I hope we don't go through it！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。
〃Is your car very heavy； Tom？〃
〃Not heavy enough to break the bridge。 Ah； there it is。 Guess I'll turn
on the light so we can see what we're doing。〃
Just ahead of them loomed up the super…structure of a bridge； and Tom
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
turned the searchlight switch。 At the instant he did so； whether he did not
keep a steady hand on the steering wheel； or whether the auto went into a
rut from which it could not be turned； did not immediately develop； but
the car suddenly shot from the straight road； and swerved to one side。
There was a lurch； and the front wheels sank down。
〃Look out！ We're going into the river！〃 yelled Mr。 Damon。
Tom jammed on the brakes and shut off the current。 The auto came to
a sudden stop。 The young inventor turned the searchlight downward； to
illuminate the ground directly in front of the car。
〃Are we in the river？〃 asked Mr。 Sharp。
〃No；〃 replied Tom in great chagrin。 〃We're in a muddy ditch。 One at
the side of the road。 Wheels in over the hubs！ There should have been a
guard rail here。 We're stuck for fair！〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
CHAPTER XXIII
THE POWER GONE
〃Bless my overshoes！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃Stuck in the mud； eh？〃
〃Hard and fast；〃 added Tom； in disgust。
〃What's to be done？〃 inquired Mr。 Sharp。
〃I should say we'll have to stay here until daylight； and wait for some
other auto to come along and pull us out；〃 was Mr。 Damon's opinion。 〃It's
might unpleasant； too； for there doesn't seem to be any place around here
where we can spend the night in any kind of comfort。 If we had the
submarine or the airship； now； it wouldn't so much matter。〃
〃No； and this won't matter a great deal；〃 remarked the young inventor
quickly。 〃We'll soon be out of this； but it will be hard work。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 asked Mr。 Sharp。
〃I mean that we've got to pull ourselves out of this mud hole；〃
explained the lad； as he prepared to descend。 〃I was afraid something like
this would happen； so I came prepared for it。 I've got ropes and pulleys
with me； in the car。 We'll fasten the rope to the machine； attach one pulley
to the bridge； another to the car； and I guess we can get out of the mud。
We'll try； anyhow。〃
〃Well； I must say you looked pretty far ahead；〃 complimented Mr。
Damon。
From a box under the tonneau Tom took out a thin but strong rope and
two compound pulleys； which would enable considerable force to be
applied。 Mr。 Sharp detached one of the powerful oil lamps； and the three
travelers took a look at the auto。 It was indeed deep in the mud and it
seemed like a hopeless task to try to get it out unaided。 But Tom insisted
that they could do it； and the rope was soon attached； the hook of one
pulley being slipped around one of the braces of the bridge。
〃Now； all together！〃 cried the lad； as he and his friends grasped the
long rope。 They gave a great heave。 At first it seemed like pulling on a
stone wall。 The rope strained and the pulleys creaked。
〃Iguesswewillpullthebridgeover！〃 gasped Mr。 Sharp。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
〃Something's got to give way！〃 puffed Tom。 〃Now； once more！ All
together！〃
Suddenly they felt the rope moving。 The pulleys creaked still more and；
by the light of the lamp； they could see that the auto was slowly being
pulled backward； out of the mud； and onto the hard road。 In a few minutes
it was ready to proceed again。
The rope and pulleys were put away； and； after Tom had made an
examination of the car to see that it had sustained no damage； they were
off again； making good time to the hotel in Burgfield； where they spent the
night。 They had an early breakfast； and； as Tom went out to the barn to
look at his car； he saw it surrounded by a curious throng of men and boys。
One of the boys was turning some of the handles and levers。
〃Here！ Quit that！〃 yelled Tom； and the meddlesome lad leaped down
in fright。 〃Do you want to start the car and have it smash into something？〃
demanded the young inventor。
〃Aw； nothin' happened；〃 retorted the lad。 〃I pulled every handle on it；
an' it didn't move。'~
〃Good reason；〃 murmured Tom； for he had taken the precaution to
remove a connecting plug； without which the machine could not be
started。
The three were soon under way again； and covered many miles over
the fine country roads； the weather conditions being delightful。 On inquiry
they found that by taking an infrequently used highway； they could save
several miles。 It was over an unoccupied part of country； rather wild and
desolate； but they did not mind that。
They were whizzing along； talking of Tom's chances for winning the
race when； after climbing a slight grade； the auto came to a sudden stop on
the summit。
〃What's the matter？〃 asked Mr。 Sharp。 〃Why are you stopping here；
Tom？〃
〃I didn't stop；〃 was the surprising answer； and the lad shoved the
starting lever back and forth。
But there was no response。 There was no hum from the motor。 The
machine was 〃dead。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
〃That's queer；〃 murmured the young inventor
〃Maybe a fuse blew out；〃 suggested Mr。 Damon； that seeming to be his
favorite form of trouble。
〃If it had you'd have known it；〃 remarked Mr。 Sharp。
〃There's plenty of current in the battery； according to the registering
gauge； murmured the lad。 〃I can't understand it。〃 He reversed the current；
thinking the wires might have become crossed； but the machi