Jess, once the confines of the village were past, "let the car out." They sped along, chatting merrily. The roads about Sandy Bay were ideal for automobiling, and perhaps neither of the young occupants of the car noticed how fast they were going when the vehicle topped a small rise and began descending a long steep grade at the bottom of which the railroad, which approached on a curve, was visible in two shining parallel streaks of metal.
Suddenly there came a shrill, long drawn whistle.
"Hullo, a train!" exclaimed Roy. "Must be a freight; there's no regular passenger scheduled to run at this time of day."
"That's right," agreed Jess. "I guess I'll slow down a bit till we see how close it is to the crossing."
She pressed her foot on the brake pedal and shoved hard.
But to her astonishment there was no diminution in the speed of the car. It plunged forward down the hill, gaining impetus every second.
"Better slow up, Jess," warned Roy, who had not noticed the girl grow white and faint, as the possibility of what might occur if she could not control the car flashed before her.
"The emergency brake!" almost shouted Roy. Below them he had seen a swiftly moving column of white smoke. It was the approaching train. Now it whistled once more. That meant it was close upon the crossing toward which the car was racing at terrific speed.
"I've--I've tried it. It's jammed or something! Oh, Roy! the train!"
Before she could say any more Roy had risen from his seat, and gently, but firmly, removed the girl's trembling hands from the steering wheel. With might and main he tried to check the car. But all he did was in vain. Drops of perspiration stood out upon his forehead. Jess, utterly unnerved, sank back in her seat and hid her face with her gloved hands.
Above the roar of the on-dashing car could be heard the sharp puffing of the approaching locomotive. Roy tugged as if he would tear his muscle out at the brake lever, but it refused to budge. A sort of desperate coolness came over him. But Jess, who had uncovered her eyes for an instant, gave a sudden shrill scream.
"Oh, we'll be killed! Look,--the train! We'll crash into it!"
"Sit down, Jess," ordered Roy, sternly, for the excited girl had seemed to be on the point of jumping from the car as it swayed and bumped toward what seemed certain annihilation, at a terrific rate.