“What a mean trick!” exclaimed Veve. “I’m ready to go home! Only I hate to climb all the way up this old mountain.”
Nearby stood a parked automobile. The driver sat behind the steering wheel with the engine running. However, he appeared to be waiting for someone and did not act as if he intended to start up the hill.
“Connie, I’ll show you how the boys hook onto the car bumpers,” Veve offered.
Before her friend could stop her, she darted to the parked car. The driver did not see her, for he was gazing in another direction.
“Just slip the rope over the bumper like this,” explained Veve. “It’s easy, Connie.”
Now Veve had no intention of riding up the hill. She only liked to think she could do anything the older boys did. Never once did it occur to her that the automobile might start suddenly forward.
Therefore, she was startled when, without warning, the motor speeded up. Smoke poured from the exhaust pipe at the rear. The car began to move slowly ahead.
“Oh, he’s driving off with your sled!” Connie cried in alarm.
“Hey, wait!” shouted Veve, running after the car.
Connie and Veve soon caught up, for the car climbed the hill slowly. But instead of unhooking the rope, Veve threw herself flat on the sled.
Connie raced alongside, urging Veve to unhook the sled.
“Not yet,” the other girl laughed. “I’m riding to the top.”
The car began to move faster, although it was still climbing. Connie fell behind. She was very worried for her friend.
The car reached the hilltop and went so fast Veve could not unfasten the sled rope.
Connie saw that her playmate might be carried away by the automobile. In a moment it would start downhill, and then Veve never could jump off without being hurt.
“Roll off!” she urged. “Roll off, quick!”
Veve did not want to lose her sled. She kept clinging to it, hoping the car would slow down. Instead, it picked up speed.
“Stop!” she shouted to the driver. “Stop the car!”
The man could not hear because the chains on the wheels were making a loud clanking noise.
“Help! Help!” screamed Veve, now thoroughly frightened.
The car whirled around a corner, with the girl clinging desperately to her sled.
By the time Connie reached the bend, Veve and the car were out of sight. For a minute she was so frightened she couldn’t think what to do.