broad, smooth road bordered with pleasant green elms.

They bowled along smoothly and silently with the car working as
perfectly as delicate clockwork. They had gone about a mile from the
house and were on a steep grade which the car took as easily as if it
had been going down hill, when their attention was attracted by a
sudden shout from the vicinity.

Jack brought the car to a halt. The voice came again.

"Hi! Help me! Ouch! Help!"

"What in the world is the matter now?" wondered Tom.

"Somebody in trouble in that field yonder. We'd better get out and see
what's up," proposed Jack.

The shouts seemed to issue from beyond a high bank at one side of the
road. On its summit was a hedge which prevented the boys seeing what
was going on in the field that lay beyond.

As they got out of the car, however, Jack spied a bicycle at one side
of the road. A satchel that he remembered very well was slung from its
frame.

"It's the professor in trouble again!" declared Jack.

"I do believe you are right," replied Tom as they scrambled up the
bank. "That's sure enough his wheel."