They emerged on the other side. For some time they had a clear run.
Then suddenly the driver clapped on his brakes.

"My God!" he cried. "We can't get through that!"

In front of them for more than a hundred yards the water seemed
suddenly to have flowed across the road. Still a mile distant,
perched on a ridge of that strangely-placed hill, was their
destination.

"It can't be done, sir!" the man groaned. "There isn't a car ever
built could get through that. See, it's nearly up to the top of
those posts. I must put her in the reverse and get back, even if
we have to wait on the higher part of the road for a boat."

He glanced behind, and a second cry broke from his lips. Gerald
stood up in his place. Already the road which had been clear a
few minutes before was hidden. The water was washing almost over
the tops of the white posts behind them. Little waves were breaking
against the summit of the raised bank.

"We're cut off!" the chauffeur exclaimed. "What a fool I was to
try this! There's the tide coming in as well!"

Gerald sat down in his place.

"Look here," he said, "we can't go back, whether we want to or not.
It's much worse behind there than it is in front. There's only one
chance. Go for it straight ahead in your first speed. It may not
stop the engine. In any case, it will be worse presently. There's