But, fortunately, the damage to the large car was not great, for as
she saw that a collision was inevitable, Cora had quickly shifted
the wheel, and but a glancing blow had been struck. A mud guard was
torn from the Whirlwind. Only Cora's plucky driving, and her
emergency stop, had prevented a worse accident.

"Well," remarked Sid in a strange voice, "we're alive, at any rate."

"Yes," added Bess sharply, "and no thanks to somebody, either."

"If you mean me--" began Sid, the color flaming into his face.

"Look at your radiator!" suddenly exclaimed Walter. "It's sprung a
leak!"

A stream of water, trickling down from the front of the Streak
testified to this. A piece of the broken fence rail had jammed into
the radiator, puncturing several coils and bending others out of
place.

"No more go in her," observed Sid ruefully. "We'll have to be towed
back home."

"Is your car damaged much, Cora?" asked Walter, for the girl had
leaped out and was critically examining the auto.

"Only the mud guard," she replied as she reached up to the steering
wheel, touched the levers and shut off the engine.