Professor Dempsey insisted on seeing them safely back to the road
although they protested that there was absolutely no need of it.

"There are two or three paths that lead to the road," he explained, as
he flung wide the door, letting in a flood of sunshine, "and I
wouldn't have you lose your way for the world-- not for the world!"

The woodland was beautiful after the rain, and the girls sniffed the
fragrant air eagerly as they followed Professor Dempsey along the
path. It was not till they had almost reached the road that Mollie had
a disquieting thought.

"How do we know but what we're stuck here for good?" she asked the
girls. "The car stopped dead, you remember, just under that horrible
tree, and I'm sure I don't know what in the world made it. If I can't
find out the trouble----"

"Oh, but you've got to find it," protested Grace, while Betty and Amy
looked worried. "We can't stay here all night, and it may be a dozen
miles to the nearest garage."

"I know that just as well as you do," grumbled Mollie. "But if I
can't, I can't, that's all."

By this time they had reached the road and Mollie went straight to the
car. While she and Betty were trying to find out what was wrong the
other two girls and Professor Dempsey looked on anxiously.

"Well, as far as I can see there is absolutely nothing wrong with it,"
snapped Mollie at last, lifting a face flushed with exertion. "Get in,