While the children watched, he ripped off four more pickets. The
cross pieces of the fence were old and rotten and when he put his
foot on the lower brace and bore down heavily, it obligingly
snapped in two.

"I'm going to ride right through that hole!" Bobby condescended to
explain at last. "Daddy drove our car right in between three
trees, and I'll bet I can steer through a narrow place, too. You
watch."

Breathless the boys and girls stood back while Bobby pushed his
automobile to a point he considered a proper distance from the
opening in the fence. He took his seat, put his foot on the
pedals, and tooted the horn.

"Here I go!" he cried, making his feet fly.

The car shot forward and, much to the surprise of every one except
Bobby, went through the hole in the pickets safely and on out into
the muddy lot.

"Pretty good steering," said Palmer Davis generously.

"Let me try," begged Meg. "I can steer, Bobby."

Meg always did everything Bobby did, and it never entered his head
to refuse her. So she took the automobile, and, holding the wheel
tightly, pedaled through the hole, though more slowly than Bobby
had done. Palmer Davis was wild to try his skill, but Meg insisted
on two rides and when she had finished the second one the warning