CHAPTER XXIII.
PETER FINDS A WAY "What's all this ?" asked Mr.Swiper, as the car came to a stop before the rope.
With hand shaking and heart thumping, but borne up by a towering resolve, Peter took his stand beside one of the front wheels.

"The--the road is--it's closed," he said, his voice trembling.

The hand which held the knife stole below the shiny mud-guard and rested on the smooth, unyielding rubber.

"The road is closed," he repeated.
Mr.Swiper climbed down out of the car, muttering an oath.

He looked apprehensively back along the road and being sure of no danger there he crossed the rope and advanced a few yards along the road to inspect it.
Peter was in the grip of terrible fear, fear at his own boldness.