But tell me where we are ?" "Nearly at our journey's end, I take it," he replied grimly, suddenly slackening speed.

"There's a stationary car ahead there on the left, do you see?
That will be our friends, I expect, held up by petrol shortage, thanks to Jim Brady." Sara peered ahead, and on the edge of the broad ribbon of light that stretched in front of them she could discern a big car, drawn up to one side of the road, its headlights shut off, its side-lights glimmering warningly against its dark bulk.
Exactly as they drew level with it, Garth pulled up to a standstill.
Then a muttered curse escaped him, and simultaneously Sara gave vent to an exclamation of dismay.

The car was empty.
Garth sprang out and flashed a lamp over the derelict.
"Yes," he said, "that's Kent's car right enough." Sara's heart sank.
"What can have become of them ?" she exclaimed.

She glanced round her as though she half suspected that Kent and Molly might be hiding by the roadside.
Meanwhile Garth had peered into the tank and was examining the petrol cans stowed away in the back of the deserted car.
"Run dry!" he announced, coming back to his own car.

"That's what has happened." "And what can we do now ?" asked Sara despondently.
He laughed a little.
"Faint heart!" he chided.