CHAPTER THREE THE START.
THE RAILROAD SPIKE A five o'clock call, though quite in accordance with orders, was received with some resentment and responded to reluctantly, the Professor remarking that it seemed but fair to give the slow-going sun a reasonable start as against the automobile.
About fifty minutes were given to a thorough examination of the machine.

Beyond the tightening of perhaps six or eight nuts there was nothing to do, everything was in good shape.

But there is hardly a screw or nut on a new automobile that will not require tightening after a little hard usage; this is quite in the nature of things, and not a fault.

It is only under work that every part of the machine settles into place.

It is of vital importance during the first few days of a long tour to go over every screw, nut, and bolt, however firm and tight they may appear.
In time many of the screws and nuts will rust and corrode in place so as to require no more attention, but all that are subjected to great vibration will work loose, soon or late.