can run away from a forty-mile-an-hour eng

ent. "Think of my old machine behaving so decent, would you! Why, she runs as smooth as grease-bett

r eyes glued on the little comedy that

eeding motorcycle must be rapidly overhauling him. No need to turn his head

kip out!" shriek

trilbies along the road to slow up. Hope he don't run s

es! Hoopla!"

d like it from a distance. Then he fell over on the ground, and rolled into the bushes, as

rake, for he quickly came to a stop cl

tarted to hasten along the road, Nat apparently forgetting that he mig

ly to satisfy his desire for revenge. He seemed to be bending over the motorcycle, as though invest

in style?" demanded Toby. "Hit up your old i

ever once occurred to him, he was so busy thinki

d; and as it started, Toby managed to hang on in som

engine going, after dropping the rest at the rea

k all right!"

in the gas tank, and that can be easily pounded out la

Nat, glaring around at the neighboring woods, in the depths of which no doubt t

he road. He just saw a chance to steal something that he really had no use for, and co

lief of the concealed tramp, who had begun to fear that he had sti

e machines humming merrily, they

over his shoulder to To

d'ye mean?" ans

ourteen miles, about, from

ke any move to sto

any later news than what Hen Condit gave us. And we want

g like a greased pig. That shake-up must have been just what the old buster nee

tless he lived in perpetual fear of something new springing a surprise on him. A motorcycle, once it

tly, after they had covered another lo

occupied the middle of the road, and seemed to act as th

o great difficulty in recognizing Landy's cousin, Georg

st of terms with the world in general, though th

made up their minds not to bother about who won the great hike;

waved their hands, evidently recognizing Elmer in the lead. Then th

slow up, as he meant to do that same, and did

e?" shouted both the wal

he had anticipated such a question, an

Angus McDowd, who look

ead, Elmer?" called George

ast accounts, b

outed; for Angus was so tired himself t

of us, hey?"

eorge," answered Toby as he f

rs how the hope of the Philander Smiths has gon

though throwing something at his tormentor;

er along the road they

her dangerously close in the rear of the leader, because

down, and that's a

opsey, and he's trying to put a plug in his tire. He'

drew near, and shook his

seem to fix her!" he called, a

obstinate break; but Elmer had other fish to fry just then, and time was too valuable

oor Tom, marooned so far away from

ers at any minute now, and every time he turned a bend he loo

s he m

stout stick, which he had stopped to cut, assisting him. At first Elmer thought

lled Elmer, who had slowed down considerably, so as to give

," answered the other, who turned out to be Jack A

miles," answered

h Toby and Nat as they went by and doubtless cast an envious look at the machines that were ca

alkers more than anything that had come his way for a long time; it is always so nice to spi

ight beyond," said To

he rider in the rear, whose view was

a little like our Ty C

eater of his," Elmer announced; "and he's got a fine

. He stiffened up to salute, game to the last, and chasi

he had been walking along in this way, de

o had the authority to order anyone out of the rac

, as it released him from all further respon

er do, Elmer?"

to-night. Some one come for you in mo

Nat. Who's winning? That fast Fairfield fellow,

miles ahead of h

ge troop! Bully for Lil Artha!" they

ead out along the road to Little Falls, covering many miles from the l

d Toby a little later, after they had passed the t

him wabble, would you! Wow, he can't do

d. As he swept past Phil called out something, but Elmer failed to catch what

now fast coming to the point where a crisis would be waiting for them. Twenty-seven miles from Hickory R