you?" demanded Andy indignantly of his
crony. "Do you want to--"

"I wish I'd never come with you," went on Sam, who was beginning to be
frightened.

"Come now. Start up that machine and haul the log out of the way,"
demanded Tom again.

"I won't do it!" retorted the red-haired lad impudently.

"Yes, you will," insisted our hero, and he took a step toward the
bully. They were out of the clump of bushes now and in the roadside
ditch. "You let me alone," almost screamed Andy, and in his baffled
rage he rushed at Tom, aiming a blow.

The young inventor quickly stepped to one side, and, as the bully
passed him, Tom sent out a neat left-hander. Andy Foger went down in a
heap on the grass.

CHAPTER V

A TEST OF SPEED

Whether Tom or Andy was the most surprised at the happening would be
hard to say. The former had not meant to hit so hard and he certainly
did not intend to knock the squint-eyed youth down. The latter's fall
was due, as much as anything, to his senseless, rushing tactics and to
the fact that he slipped on the green grass. The bully was up in a
moment, however, but he knew better than to try conclusions with Tom
again. Instead he stood out of reach and spluttered:

"You just wait, Tom Swift! You just wait!"

"Well, I'm waiting," responded the other calmly.

"I'll get even with you," went on Andy. "You think you're smart
because you got ahead of me, but I'll get square!"

"Look here!" burst out the young inventor determinedly, taking a step
toward his antagonist, at which Andy quickly retreated, "I don't want
any more of that talk from you, Andy Foger. That's twice you've made
threats against me to-day. You put that log across the road, and if
you try anything like it for your second attempt I'll make you wish you
hadn't. That applies to you, too, Sam," he added, glancing at the
other lad.

"I--I ain't gone' to do nothin'," declared Sam.

"I told Andy not to put that tree--"

"Keep still, can't you!" shouted the bully. "Come on. We'll get even
with him, that's all," he muttered as he went back into the bushes
where the auto was. Andy cranked up and he and his crony getting into
the car were about to start off.

"Hold on!" cried Tom. "You'll take that log from across the road or
I'll have you arrested for obstructing traffic, and that's a serious
offense."

"I'm goin' to take it away!" growled Andy. "Give a fellow a show can't
you?"

He cast an ugly look at Tom,