of escape. Therefore he stopped and
surrendered.

Jack and his two companions sprang at once from their own car and ran
quickly, glad of the chance to loosen their tired and aching muscles,
stiff, sore and cramped from the confinement in one position that the
wild race had forced, toward the group that was gathered around the
captured car. Colonel Abbey, himself, the type of a true cavalry leader,
was questioning the prisoners.

"I'm Captain Beavers, of the regular army," said the man who had driven
the car, "detached from my regiment to serve on the staff of General
Bliss. We were returning from a scouting trip in our car when we ran
into this machine, and we chased it. The driver certainly knew his roads
better than I did. I haven't had any idea for the last forty minutes of
where we were going--I could only see the car ahead, and do all I could
to catch it."

"How are you, Danby?" said Colonel Abbey, trying to hide a smile.
"You'll excuse me, Captain, but you remind me a little of the dog that
chased the railroad train. You know the old story about the farmer who
watched him do it, and, when he got tired, turned around and said: 'What
in tarnation do you reckon he'd do with that engine if he caught it?'"

Beavers laughed a bit ruefully.

"Something in that, Colonel!" he admitted. "I suppose it was a good deal
like chasing a bird to put salt on its tail. But it was sheer instinct
with us--nothing more. We saw that car start up, and we chased it. A
fine lot of trouble it's got us into, too! But I guess we'd do the same
thing again, probably."

"Any of us would, Captain," said Abbey. "Don't feel bad about it. We'll
have to impound your car, but if you'll give me your parole, I'll be
glad to give you the run of the camp."

"Thank you," said Captain Beavers. "I say, I'd like to see the man who
led me that chase. I had an idea that I knew something about driving a
fast car, but he can show me lots of things I never knew at all."

Suddenly his eye fell upon Jack Danby, whose hands gave abundant
evidence that he was the chauffeur. The captain's jaw dropped and he
stared at the Scout in amazement.

"You don't mean to tell me that it was you who was driving that car?" he
gasped, finally.

"Permit me," said Colonel Abbey, smiling. "Scout Jack Danby, of
Durland's Troop, Captain, and the operator of our first scout automobile
ever since these maneuvers began."

"Well, I'll be jiggered!" said Beavers, speaking slowly