ead was another
turn, and then came the bridge.

"I see him!" answered Joe. "Can you make it?"

"I'm going to!" declared Blake, closing his lips firmly.

Every little bump and stone in the road seemed magnified because
of the speed at which they were moving. But Blake held the long
handles firmly, and, once the curve was passed, he turned the
rubber grip that let a little more gasoline flow into the
carbureter to be vaporized and sprayed into the cylinders, where
the electric spark exploded it with a bang.

"We--are--going--some!" panted Joe.

"Got--to!" assented Blake, grimly.

On swayed the thundering, rattling motor cycle. The carriage top
had either been let down, or some of the supports had broken, and
it had fallen, and the boys could now plainly see the two men on
the seat. They had not jumped, but they had evidently given up
trying to make the horse stop by pulling on the one rein, for the
animal was speeding straight down the center of the road.

"We aren't catching up to him very fast!" howled Joe into Blake's
ear, and he had to howl louder than usual, for they were then
passing along a portion of the road densely shaded by trees. In
fact the branches of the trees met overhead in a thick arch, and
it was like going through a leafy tunnel.

This top bower of twigs and branches threw back the noise of the
explosions of the motor cycle, and made an echo, above which it
was almost impossible to make one's voice heard.

"Look out!" suddenly cried Blake. "Hold fast!"

At first Joe imagined that his chum was going to make another
curve in the road, but none was at hand. Then, as Blake watched
his chum's right hand, he saw him slowly turn the movable rubber
handle that controls the gasoline supply. Blake was turning on
more power, though now the machine was running at a higher rate
than Joe or Blake had ever traveled before.

With a jump like that of a dog released from the leash, the motor
cycle seemed to spring forward. Indeed Joe must needs hold on, and
as he was not so favorably seated as was his chum, it became a
matter of no little trouble to maintain a grip with his legs and
hands.

"We--sure--are--going--some!" muttered Joe. But he did not open
his mouth any more. It was too dangerous at the speed they had
attained. A jolt over a stone, or a bit of wood, might send his
teeth through his tongue if he parted his jaws. So he kept quiet.

Ahead of them the carriage swayed and swerved. The horse w