board walk. They were all having their hands full
accomplishing the task, however, for the automobile enthusiasts began to
get restless as the time for the start of the races drew near.

At five minutes after eleven the band on the recreation pier, which had
been blaring forth popular airs for an hour, ceased, and a moment later
the judges made their appearance on the beach. This was a signal for
prolonged cheering on the part of the crowd. But the noise stopped When
a single individual carrying a black and white flag stepped out into the
course and began wigwagging. He was signaling to another individual at
the garages, who in turn transmitted his signal to the starting line in
the dim distance down the beach.

"That means everything is ready. The first car will start in a moment,"
said Jiminy Gordon nervously.

Every one was gazing down the beach, where a tiny black blotch on the
sand marked the dozen or more racing cars held ready for the start. Then
when every one was waiting tense and silent--boom! came the muffled echo
of the starting gun. --They're off! cried the crowd, and far, far down
the beach the scouts could see the tiniest black speck coming toward
them. Soon they heard a curious far-off drone which developed quickly
into a grumble, then into a fusillade of loud bangs as the racing car
approached. The scouts were all on their feet now, nervous and
expectant.

"Osterhout, the German," cried the spectators, as the long, low racer
drew near.

Then almost before the scouts could wink, it had roared past, its hood
enveloped in blue flames and its driver bending low over the steering
gear.

"Gee whiz!" was all that the amazed scouts could say when the big car
roared across the line.

A brief but tense silence followed the finish of the run, for the crowd
waited while the judges, by means of an elaborate system of telephone
communicated with the starters, fixed the time. Presently, however, the
huge scoreboard on the recreation pier displayed: Osterhout, two minutes
34 seconds. This announcement was greeted by a roar, for the German had
equaled the world record for five miles.

"Cracky," cried Jimmy Gordon, "Dan Dacy will have to go some to beat
that. Just think, if Osterhout had been one-fifth of a second faster
he'd have smashed the world's record. Gosh, I wish--"

Boom! Here comes another one!

Silence reigned in the vast crowd again and every eye followed the black
speck. "Du Blon,