nd immediately commenced to spin along the roadway.

There was a sudden spiteful crack from the rear, and Josh ducked his
head involuntarily as he heard some object whistle past close to his
ears.

"Wow! they're trying to wing me, for a fact!" he whooped, at the same
time bending low in his saddle, so as to present as little body surface
as possible to the aim of the one who was doing the firing.

Several more shots rang out, sounding like the popping of champagne
corks. Doubtless the marksman, no other than Jules himself, was more or
less excited, and although he might be a clever shot under ordinary
conditions, just then he failed to accomplish anything.

So Josh rolled away, waving his hand derisively when he felt that he was
safe beyond pistol shot. The boy was trembling all over, though
hilarious concerning the wonderful success of the little plan which Rod
had conceived, and left to him to carry out.

"You've got to have your eye-teeth cut when you run afoul of the Big
Five Motorcycle Boys, and don't forget that!" he shouted over his
shoulder, as he sped along; although of course the outwitted pursuers
could hardly have caught the words, and even if they did might not
understand their import.

Rod and Hanky Panky had halted half a mile further on, watching to see
what happened. It might be they meant to turn back, and come to the
assistance of their comrade, should Fate play a scurvy trick on Josh, so
that he fell into the hands of the enemy.

When they saw him mounting and caught the familiar music of his engine's
exhaust, the muffler being open, both Rod and Hanky Panky felt like
giving shouts of exultation, for they had already discovered that the
two men were having some difficulty with their car, after Josh had
"fiddled" with the same.

Then came the shots, and of course they felt a new anxiety lest Josh be
brought to grief through this means.

"Look at him leaning low over his handlebars, will you?" cried Hanky
Panky, lost in admiration over the smart way Josh was accomplishing the
trick, which perhaps he had seen riders in the Wild West Show do when
pursued by Indians of the plains.

"It's all right, and Josh has saved the day for us!" exclaimed Rod,
beaming with gratification. "Jules will begin to wonder what sort of
boys they raise over in the States, when he finds out what happened."

"But what did Josh do to the car, Rod?"

"You'll have to ask him," replied the other, "though I suspect he