The Motor Boys on the Pacific | Page 7

have a "tryout," and,
though none of them seemed as speedy as Noddy's new machine, there
was no talk of dropping out on the part of those who had entered. That
gave the boys more courage, and they decided to stick, even though
their chances were not good.
Noddy did not speak to them, though he passed them several times. Nor
did he appear very popular with the other autoists. He had several
young men with him, and they made things rather lively about the hotel,
occasionally giving what seemed to be college yells.
"They're regular 'rah-rah' boys," said Bob, in contempt.

Early that afternoon just before the race Bob, Jerry and Ned spent an
hour in going over their car, making some adjustments, and seeing that
the tires were in good shape. Almost at the last minute Jerry decided to
put the non-skidding chains on the rear wheels.
"Those turns, which are not banked much, are dangerous," he said, "I'm
not going to take any chances. We don't want to turn turtle."
There was much activity about the hotel as the hour for the contest
arrived. Noddy's car seemed the finest of the six that lined up at the
starting tape. The motor boys had drawn a position next to the bully
and his cronies.
Noddy glanced contemptuously at them.
"You must think it's winter, putting chains on," he remarked to Jerry,
who had been chosen to steer.
"It may be a cold day for somebody before we get through," was all
Jerry replied.
"You haven't the ghost of a show," called one of Noddy's companions.
"You'll think you're standing still when we start."
The others laughed at this joke, and Noddy seemed pleased. There was
a short consultation among the judges and other officials, and, a
moment later, a white puff of smoke was seen hovering above the
uplifted revolver of the starter. Then came a sharp crack, and the
panting machines, the engines of which had been put in motion some
time previous, started off together, as the drivers threw in the high
speed gears.
The race, which was truly a dangerous contest, was on, and, with eager
eyes the motor boys looked ahead on the course.
CHAPTER III
NEWS FROM THE WEST

THE track was a half-mile one, and, as the length of the race was five
miles it would be necessary to make ten laps or circuits. The course
was in the shape of an ellipse, with rather sharp turns at either end,
where the contestants, if they did not want a spill, or a bad skid, must
slacken their pace. It was on the two straight stretches that speed could
be made.
At the report of the pistol Noddy's car shot off as an arrow from a bow,
the explosions of the cylinders sounding like a small battery of
quick-firing guns in action. But the others were after him, the five cars
bunched together, that of the motor boys a little behind the other four.
"We've got to catch him, Jerry," whispered Bob.
"Easier said than done," replied Jerry, as he shoved the gasolene lever
over a trifle, and advanced the spark, thereby increasing the speed of
the car. "Noddy's got a powerful machine."
"They should have had a handicap on this race," said Tom Jennings, the
young man whom the hotel clerk had asked to be a fourth passenger in
the motor boys' car, so that the conditions of the contest would be met.
"It's not fair to have a high power auto race one of two cylinders."
"Ours has four," spoke Ned. "Of course its not as up-to-date as Noddy's
is, but--"
"We'll beat him!" exclaimed Bob. "We've done it before and we can do
it again."
"I'm afraid not," went on Tom. "That big green car of his will go ahead
of anything on this track."
And so it seemed, for Noddy was spinning around the course at fearful
speed, his car looking like a green streak.
"Let's see how he takes the turn," suggested Bob. "He'll have to slow up
if he doesn't want a spill."

Noddy was wise enough to do this, though even at the reduced speed at
which he went around the bank, his rear wheels skidded rather
alarmingly.
But Jerry was not idle during this time. As he found his car responding
to the increase of gasolene and the advanced spark, he shoved the
levers still further over. The auto shot forward, distancing the yellow
car immediately in front of it, passing one with an aluminum body and
closely approaching a purple auto which was behind Noddy.
Suddenly a loud explosion sounded back of the motor boys.
"There goes a tire!" exclaimed Bob.
"Hope it isn't one of yours," said Tom.
"If it was you'd be sliding along the