The Motor Boys on the Pacific | Page 9

the turn!"
"Neither are we!" cried Jerry fiercely. "Quick boys! All of you get out
on the inside step! Crouch down! That will help hold us as we go
around the bank, or, otherwise, we'll go over."
They all knew what he meant. By hanging out on the runboard or step,
nearest the inside of the track, more weight would be added to that side
of the car. It was what automobilists call "shifting the center of
gravity," and aids in preventing spills.
Giving one glance to see that the boys were in their places, Jerry
grasped the steering wheel firmly, and sent the car at the dangerous turn
at full speed. Noddy was doing the same, but he had not thought of
having any of his passengers hang out on the step.
"Look out now, boys!" called Jerry, as they took the turn.
"Swing out as far as you can, boys, but hang down low!" called Tom
Jennings, who had been in races before.
Even with this precaution, and aided as they were by the chains on the
rear wheels, the red car skidded or slewed so that Jerry thought it was
going over. But it did not. By the narrowest margin it kept on the bank.
Not so, however, with Noddy's green dragon. As soon as his car struck
the turn it began to skid. He would not shut off his power, but kept on
the high gear, and with the engine going at top speed.
There was a cry of alarm, and then the green car left the track, mounted
the bank, slid over the top, and came to a halt in a pool of mud and
water on the other side of the field. It went fifty yards before Noddy
could stop it.
"Go on! Go on!" yelled Ned. "We win! We win!"
Jerry had all he could do to hold the steering wheel of his slewing car,
but, by gripping it desperately, he swung it into place, and the red

machine started up the home stretch, crossing the tape a winner, for it
was the only car left on the track.
A burst of cheers greeted it, and men crowded up to shake hands with
the plucky boys.
"Glad you beat the 'mud lark,'" said the owner of the yellow machine,
thus giving Noddy's car a name that stuck to it for some time. "That
Nixon chap thought he was going to walk over every one. You taught
him a much-needed lesson."
Nothing was talked of in the hotel that night but the race, and the motor
boys were the heroes of the occasion. Noddy did not appear, and it was
learned that he had to hire men and teams to get his car out of the mud.
The motor boys started for home the next day, and thought they were
going to make it in good time, but they had a tire accident on the road,
when about twenty-five miles away, and decided to stay in the nearest
village over night, as they had no spare shoe for the wheel.
As they left their car by the roadside, and tramped into the town, to
send word to the nearest garage, they saw a cloud of dust approaching.
"Here comes a car," said Bob. "Maybe we can get help."
As the machine drew nearer they saw that it was painted green, and, a
moment later, Noddy Nixon had brought his auto to a stop, and was
grinning at them.
"Had a break-down, eh?" he asked. "That's a fine car you have, ain't
it?"
"We can beat you!" exclaimed Ned.
"Yes you can! Not in a thousand years if I hadn't gone off the track!
Want any help? Well, you'll not get it, see? Bye-bye! I'll tell 'em you're
coming," and, with an ugly leer, the bully started off.
"I wouldn't take help from him if I had to walk ten miles without my

supper," said Bob firmly, and that was a strong saying for the stout
youth.
The motor boys found a good hotel in the village, and the next day,
when their car had been repaired, they resumed their journey, arriving
at home about noon.
"There's some mail for you, Jerry," said Mrs. Hopkins, as her son came
in, after putting the auto in the barn. "It's from California. I didn't know
you knew any one out there."
"Neither did I, mother. We'll see who it's from."
He tore open the letter, read it hurriedly, and gave a cry of mingled
delight and surprise.
"It's from Nellie Seabury!" he said. "She says they are in lower
California, traveling about, looking for a good place to stay at for a few
months for their father's health. When they locate she wants-- that is Mr.
Seabury-- wants us