“The boat race nearly killed me,” growled the big fellow. “Give me a chance to recover.”
As for Hans, he wanted to stop and eat five or six times in every twenty-four hours.
“Dot draining vos make me empty by mine heels up,” he declared. “You could eat me mine own head off alretty, ain’t it?”
On one occasion Frank felt like spurting ahead and did so. He was quickly joined by Barney, and the two kept it up until they were well out of sight of the rest of the crowd.
“Sure an’ this tickles me to death,” observed Barney. “Me wheel acts loike grased lightning, bedad!”
“I love a spurt myself,” replied Frank. “Especially when my wheel is just in proper trim.”
They had passed over a slight rise and were now on a down grade where coasting became a double pleasure. There was a wood on either side of the road, with great trees interlocking their branches high overhead.
“Listen!” cried Frank, presently. “What is that?”
“Sure an’ somebody is gettin’ a drubbin’,” replied Barney. “Come on, we’ll see who it is!”
“Confound the beast!” came the cry from a curve ahead. “I will teach the beast how to mind!”