“Look at that old man! Right in the path of the engine! The horses’ll be on him in a minute!”
“That’s right!” chimed in Bob, from the rear seat. “Hi there! Get out the way!” he yelled. “Don’t you see the engine?”
Certainly the man at the side of the road, standing in the full glare of an arc electric light, ought to have heard the rattle of the runaway engine, even if he did not see it, though the place was well illuminated, and there was then no other vehicle in sight, save the automobile of the motor boys. There was something familiar about the odd figure, but neither Ned, Bob nor Jerry had time just then to look closely enough to make out who it was.
“What’s he doing?” asked Jerry, as he skillfully guided his machine and turned on a little more speed, for he was nearing the engine, and wanted to be in a position to stop the runaway horses if he could.
“He seems to be picking up something off the ground, under the light,” went on Ned. “Get out the way! Get out the way!” he yelled.
Then, for the first time, the little man at the side of the street seemed aware of what was going on.
“Look at him!” cried Jerry.
“He’s right in the way of the horses!” added Ned.
“And he’s going to try to stop ’em!” came from Bob. “Oh, boy! what’ll happen to him?”