This was agreeable to the boys and they prepared for the start with their unknown rivals. They all came up to the line opposite the judges’ stand in good formation.
“Go!” shouted the youth in the blue sweater.
Each contestant turned more power into his motor and the machines whizzed around the track in good time. It was easy to see that the two strangers were trying to get a “line” on the speeds of the motors of the three chums.
Both of the youths who had been so anxious for the sprint watched with eager eyes every motion of Bob, Ned and Jerry. But the latter, under the direction of Jerry, did not operate their motors at top speed. This was what the strangers wanted. They desired to see just how fast the machines of the Cresville boys could go, so as to know what sort of competitors they would have when the big event came on.
All the efforts of the two schemers to get either of our three heroes to “make pace” for them failed. Bob, Ned and Jerry just went around easily, sometimes taking the lead, and again dropping behind. The impromptu race was finally ended with the motors running about three-quarters speed, and Jerry and Ned just a little in the lead.
“You two win!” cried the youth in the blue sweater. “Pretty good machines you have there.”
“They’ll do,” agreed Jerry, determined that the strangers should not find out that they had been suspected. “And we went at a pretty good clip, while it lasted.”
“No doubt,” commented the lad in the blue sweater. Plainly the two plotters were disappointed. They had not succeeded in taking the speed-measure of the three chums.
The track was now well filled with those practicing for the coming race. More than a score were scooting around on their machines. Few motors were as fine and complete as those of the three chums and not many had the double cylinder improvement.