Ned gazed with straining eyes. Certainly Bob seemed to be increasing his speed. He was sixth from the last. Another lap was reeled off. Bob crept up two more places.
“Bang!” went the gun. The red flag was waved. There were two more laps and the race would be over.
“He’s got to do something quick now!” exclaimed Jerry.
“And I’ll bet he’s going to do it!” exclaimed Ned as Bob swept past, a look of determination on his face.
Then, while the big crowd looked on, almost holding its breath, something happened. Bob turned the levers of his machine with a quick motion. He shot forward on his machine as an arrow leaves a bow. Outside and around the bunch of riders he swept! Past the two confident leaders he went! Up ahead to the very front he forged while a mighty shout went up!
“If he can only keep it!” cried Ned, and his voice had something of agony in it.
And keep it Bob did. He held his place the rest of that lap and during the next, though he was close pressed, and swept across the line a winner!
“He wins this heat! I wonder if he wins the race!” cried Jerry.
Their doubts were set at rest a minute later. The announcer, with his big megaphone invited silence with uplifted hand.