“Confound you! What are you trying to do, beat me?” snapped Jack.
“That’s what I am.”
“Well, you’re not going to!”
Jack gave his wheel a sudden turn. His intention was to upset Bob. But the latter was too quick for him.
“Foul! Foul!” cried several who had seen the attempt.
The two passed the post set an eighth of a mile from the finish, neck and neck. Bob could see that Jack was almost winded. As for Bob, though in distress he still had some reserve strength.
Then, with a last final burst of speed, with a frenzied effort that sent the blood singing to his head, Bob passed his rival, and came under the tape a winner by two good lengths.
“Hurrah!” cried thousands.
“Hurrah!” cried Ned and Jerry, though Bob could not hear them.
And Bob, almost tumbling from his wheel, felt happier than he ever had in his life before. He had won the race.