"Don't you ever find fault with me again for doing a trick like
I played."
"What trick was that?" questioned Billy.
"Never mind. That's my secret. It isn't any of your affair," grumbled Teddy.
"Teddy, you get on the back platform. Keep your hand on the
brake wheel every second of the time. Keep your ears open.
When I jerk once sharply on the bell rope set the brakes tight.
If I jerk it twice, just apply them a little to steady the car."
"Pull the bell rope? Huh! There isn't any bell."
"I know that, but you can hear the rope slap the top of the platform roof when I pull it. Now, get back there. Don't call out to me, but attend to your business. I'll pull the cord when I am ready for you to release the brake. We must get away from here in a hurry."
Teddy hopped from the platform and ran to the rear, where he awaited the signal.
Phil's plan was a daring one. For twenty-five miles the road fell away at a sharp downgrade of sixty feet to the mile and in some places even greater. In one spot, as has already been stated, there was a sharp up-grade for a short distance.
It was Phil's purpose to coast the twenty-five miles in order to reach the next stand in time for the day's work. It was a risky undertaking. Besides the danger of a possible collision with an extra sent over the road, there was the added danger of the car getting beyond their control and toppling over into a ditch.
The Circus Boy had weighed all these chances well before starting on his undertaking.