“Nor I, either,” agreed Sam; “conceited young ninnies! If we can only find out what they are up to with Mr. Peregrine, maybe we’ll find a way.”
It may be as well to say here, as these boys leave our story for the present, that like most bullies, they were cowards, too, and when they heard nothing in town to indicate that Jack and Tom had told of their mishap, they decided to allow all their threats to stand as “bluff,” and to let well enough alone for the immediate future, at least so far as the Boy Inventors were concerned.
CHAPTER V—THE YELLOW AUTO
Jack and Tom sped along on their way to Nestorville pleasantly enough, but just as they were entering the little town there came a sudden ominous cracking sound from the rear of the machine.
“Something’s smashed!” exclaimed Tom, as Jack quickly brought the car to a standstill.
“That’s right,” agreed Jack; “just get out and see what it is, will you, Tom?”
But Tom was already out of the machine. Down on his knees in the dust he got, and soon found out what had happened.
“A stay rod has parted,” he announced; “it’s that one we welded. I guess we didn’t use heat enough.”
“Glad it’s nothing worse,” rejoined Jack; “we’ll make a stop at the blacksmith’s and get it rewelded; he has a machine for that purpose.”
“Wonder how long that will take?” questioned Tom, who had given a glance up at the sky.