[CHAPTER VI.]
THE HOMEMADE SPEEDER.
What Matt saw was an ordinary hand car equipped with a two-cylinder gasoline engine. Across one end of the car was a bench, tightly bolted to the framework; back of this was a shorter bench for the driver of the queer machine. The king of the motor boys examined the car with a good deal of curiosity. Power was communicated to the rear axle by chain and sprocket. The gasoline tank was under the driver's bench, and he unscrewed the cap and tested the fuel supply by means of a clean twig picked up from the shelf.
"Oh, she's loaded full," wheezed Bunce. "I filled her myself, not more'n ten minutes ago."
"Do you know anything about motors, Bunce?" inquired Matt, giving the mariner a sharp look.
"Ay, that I do—in a way. I can turn on the oil and the spark when I wants to start, an' I can cut 'em off an' jam on the brakes when I wants to stop. That's all ye got to know in runnin' these benzine machines."
"Where does this belong?"
"Track inspector owns it. Grattan an' me borried it." Bunce grinned. "When we're done with the machine, we'll give it back."
"We'll make a picture, pard," grumbled McGlory, "trailin' along with this tinhorn on a stolen speeder."