Kilborn’s face turned an angry red at hearing this taunt.
“I know as much about running a bus as you do!” he retorted.
“You don’t seem to!” fired back Tom. “After this you keep your distance!”
“Aw, you don’t know what you’re talking about!” sneered Kilborn.
“Don’t I?” retorted Tom. “Well I think I do! And, what’s more, I have a strong suspicion that you wouldn’t have cared much if you had crashed into me. It would have given you a chance to take off ahead of me. But you didn’t pull your trick, did you?”
“I wasn’t trying any trick!” snapped Kilborn. “And if you accuse me of——”
“I’m not exactly accusing you,” broke in the young inventor. “But I have my suspicions and I’m going to watch you. Don’t forget that your tool Hussy and the fellow with him are still in jail!”
“I don’t know anything about Hussy!” stormed the owner of the Red Arrow.
“I think you do,” was Tom’s reply. “But keep away from me and my machine—that’s all I ask. I can beat you in a fair race, and I don’t want any dirty work, nor will I stand for it!”
Tom turned and went back in his ship. The talk was in English of course, and few of the Portuguese who had gathered about to view the strange craft knew what it was about.