CHAPTER IV

UNDER THE TWIN HEMLOCKS

“Say, ain’t this going-some, for a rough road?” called Bluff, who was pounding along close behind Jerry, Will bringing up the rear.

“Beats everything I ever did on wheels—­wow! that was a scorcher of a jolt!  I hope none of the wheels break down!” answered the other, over his shoulder; but he dared not take his eyes off the uneven “tote” road which they were following, for more than a second at a time, lest some unfriendly root hurl him into the ditch, a wreck.

“See anything of ’em, Frank?” wheezed Jerry a bit later, as he kept his machine close behind the leader; for somehow in this race for the campsite Frank just naturally forged to the front from mere force of habit.

“Thought I had a peep of something moving ahead—­soon know,” came the answer.

Some more jumping followed, and it required considerable agility on the part of the four riders to keep their saddles.

Then they made a turn, and discovered three boys in full flight ahead.

“There they are!” cried Jerry, in excitement.

“How far ahead is the spring?” called Frank.

“About half a mile, I reckon.”

“Good!  Then the game is ours, barring accidents!”

The three fellows ahead kept turning around every dozen seconds, as if worried at the rapid approach of the others.

“Keep your eyes peeled; they’re hatching up some sort of mischief!” called Frank, who knew the signs.

He saw that the others began to wobble in their movements, which was plain evidence that they had tired themselves out by their night tramp, and were in no condition to compete with the motorcycles, even on this rough stretch of road.

The tall, athletic-looking leader of the trio suddenly jumped aside, and stooped over as if snatching something from the ground.

“’Ware, hawks!” shouted Bluff, who had noted this maneuver.

It could now be easily seen that Pet Peters had fastened upon quite a cumbersome branch of a fallen tree, and his purpose was manifest when he stepped out as if to drop it across the road, meaning to wreck the machines as they swept on.

Frank changed his course just a trifle, but was now heading straight for the unprincipled schemer, who would have taken the chances of seriously injuring some of the party in order to further his own plans.

The sight of that heavy motor-cycle heading straight at him rather demoralized Pet, who did not know but that Frank meant to chase him until he got him; so that he dropped the branch before he had quite covered the entire space across the narrow road, and made a wild leap for safety.

Consequently, Frank was able to veer aside and skim past the dangerous obstruction without coming a “cropper” in the ditch.

Jerry also swept by, and the others were coming so fast on the heels of the two leaders that the bewildered roughs could not pull their wits together in time to make any successful swoop.