“Think we’re catching up?” asked Bob, as Jerry cautiously fed the engine a little more gasolene.

“Well, we’re holding our own,” was the answer of the steersman, “and I think we’re catching up to the yellow car again.  If we pass that I’m not so sure but what we can come in a close second to Noddy.”

“I don’t want to come in second,” spoke up Ned.  “I want to beat him.”

“So do I,” replied Jerry, “but it’s not going to be so easy.  Our car’s doing well, but we can’t expect wonders of it.”

“The race isn’t over until you’re at the finish tape,” said Tom Jennings.  “Keep on, boys, I’d like to see that Nixon chap beaten.  He thinks he owns the earth.”

For two miles there was no change in the position of the cars.  Then slowly, very slowly, Jerry saw that his red machine was overtaking the yellow car.  Inch by inch it crept up, the steersman of the rival car doing his best but failing to get more speed out of the engine.

“Too bad we have to pass you!” cried Jerry, as he careened past the yellow machine.

“That’s all right,” sung out the steersman good-naturedly.  “Beat that other one, if you can.”

“We’re going to try!” yelled Ned, above the noise of the exploding cylinders.

They were on a straight stretch then and, as Noddy looked back and saw the red car closer to him than it had been before, he put on more speed.  His green auto shot forward but Jerry still had something in reserve, and he let his machine out another notch.

“He’s got to slow up for the turn!” cried Ned.  “Maybe we can pass him!”

“Yes, but we’ve got to slacken up too, if we don’t want a spill,” replied Bob.

“That’s so,” admitted Ned.

Noddy did slow up, but not much, and his car skidded worse than at any time yet.  It looked as if it was going over, and a cry from the spectators showed that they, too, anticipated this disaster.  But, with a sharp wrench of the steering wheel, Noddy brought the car back toward the center of the track.

Jerry swung around the turn at reduced speed, and, because of the chains, his machine did not skid more than a few inches.

“Good thing you have those chains on,” commented Tom.  “They may come in handy at the finish.”

“That’s what I put them there for,” answered Jerry.

For another mile there was little change in the relative position of the cars of Noddy and the motor boys.  Jerry thought he had cut the bully’s lead somewhat, but he still felt that he was far from having a good chance to win the race.  Still, he was not going to give up.

“Two laps more and it’s all over,” said Bob, as they began on the final mile.  “Can’t you hit it up a bit more, Jerry?”

“I’ll try.”

Just a degree faster came the explosions of the cylinders of the red car.  But also, still faster, came the reports from Noddy’s auto.  He was not going to be beaten if he could help it.