CHAPTER XXI.
PRACTICE FOR THE RACE.
"We must begin track work," said Jerry one afternoon, when the threechums, having been out on a spin, stopped beneath the shade of aroad-side tree. "A week from to-day the races take place."
"I think we are all in pretty good trim, and so are the machines,"ventured Bob.
"That part's all right, Chunky," came from Ned, "but what we want istrack work, as Jerry says. Nothing like getting right on the ground.Besides, we have been speeding on a wide road, where we have all theroom we want. It will be different when there are twenty riders on anarrow track, each one wanting to get inside."
Ned and Bob agreed that it would be the very thing needed. Accordinglythe next morning, early, saw the three boys at the track of theCresville Athletic Club. Though it was little more than eight o'clockthe chums found about a dozen riders with their motors "warming-up"on the banked oval. The explosions of the numerous gasolene enginessounded like a miniature battle.
"If any one challenges you to a little sprint, accept it," said Jerry toNed and Bob, "but don't attempt to win."
"Why not?" asked Ned, always ready to take sides.
"Tell you later," was all Jerry had time to say, for just then two youngmen rode up to our heroes.
"What do you fellows say to a little sprint for a few miles around thetrack," inquired one young man, who wore a blue sweater.
"Just a practice warm-up," put in the other, who was attired in a pairof pink racing trousers. "It's rather dull going around this way, youknow."
"We don't mind a little race," said Jerry. "Just for fun, however."
"Of course. What sort of a start do you prefer, flying or from astandstill?"
"Flying will suit us," Ned put in.
"All right. Come on, we'll ride around once together, line up at thejudge's stand, and make a four-mile circuit."
This was agreeable to the boys and they prepared for the start withtheir unknown rivals. They all came up to the line opposite the judges'stand in good formation.
"Go!" shouted the youth in the blue sweater.
Each contestant turned more power into his motor and the machineswhizzed around the track in good time. It was easy to see that the twostrangers were trying to get a "line" on the speeds of the motors of thethree chums.
Both of the youths who had been so anxious for the sprint watched witheager eyes every motion of Bob, Ned and Jerry. But the latter, underthe direction of Jerry, did not operate their motors at top speed. Thiswas what the strangers wanted. They desired to see just how fast themachines of the Cresville boys could go, so as to know what sort ofcompetitors they would have when the big event came on.
All the efforts of the two schemers to get either of our three heroes to"make pace" for them failed. Bob, Ned and Jerry just went around easily,sometimes taking the lead, and again dropping behind. The impromptu racewas finally ended with the motors running about three-quarters speed,and Jerry and Ned just a little in the lead.
"You two win!" cried the youth in the blue sweater. "Pretty goodmachines you have there."
"They'll do," agreed Jerry, determined that the strangers should notfind out that they had been suspected. "And we went at a pretty goodclip, while it lasted."
"No doubt," commented the lad in the blue sweater. Plainly the twoplotters were disappointed. They had not succeeded in taking thespeed-measure of the three chums.
The track was now well filled with those practicing for the coming race.More than a score were scooting around on their machines. Few motorswere as fine and complete as those of the three chums and not many hadthe double cylinder improvement.
"Shall we go around again?" asked Ned.
"I think we'd better," counseled Jerry. "That sprint was nothing. Whatwe most need is to ride in a big crowd and not lose our nerve when wethink there is going to be a collision."
"I hope there will be no smash-ups," came from Bob. "If I thought that Iwouldn't go in."
"There will not be any if you are careful," advised Jerry. "Just keepyour wits about you and mind your steering. Poor steering is responsiblefor more accidents than anything else."
"What do you suppose those two chaps wanted to see how fast we could gofor?" asked Bob.
"They wanted to know just what sort of opposition they might count on,"replied Jerry.
"I don't think those fellows gained much," said Ned.
"Me either," commented Jerry. "Another thing we must look out for is a'pocket.'"
"What's that?" asked Bob, who was not very well up on racing terms.
"You'll see in a minute," said Jerry.
He speeded up his motor. At the sound of the quicker explosions therewere hasty glances at the youth on the part of many strangers. Jerry wasoff down the track in a trice. The next instant a dozen riders had takenafter him, anxious to see what his machine could do. But Jerry was toowise to be caught.
He pretended to be trying to get more revolutions from his motor, but,in reality he was throttling down the gasolene and advancing the spark,which made the reports quicker but which did not increase his speed.
The bunch of a dozen riders soon surrounded Jerry. He continued to speedaway, but in a few moments he found himself in the apex of a "V" shapedgathering of contestants. They were ahead and on either side of him; averitable pocket, from which there was no way out so close were theriders bunched. As soon as Jerry would try to pass any one the otherswould crowd in front and prevent it.
Finally Jerry shut off the power of his machine, and with a laugh at theefforts of those who thought they were fooling him, he came to a halt,and dismounted.
"Smart kid, that," commented one of the older riders. "Up to snuff!"
"Thinks he is," growled the youth in the blue sweater. "He and thoseother two with him fooled me a while ago. I couldn't get a rise out ofhim."
"Now you see what a pocket is," said Jerry as he joined his chums. "Ifyou get into one do your best to ride out, or you'll lose the race,providing the others stick together and have made up their mind to letone of their number win."
The practice continued for some time. A little before noon there was astir at the track entrance and a motor cycle, painted a bright red onevery available space shot on the track. The loudness of the explosionstold that it was a machine of high power, and it attracted considerableattention.
"There's a faster machine than ours," called Jerry.
"Yes, and do you see who's riding it?" asked Ned.
"No. Who?"
"Jack Pender."
"Is that Noddy's machine painted over?"
"No, it looks like a new one," said Ned. "Yes, it is a new one," headded as he got a closer view of the motor which swept by at thatinstant.
"If he goes in the race we'll have to look sharp if we want our touringcar," Jerry remarked.
Jack Pender did not seem to care to have anything to say to the threechums, and neither did they seek to speak to the bully's toady. Bob, Nedand Jerry rode together around the track for several minutes, while Jackoccasionally passed them, making swift speed.
"Guess I'll go off and get some dinner," Jerry announced finally. He wasopposite the gate by which riders left the track and steered for it. Helooked and saw Jack coming toward him, but noted that the latter would,in the natural course of events, pass behind him.
"Look out there! What's the matter with you?" cried Jack in suddenanger. Jerry glanced around in time to see the rider of the red machinesteering directly for him, having left his course to do so. A collisionwas imminent, and only by a skillful handling of his machine did Jerryso manage that Jack only struck the rear wheel with his front one.
"What are you trying to do?" cried Jerry.
"What are you up to?" retorted Jack. "You got right in my way!"
"And I say you deliberately left your path to try and run me down!"cried Jerry.
"It's false!" exclaimed Jack, getting off his motor.
"It is not, and I'll leave it to any one who saw it," spoke Jerrysharpl
y. He was very angry.
"That's right; you had plenty of room to pass him," said a quiet darkman, who had been making several rounds of the track. "I don't knoweither of you, but the man on the red machine is to blame."
"Mind your own business!" snapped Jack.
"Look here, my young friend," said the dark man, as he got off hismachine and came close to Jack. "I would advise you to be a little morecareful of your language and your conduct. You were either foolishlyor deliberately careless in this matter. This track is for gentlemen,remember."
"What affair of yours is it?" asked Jack with a growl.
"I am one of the directors of the club, and I will most certainly makeit my affair, if necessary."
Jack had nothing more to say, and turned off the track with hisloud-puffing machine.
"Did he damage your motor any?" asked the man of Jerry.
"I guess not," was the answer.
"If you want to make a complaint to the club I will be a witness foryou," went on the director of the organization.
"No, I had rather drop it now," replied Jerry. "I thank you, just thesame."
"He and Noddy make a nice team, don't they?" inquired Ned, he and Bobhaving followed Jerry from the track.
"Well, I suppose it comes natural for them to be mean," replied Jerry."The only thing to do is to avoid trouble, but not to give in too much."
"I wonder if he is going in the race with that red machine? If so we'llhave to hustle," commented Ned.
"That's what races are for," said Jerry, with a smile.