THE CHALLENGE
Dave certainly could not complain of a bored or indifferent audience.
Even Mr. Hollis was absorbed and listened with a smile on his kindly
face. He was always intensely interested in anything the boys said or
did, and was never happier than when he saw that they were especially
enjoying themselves.
Dave had just reached the most thrilling part of his story, and in their
imaginations the boys could hear the wailings of the ghost and the
clanking of his chains. He was describing the awful appearance of its
sunken fiery eyes, when Shorty happened to glance apprehensively around
and immediately emitted a blood-curdling yell.
"The ghost! The ghost!" he stammered, pointing in the direction of the
road. All leaped to their feet and followed the direction of Shorty's
trembling finger, and for a moment even Bert Wilson felt a queer little
tightening sensation about the heart, for there, apparently coming
directly toward them, were the fiery eyes that Dave had just described
with such gusto.
"Why, you simps," laughed Bert, "that's no ghost, or if it is, it is the
most solid spook I ever heard of. Those are the acetylene lamps of
another auto," and as he spoke he exchanged significant glances with Mr.
Hollis.
Somewhat ashamed of having been so startled, the boys now fell to
guessing at the mission of the strange car. They had not long to wait.
In a few minutes they could hear the purring of its exhaust, and soon a
great gray automobile dashed into camp and drew up in front of the fire.
From it descended a genial looking man, apparently of about the same age
as Mr. Hollis, followed by five clean cut young fellows.
Mr. Hollis and Mr. Thompson, as the new comer's name proved to be,
evidently knew each other and shook hands heartily. Meanwhile the camp
boys mingled with their unexpected guests and with the freemasonry of
youth soon became chummy.
The only fault perhaps that could be found with the new arrivals was
that they seemed to be a trifle overbearing, and evidently thought that
their car, which they called the "Gray Ghost," could beat any other
automobile ever made.
It is needless to state that Bert's crowd felt the same way regarding the
"Red Scout," so that the boys were soon engaged in a heated argument
concerning the respective merits of their cars.
"Why," maintained Tom, hotly, "you fellows have no idea what our 'Red
Scout' can do in the way of speed and hill climbing. Just to-day we were
out on a run and, though I didn't actually time it, I am dead sure there
were stretches where we did as well as a mile a minute. What do you
think of that?" he asked triumphantly.
Indeed, this seemed to cool the visitors down somewhat and they
exchanged surprised glances. But they soon recovered their confidence
and went on to describe the speed qualities of their car with
ever-increasing enthusiasm.
"It was just a short time ago," said one whose name turned out to be
Ralph Quinby, "that we took the 'Gray Ghost' around the old race track
just outside the town, and we averaged over fifty miles an hour. We
could have gone much faster too, only Mr. Thompson would not let us.
I'll just bet your auto couldn't go as fast as that."
It was now the turn of their hosts to look doubtful. They were sure,
however, that the "Red Scout" could hold its own with any other car, and
as they thought of their idolized driver, Bert Wilson, their confidence
came back with a rush.
"Well," replied Tom, drawing a long breath, "you fellows evidently
think you could win in a race and we just _know_ that we could, so I
guess the only way to settle the dispute is to run off a race somewhere
and prove which is the better machine. I know we'd be willing if you
would, wouldn't we, boys?"
There was a chorus of approving shouts from his companions, but the
visitors only smiled in a superior fashion, and evidently thought there
could be but one conclusion to any race in which their car was entered.
Meanwhile, Mr. Hollis and Mr. Thompson were holding an earnest
conversation in which the latter seemed to be urging some point about
which Mr. Hollis apparently hesitated. In fact, Mr. Thompson was trying
to get Mr. Hollis to give his consent to a race between the cars owned
by the two camps. But the latter thought that it would involve too much
risk for the boys who drove the machines.
"You see, it's this way," he was saying, "you and I, Thompson, are
responsible for the safety of these boys. We both feel toward them as
though they belonged to us and if anything happened to them we would
never forgive ourselves. It seems to me too big a risk to take merely
for the sake of seeing who owns the faster car."
"Yes, you're dead right there, of course," returned Mr. Thompson, "but
then I don't think the risk is so great as you imagine. I have seen the
track they would use, provided the race was run, and I think there would
be little, if any, danger. The track has not been used for several years
and most of the fence is missing, so that if they ran off the course
itself, it would only be a matter of running over the grass until they
stopped. You know me well enough to realize that I would not sanction
anything that contained too large an element of peril. As for the slight
risk that undoubtedly exists, it seems to me that it would not hurt the
boys to take it, and it would teach them self-reliance and confidence."
"As far as that goes," said Mr. Hollis, smiling reluctantly, "my boys
have too much confidence in themselves and I have to be constantly
curbing their tendencies toward taking chances. However, I have every
confidence in your judgment, so I suppose I might as well consent this
once. I wish to have it understood, however, that this is the last as
well as the first race they ever run, win or lose."
"That suits me all right, so I guess we can consider it settled,"
answered Mr. Thompson, "what do you say to going over and having a look
at the machines? You haven't seen our car yet, have you?"
"No, that's a pleasure still in store for me," replied Mr. Hollis; and
the two men rose and strolled over to where the cars stood, their brass
work glittering in the light of the dancing campfire.
By this time most of the boys had gathered around the cars, but they
saluted and made way respectfully for their leaders as they came up.
They both smiled when they saw Bert and Ralph Quinby, for they were so
engrossed in the discussion of the respective merits and appliances of
their cars that they did not even notice the coming of their leaders.
Such terms as "gear ratios," "revolutions per minute" and "three point
suspension" filled the air, and Mr. Hollis whispered to Mr. Thompson:
"I'll wager that those boys saturate their handkerchiefs with gasoline,
so that whenever they get a block away from a machine they can smell
gasoline and feel at home again."
"Wouldn't be surprised if they did," laughed Mr. Thompson.
"Here, you fellows come out of your trance," called Dick, and Bert and
Ralph turned quickly around and saluted.
Their leaders returned the salute, and Mr. Thompson said: "Well, I
suppose both you boys think you have a pretty fast machine there. How
would you like to have a test of speed?"
There was a chorus of excited cries and exclamations from the boys, and
their leaders smiled indulgently.
Bert stepped forward and said: "I think, sir, that I speak for Mr.
Quinby as well as myself when I say that nothing would suit us better."
Ralph gave a nod of assent and Bert went on: "We will both promise to be
cautious, and I think if we take proper precautions we will be able to
run off a good race without an accident. How long do you think the race
ought to be?"
"How long is the track that you propose using?" inquired Mr. Hollis.
"Why, it's just one mile, isn't it Ralph?" asked Mr. Thompson.
"Yes, sir," replied Ralph.
"Well, it seems to me," said Mr. Thompson, "that ten miles, that is ten
full laps around the track, ought to be about right. Will that be
satisfactory to you, Mr. Hollis?"
"Yes, I can see no objection to that," replied the latter, "what day
shall we have the race?"
"How would a week from today suit you?"
"Let me see, that will be Tuesday, won't it? I guess that will be
satisfactory to all concerned. How do you boys feel about it?"
They voiced a unanimous assent to these arrangements, and both sides
started discussing the various chances and possibilities of the contest,
but with perfect good humor and friendly feeling.
It was now getting late, however, and the discipline of the camps could
not be too much relaxed, even in the face of such an important event as
this. Accordingly, hearty farewells were exchanged, and the visitors
climbed into their big gray car.
All the boys gathered around expectantly to note the behavior of the car
when it started, and it must be admitted that even Bert Wilson's expert
eye could find no defect in the handling or running of the rival machine.
Ralph started it smoothly and without a jerk, and soon all they could see
of it was the angry gleam of its red tail-light.
As they turned away to prepare for sleep, Jim remarked: "Aw, I bet we'll
have a walkover in that race."
Bert knew better, however, and was convinced that he would have to use
every ounce of power that the "Red Scout" possessed to beat the "Gray
Ghost." But one thing he was sure of, and that was that whoever won it
was going to be a mighty close race. He did not make the mistake of
underrating his rival, as so many boys in his position would have done,
but made up his mind to do the very best he could, right from the
start.
For a long time he stood staring at the "Red Scout," and then raised its
shining hood and patted the spotless cylinders.
"I guess we can do it, old boy, but you will have to stand by me and
work as you have never worked before," he said, and gently lowered the
hood and walked off toward his tent.