he contrary, they'd do
their best to delay the enemy, and make all the trouble they could, and
they'd be patriotic. So we've got to be mighty careful this next week
about how we take any information we pick up in that fashion. If the
people on the farms take the game seriously, and enter into the spirit
of it, they'll do all they can to harass us and bother us."

Jack drove his car well and carefully, but made no great attempt to get
high speed out of it, though it was, as he knew, capable of going three
or four times as fast as he was driving it. But there is always a
certain danger in driving an automobile at high speed, and Jack saw no
use in taking any risk that was not necessary.

"You can go a lot faster than this, can't you, Jack?" asked Tom, as they
bowled along easily, at little more than fifteen miles an hour.

"What's the use, Tom? We'll get to Mardean before we can cross the line,
anyhow. I'll go fast enough then for a spell, if you're anxious for
speed. Don't be impatient! We'll get all the speed you want before very
long."

Jack was a true prophet, as one ought to be when he has the means of
fulfilling the prophecy in his own hands. At Mardean, just out of sight
of the line, they waited while the minutes dragged slowly by.

"One minute more!" cried Tom Binns, breathless with excitement and
suspense.

"All right," said Jack, quietly. "Hold tight now, Tom! I'm going to let
her out a bit."

Swiftly the grey car gathered speed. In a rush of dust, with horn
blowing and exhaust sputtering behind them, the car shot over the line,
and, just as a whistle boomed out the twelve o'clock dinner signal, Jack
was in hostile territory. The war was on!

Behind them there was a confused shouting. The car was built so that it
was easy to look behind.

"There was an outpost there," said Tom, as he looked back. "They're
kicking up a tremendous fuss, Jack. I guess we rather put one over on
them that time."

"We've got to put another one over on them in a hurry, then," said Jack,
"or they'll put one over on us. Let me know as soon as that outpost is
well out of sight, Tom. And keep your eyes skinned for any sign that
they're after us with a motorcycle or anything like that, will you?"

"They're out of sight now--and there's nothing on the road. Hey, Jack,
where are you going?"

For Jack, after a swift glance at his map, had run deliberately off the
road, reducing speed considerably as he did so, but not so much th