TER III.

THE PURSUIT.

Of course when Hanky Panky made this astonishing statement both his
chums commenced to send anxious glances back along the road over which
they were spinning so grandly.

"What d'ye think of it, Rod?" demanded Josh quickly.

"They act as if they meant to overtake us, all right," the boy in the
van declared, without hesitation; "but I couldn't say for certain
whether one of them is the scheming Jules or not. You remember I only
_thought_ I had a glimpse of him at the time we talked with Jeanne
on the Antwerp street."

"Shall we let them come up, and have it out?" questioned Josh
belligerently, for Josh was something of a fighter in his way, and
always had a "chip on his shoulder."

"We are looking for no scrap, if it can be helped," said Rod; "so first
of all we can try letting out a little more speed."

"And if they follow suit, then what?" asked Hanky Panky, with a vein of
anxiety in his voice; for being in the rear he imagined he would
necessarily be the target for any stray leaden missiles that might come
that way.

"In the first place we'll feel pretty certain they're meaning to
overtake us," Rod called back, as he increased his pace considerably, an
easy thing to do, although he knew the danger of going at headlong speed
over an unknown road, where at any minute they might rush upon a
hay-wagon blocking the whole thoroughfare, and concealed by some bend.

"Well, they've let out another notch, all right!" called Hanky Panky,
from his position in the rear.

"And believe me that's some racer of a car they're running!" exploded
Josh; "why, it can give us a run for our money, try as we may to get
away."

Rod had already discovered this, though saying nothing as yet. He knew
that it was not safe to put Hanky Panky to a severe test, for the other
was apt to get a little rattled, and while going at a mad pace any sort
of accident was likely to be serious.

They continued to speed along at this merry clip for a brief time
longer. Then the rear guard reported that the pursuing car seemed to be
holding its own.

"Hadn't we ought to go faster, Rod?" he besought the leader; "I know
you're only holding in on account of me, but forget that, won't you?"

But Rod knew better than that. He was aware of his chum's failing, and
dared not risk too much. There had been times in the past when he
allowed the limit of speed to be taken, but always with serious
misgivings.

"Leave it to me, Han