," exclaimed Jerry,
disconsolately.

"An hour, you said, Jock?" asked Frank, always quick to decide
knotty points.

"I reckons about that; but them fellers was dog-tired, an' I don't think
they's agoin' ter git up to thet spring in a hurry," replied the cook,
still squeezing the half dollar, as if to "make it squeal," as Bluff
remarked later.

"Perhaps we can get there before they do. Suppose we make a try, Jerry?"

For answer Jerry started his machine on a run, jumped aboard, and was
quickly dashing away at rather a reckless pace, considering the rough
"tote" road he had to follow.

The others were close at his heels, and altogether the rattling reports
of the four exhausts quite excited the lumber-camp cook, who stood there
in the doorway gaping, as long as the motor-cycles remained in sight.

CHAPTER IV

UNDER THE TWIN HEMLOCKS

"Say, ain't this going-some, for a rough road?" called Bluff, who was
pounding along close behind Jerry, Will bringing up the rear.

"Beats everything I ever did on wheels--wow! that was a scorcher of a
jolt! I hope none of the wheels break down!" answered the other, over his
shoulder; but he dared not take his eyes off the uneven "tote" road which
they were following, for more than a second at a time, lest some
unfriendly root hurl him into the ditch, a wreck.

"See anything of 'em, Frank?" wheezed Jerry a bit later, as he kept
his machine close behind the leader; for somehow in this race for
the campsite Frank just naturally forged to the front from mere
force of habit.

"Thought I had a peep of something moving ahead--soon know," came
the answer.

Some more jumping followed, and it required considerable agility on the
part of the four riders to keep their saddles.

Then they made a turn, and discovered three boys in full flight ahead.

"There they are!" cried Jerry, in excitement.

"How far ahead is the spring?" called Frank.

"About half a mile, I reckon."

"Good! Then the game is ours, barring accidents!"

The three fellows ahead kept turning around every dozen seconds, as if
worried at the rapid approach of the others.

"Keep your eyes peeled; they're hatching up some sort of mischief!"
called Frank, who knew the signs.

He saw that the others began to wobble in their movements, which was
plain evidence that they had tired themselves out by their night tramp,
and were in no condition to compete with the motorcycles, even on this
rough stretch of road.