Part 12 (2/2)

There was a sharp report as the lock fell to pieces.

”Quick, Stubbs!” Hal cried. ”That noise will have aroused every sleepy policeman within a mile.”

McKenzie lent a hand and the door was thrown back. Stubbs gave a gasp of relief. The automobile was there.

”You do the driving, Hal,” cried Stubbs. ”Pile in here, man,” this to McKenzie. ”She's all ready to start. Come on.”

The others wasted no time in words. McKenzie scrambled in the back seat alongside Stubbs, while Hal sprang to the wheel. A moment later the automobile moved slowly from the garage.

As the big machine came clear into the street, a bright light suddenly flashed around the next comer and headed toward them. Hal knew in a moment what it was. It was a motorcycle, bearing a policeman. There was but one course to pursue, and Hal acted without hesitation. He threw the machine into high and it dashed directly toward the motorcycle.

The man saved his life by swerving swiftly to one side. His machine b.u.mped the curb and threw the rider off. When he picked himself up the automobile bearing the three friends was turning a corner, apparently on one wheel for Hal had scarcely diminished the speed.

The German drew his revolver and fired a shot ill the air. He was sounding the alarm and summoning a.s.sistance at the same time.

Quickly he righted his motorcycle, mounted, and made off in pursuit of the high-powered automobile.

At the sound of the German's shot, Hal increased the speed of the automobile.

”McKenzie!” he cried.

McKenzie leaned forward so as to catch the words the lad shouted back to him.

”Get your guns ready!” cried Hal. ”Don't let anyone come at us from the rear.”

McKenzie understood. He repeated Hal's words to Stubbs, shouting to make himself heard.

”Can't anyone catch us from behind,” Stubbs shouted back. ”This car will outrun anything in Germany.”

McKenzie made no reply, but looked to his guns. He knew that it was not pursuing automobiles that Hal was afraid of; but high-powered motorcycles in use in Germany would probably be able to overtake the car no matter what its speed.

So far, however, the road behind was clear.

CHAPTER X

TOWARD THE FRONTIER

Hal set his course by instinct and the glow of the disappearing moon, and a few moments after their swift departure, it seemed, they were beyond the city itself, headed straight for the Dutch frontier.

There was no pursuit, and Hal rightly judged the reason to be because he had thrown pursuers off the track by several sharp turns before leaving the city proper.

After an hour's riding, Hal made out specks ahead that he took to be automobiles. He increased the speed of the car slightly to make sure of this fact. The car driven by Hal was gaining, but so slightly as to be almost imperceptible.

”Those fellows are hitting up a pretty swift gait,” the lad muttered.

”I wonder why.”

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