"It's a punk deal, that's what," Nat went on. "They just believe that if Elmer's out of the running the game is in their hands. But he can have my machine, if he wants to go ahead. If anybody can make it behave, Elmer can." "Or mine either," declared Toby. Now Elmer, of course, heard all this talk, even though he seemed to be devoting himself wholly to the business in hand. And at this juncture he beckoned to his comrades. "He wants us to pick up, and get even with him," declared Toby. "Sure thing. Guess Elmer is going to take us at our word, and borrow a mount," observed Nat, cheerfully. Accordingly they put on an extra spurt, and managed to gain enough ground so as to come alongside. "I heard what you were saying, boys," Elmer immediately remarked, as soon as he saw that they were up with him; "but you're away off in your calculations. It isn't one of those Fairfield fellows at all who's jumped my claim with that borrowed motorcycle!" "W--w--what's that?" gasped Toby. "I said that it wasn't a Fairfield fellow who ran off with my machine," repeated Elmer, more positively than before. "Well, you make me feel like thirty cents," observed Nat; "now, what under the sun would one of _our_ boys want with a motorcycle when, if he rides on it, for even a minute, he's disqualified in the race?" "It wasn't one of our scouts either," said Elmer. "Then for goodness' sake tell us who it could be, Elmer!" cried Toby. "I haven't even glimpsed him once yet, though he's only a little way ahead of us right now," the scout leader said; "but judging from the fact that his shoes are all broken out, I'm almost dead sure he's some Wandering Willie." "He means a hobo, a common tramp!" exclaimed Toby in astonishment. "Tell me about that, will you!" cried Nat. "Just to think of a four flusher like that making off with Elmer's motorcycle, when he needs it the worst kind to block that nasty little game of the envious Fairfield dubs! Oh, it's a cruel world!" "But we're goin' to get it back, don't you forget that!" Toby insinuated. "You never spoke truer words, Toby," laughed Elmer; though there was little of mirth in the sound; for the boy was tremendously aroused by this new calamity that threatened to upset all his calculations. "Hurry, hurry! I can go a bit faster, now that I know what's on!" declared Toby, although his manner of gasping belied his words. "Oh, there he is right now! Look, look, Elmer!" cried Nat. All of them caught a glimpse of some moving object that was pushing at top speed through the scrub ahead. Undoubtedly it was the party who had run away with Elmer's motorcycle. They had gained on him constantly, and were now surely overtaking the rascal. "We're just bound to get him, fellows!" said Toby. "That's so, Toby; it looks good to me," remarked Nat, as he strained every muscle to keep alongside the others.