He went whizzing past amid a rattle and confusion, for, as usual, Nat had paid no attention to his muffler. "Somebody head me off!" came floating back, as the runaway machine went whirling along the road leading to Little Falls. "Good gracious! What can we do?" gasped Toby. "You stick by Lil Artha!" Even as he shouted these words Elmer was giving his machine its head, and quickly he vanished from the view of the other around a bend. It was no easy task that now presented itself to the young patrol leader. Had it been a runaway horse there might have been some hope of the rider controlling it; but with a motorcycle that took what seemed to be a fiendish pleasure in doing just the things its owner did not want done, the case was a different matter. Something had become jammed, so that poor Nat, having opened his engine up wide on starting, was unable to shut off power. And there he was, rushing along at a reckless speed, headed for Little Falls by the most direct route. Somebody shouted out something as Elmer sped along. He guessed it must be Lil Artha, who had discreetly sought the side of the road upon seeing that fierce light bearing down upon him. But Elmer could not find time to reply. Besides, there was Toby, who would be along presently, and in a condition to tell the tall scout just what was taking place. Elmer was keeping a bright lookout ahead. He knew that, given a fair field, he could easily overtake the runaway motorcycle; but this thing of rushing along in the darkness was no child's play. At any second he might bang into some obstacle that would give him a nasty tumble. Besides, he had to keep watch over the leading machine, so that he might not run into Nat; which would be the worst sort of calamity that could happen to them both. At least he was gaining fast now; he could tell that by the glow from the other lamp which lighted up the road ahead. Presently he found himself within speaking distance. He could just barely see Nat humped there in his saddle, giving his entire attention to keeping his runaway machine in the road. "Hello, Nat ahoy!" he called aloud, so that the sound of his voice might reach the other above the clattering of his "cantankerous" motor, as Nat himself was fond of calling his engine, which was now on such a wild plunge. "Hey, that you, Elmer?" came back to him; and the patrol leader imagined there was a trace of alarm as well as vexation in the voice. "Yes, can't you keep over on the left side of the road? I want to come closer to you so we can talk," Elmer called. "All right. Half is good enough for me; so come right along, Elmer." In another minute they were nearly abreast, each striving to keep to his side of the thoroughfare as best he could. "Steady, now, Nat," said Elmer. "Be careful how you let her yaw this way, for I'm only a length behind you; and a mix-up wouldn't be the nicest thing going."