"Speaking of sudden stops, I wonder what has become of the man in the green car?" spoke Jerry. "We must go back and find out." The four lads leaped from their machine and ran back past the load of hay. The farmer was rapidly walking about in a circle, wringing his hands and crying: "He's killed! He's killed! I know he is!" With rather anxious hearts the boys hurried around to the other side of the big pile of dried grass. As they reached the place they saw a man attired in an automobile suit, with big goggles on, wiggle out from the mass of hay. He pulled several wisps from his hair and then saw the boys. "Did you shoot right through the pile and come out on the other side?" he asked. "We ran around it," explained Bob. "We beat you," he added, not without pride. "So I see. It came pretty near being the end of all of us. You're a plucky lad. I don't mind being beaten by you. I thought I had a good car, but yours is better." "Ours is much lighter; I guess that's why we went ahead," returned Jerry, willing to concede something to a vanquished rival. "But are you hurt?" The man carefully felt of different parts of his body. Then he took off his goggles and looked over as much as he could see of himself. "I don't seem to be," he said, finally, with a laugh. "It was like falling into a feather bed to land in that hay-pile the way I did. That's all that saved me. I wonder how my machine stood the emergency brake." He examined his car carefully, and was apparently satisfied that no injury had been done by the sudden stopping of it. "Where is he?" asked the farmer, suddenly appearing from behind the hay. "Is he dead?" And then he seemed to realize his error and joined in the laugh that followed. "No, I'm not dead yet," replied the owner of the green car. "Well," he went on, "I must be going. Are you boys coming along? If you are, no more races." "We'll have to go back to Cresville," answered Bob. "We promised to return for supper." The man bade the boys good-by and soon the big, green dragon was throbbing down the road in a cloud of dust. The boys, finding they could not help the farmer in his trouble, got in their machine and, promising to send help from the first farmhouse they passed, they left the owner of the hay and were soon speeding toward Cresville. "Isn't this glorious!" exclaimed Jerry, as the auto sped along. "I wish we could take a long trip." "Why can't we?" asked Ned. "We talked of a tour when we found we had a chance to get a car," put in Chunky. "I for one would like to go out West." "Ho for the West!" piped up Andy. "Over the plains--herds of cattle--cowboys in chase--rattlesnakes and horned toads--sandy deserts--Indians--bang! Shoot 'em up! Lots of excitement--take me along--whoop!" "Easy!" pleaded Jerry. "One thing at a time, Andy. Haven't we had excitement enough for one day?"