He went straight for the hay wagon. With a bound he was in the decorated auto, like a beast in a cage, with the rack and hay trimmings surrounding him. "Now we've got him," said the farmer; "that is, if we're careful." "How?" whispered Ed. "Someone must lasso him." The farmer held out the rope in his hand, making a loop ready to throw over the ram's head. The girls had reached the cottage, but were calling to the boys all sorts of warning and cautions. "When he gets at the hay," said the farmer, "I guess he'll eat. That run likely whet up his appetite." "More fun than a deer hunt," said Jack, laughing. "I wonder what will turn up next on this motor girls' tour." "Get busy," said Ed, creeping toward the hay wagon. "Now, Walter-- Oh, Glory be! If he isn't at my four-dollar gloves!" Quick, like the well=trained athlete that he was, Ed grabbed the rope from the farmer, sprang to the hay rack and made a cast. It landed true on the animal's horns. "I've got him!" exclaimed the boy. "Now, fellows, quick! Make his legs fast." No need to say "quick," for the boys were up and busy making fast the beast before the surprised farmer had a chance to exclaim. "So you like the real thing in gloves?" asked Ed while pulling at the rope. "Well, I fancy you will make something real--perhaps a robe--for the best record of this trip. Oh, I say, fellows, let's buy the brute, have him done up properly, and offer his coat to the girl who comes home with a record." Shouts of glee followed this suggestion, and the girls, seeing that the animal was made safe, were now running back from the cottage to add their voices to the excitement. Clip insisted upon helping to tie the ram--she declared he had done his share toward making it uncomfortable for her--while Daisy, in her timid way, wanted to do something to the "saucy thing" for upsetting her, and Jack suggested that she "box his horrid ears." Cora glanced at her watch. "If it's all the same to the gentlemen," she said, "we will continue on our way. We have lost a full hour already." "Lost!" repeated Walter meaningly. "She said 'lost,'" faltered Ed with similar intent. "Not actually lost," corrected Cora, "but at least dropped out of our itinerary." "We were due ten miles ahead now," sighed Maud in her wistful way. "Too bad, too bad," whimpered Jack, who was still pulling at the ram's rope. "But it was not our fault, girls. Now, Daisy, do you think you can run your machine without taking in any more circuses? We have examined your car, and it is intact--not so much as a footprint did the naughty beast leave." Clip was looking over her runabout. It was not damaged, it seemed, and for this she was most grateful. Clip was not out for pleasure--you have guessed that--and it would have been highly inconvenient for that young lady to go back to town in the hay. Jack left off at the ram's horn, and came to crank up for her.