CHAPTER XIII.
ADVENTURES ON THE ROAD.
"Want to take a ride with me?" asked Bob of Ned, one morning, about aweek following the exciting night ride. "Father wants me to go over toFranklin to take a message to the bank there."
"Sure I'll go. And we'll ask Jerry. Wait until I get my machine, andI'll be with you."
The two boys were soon puffing along their motors to Jerry's house. Hejoined them and all three started off for Franklin.
The ride was a pleasant one. It was rather warm, but there was a coolbreeze, that was added to by the speed at which the boys rode. Franklinwas about twenty miles from Cresville, and was a village of good size.The boys had some friends there, and intended calling on them beforereturning.
They reached Franklin without mishaps. Bob transacted the business hisfather had sent him on, and then the boys voted that a meal would not beout of place.
"Well, I guess we'll have to be starting back," said Bob at length."Father will want to know how I made out with his matter."
Ned and Jerry were agreeable, and they mounted their machines and weresoon on the homeward journey.
They had gone perhaps ten miles when, on making a sudden turn in theroad, they came face to face with a countryman who was driving a ratherspirited horse. At the sight and sound of the machines the animal rearedup in the air. The boys stopped their motors, but the horse would notbe quieted. Even the sight of the cycles seemed to madden the brute. Inspite of the efforts of the countryman the horse continued to rear andprance. Then the steed made a sudden turn, and, with a cracking sound,one of the carriage shafts broke.
"Now ye've gone and done it!" yelled the driver, seeming to fly in arage. "Ye'll have to pay for this."
"We're very sorry," began Jerry, "we didn't intend to cause any trouble."
"That's always the way with peesky boys," went on the countryman. "I'llhave the law on ye for this! You wait until I get out."
The horse, having done what damage he could, seemed to be satisfied, andquieted down. The driver dismounted and tied the animal to a fence, andthen proceeded to examine the broken shaft.
"Busted clean off," he announced in an ugly tone. "It'll cost fivedollars to get it fixed. You'll have to settle."
"That's right, make 'em pay!" exclaimed a voice from the bushes thatlined the road side, and, to the surprise of the three boys, Noddy Nixonstepped out into view.
"I intend to," said the countryman.
"They've no business on the road in their machines, frightening horses,"went on Noddy with a grin. "The roads are for carriages."
"Well, I like your nerve, Noddy Nixon!" exclaimed Jerry hotly. "We havejust as much right on the road as this driver has. And you've got amotor-cycle yourself."
"That's none of your business," remarked Noddy in a surly tone. "Youcubs frightened this man's horse, and he has a right to demand payment.Don't let 'em get away until they pay," Noddy added to the driver.
"I don't intend they shall," was the answer.
"Look here!" exclaimed Bob. "We never said we didn't intend to pay, butit's none of your business, Noddy."
"Don't give me any of your lip," the bully roared. "I've been wantingto thrash you for some time, and now I have a good chance."
"Go ahead, if you think it's healthy," said Bob boldly. "I'm not afraidof you."
"If you fight him, you'll have to fight me," said Jerry, coming forwardand standing beside Bob.
"Yes, and me also," said Ned.
"I guess I'll have to take a hand then," said the countryman. "I wantpay for my broken shaft. If I can't get it in money I'll take it out ofyour hides."
"If you touch us I'll make a complaint and cause your arrest," saidJerry.
"Who's talking about arrests?" asked a gruff voice, and, from the busheswhence Noddy had made his appearance Bill Berry stepped out.
At the sight of him Noddy grinned, and moved closer to Bob.
"That's big talk for a small boy," Bill went on with a laugh. "What'sthe row, Noddy?"
"Oh, these young cubs frightened this gentleman's horse, the animalbroke a shaft, and they won't pay for it."
"That isn't true," cried Bob. "We never refused to pay for the damage."
"Make 'em pay!" cried Bill, slapping his hand on his thigh with a soundlike a pistol shot. "Make 'em pay!"
In a fit of passion Noddy aimed a blow at Bob. The boy dodged itcleverly, and shot out his fist toward Noddy's face. He only landedlightly on the bully's nose, but that, with the overbalancing causedwhen he missed his mark, sent Noddy down in a heap.
"I'll make you pay for this!" he fairly screamed as he scrambled up.
He rushed at Bob. Ned and Jerry ran up and were about to aid their chum.
"Let me attend to him alone!" pleaded Bob.
"I'll fix you!" screamed the bully.
Once more he aimed a fearful blow at Bob, but the latter merely steppedto one side, and once more Noddy went down, without having been hit. Hearose with his mouth full of dust.
At that instant the countryman's horse, probably frightened by the noiseand shouts, reared on its hind legs, broke the strap that fastened himto the fence, and galloped off down the road.
"Consarn ye! There goes my best horse!" cried the countryman, losing allinterest in the fight. "Five dollars to whoever catches him!"
"I'm going to have a try for that!" exclaimed Bill, setting off down theroad on a swift run. "Five dollars don't come my way every afternoon!"
"I'll sue ye for this!" yelled the countryman, shaking his fist at theboys before speeding down the highway after Bill in pursuit of thehorse. "I'll have the law on ye!" His coat tails streamed in the wind ashe raced away.
Noddy had stopped mid-way in his rush at Bob as the horse broke loose.
"Well, are you going to fight?" asked Bob coolly.
But Noddy's desire for battle seemed to have left him suddenly. Herealized that he was no match for the three, or even for two, of theboys.
"I'll get square with you for this," he muttered as he slunk away in thebushes. "I've several scores to settle with you three cubs."
"Better settle 'em here and now," advised Jerry. "It's a good chance."
"You just wait," was all Noddy would say. Soon he disappeared in theshrubbery.
"Well, I thought for a while there was going to be trouble," said Bob,with a laugh. "Noddy certainly seemed mad."
"Well, I don't see any need of staying here any longer," said Ned atlength. "It doesn't seem as if the countryman or Bill would come back.If that man with the horse wants any pay let him call and collect. Hedidn't treat us very nicely. As for Noddy, I guess he's far enough offby now."
"I wonder what he was doing out this way?" asked Bob.
"Yes, and lately Bill Berry is always with him," commented Ned.
"They're up to no good, you can be sure of that," was Jerry's opinion,in which the others shared.
Then, mounting their motor-cycles, the three boys made good speed home,meeting with no more fractious horses and puncturing no more tires.