tones.

For a moment Joe wondered at the added caution, and then he sensed
what Blake was about to do.

To one side of them stretched a level field. The road made a
slight detour about it, just before meeting the ravine, and by
crossing this field it was possible for the boys to reach the
bridge ahead of the swaying carriage. But at the speed they were
now running it was dangerous, and risky in the extreme, to run
across the uneven meadow. Blake, however, evidently was going to
chance it.

"Hold fast!" he cried once more, and Joe had no more than time to
take a firmer grip on the bar in front of him, and to cling with
his legs to the foot supports and saddle, than they were off the
road, and into the green field. The fence had been taken down to
allow for the storage of bridge-building material in the meadow.

"Now we'll get him!" cried Blake, but he spoke too soon. For the
motor cycle had not gone ten feet into the uneven field, jolting,
swaying and all but throwing off the moving picture boys, than the
sound of the explosions suddenly ceased, and the machine began to
slacken speed.

With a quickness that was added to by the rough nature of the
ground, the motor cycle slowed up and stopped.

"What's the matter?" cried Joe, putting down his feet to support
the machine.