"Hello," ejaculated the captain. "Our friend is getting better. Guess we
had better see what we can do for him."
He raised the head of the wounded man to his lap, and wiped the blood
stains from his face, while the lieutenant prepared a bandage. In a few
minutes the chauffeur had recovered sufficiently to drink a little water
and to eat several sandwiches the lieutenant produced from a small but
well-filled hamper.
"Well, I guess we are safe for a little while, at any rate,"
remarked Hal.
"It looks like it," replied the lieutenant; "but, as I said before, you
never can tell."
They rode cautiously along in silence for a long time; in fact, until the
first streak of dawn appeared in the east. Then, suddenly, the sound of
chug-chugging came from behind.
Chester turned his head and jumped to his feet with a cry:
"We are pursued! Speed up, Hal! Speed up!"
It was true. Far back could be seen a pursuing automobile, and, even from
that distance, it was apparent it was gaining.
Hal "speeded up" and in a short time the pursuing car was out of sight.
Nevertheless, the speed was not diminished.
"I guess they have learned that we can travel some, anyhow," remarked
Hal happily.
And just at that moment there was a loud explosion--the car rocked
crazily, and Hal brought it to a stop.
"Tire blown out," exclaimed the French captain, in despair. "Now we are
up against it. What shall we do?"
"Fix it," retained Chester briefly.
He got out, and the rest, including the wounded chauffeur, followed suit.
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