Drop by drop Betty fed more gasoline to her striving
motor. The other girls did their duty, if it was only encouragement.
Those in the Bug worked desperately, but it was not to be. The Gem
passed them.
"We're sorry!" called Betty, as she flashed by. The other girls smiled
bravely.
The Gem was now first, but the race was far from won. They were on the
last leg, however, but in the rear, coming on, and overhauling Betty
and her chums as they had just overhauled the others, was the speedy
Eagle. She had been last to get off, but had passed all the others.
"They are after us," spoke Mollie, as she held the wheel a moment
while Betty tucked under her natty yachting cap some wind-tossed locks
of hair.
"But they shan't get us," declared the Little Captain grimly. "We
haven't reached our limit yet."
Once more she gave more gasoline, but the rivals in the rear were
settling down now to win the race for themselves. The Eagle came on
rapidly. The finish line was near at hand, but it seemed that Betty
and her chums had the upper hand.
Suddenly Grace cried:
"One of the wires is broken. It's snapped in two, and it's spouting
sparks!"
There came a noticeable slowing down to the speed of the motor.
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