human
Give me a steady light, he directed.
gpt
I think he's probably disconnected the wires of the magneto--that's what I'd do if I wanted to put a motor out of business in a hurry. And if that's all, there's no great harm done.
human
I don't see how you know all that! wondered Jack.
gpt
I can ride one of those things, but the best I can do is mend a puncture, if I should have one.
human
Oh, it's easy enough, said Harry, working while he talked.
gpt
You see, the motor itself can't be hurt unless you take an axe to it, and break it all up! But to start you've got to have a spark--and you get that from electricity. So there are these little wires that make the connection. He didn't cut them, thank Heaven! He just disconnected them. If he'd cut them I might really have been up a tree because that's the sort of accident you wouldn't provide for in a repair kit.
human
It isn't an accident at all,
gpt
That's right, said Harry.
human
That's what I meant, too. Now let's see. I think that's all. Good thing we came up when we did or he'd have cut the tires to ribbons. And there are a lot of things I'd rather do than ride one of these machines on its rims--to say nothing of how long the wheels would last if one tried to go fast at all.
gpt
Now is there a telephone in your father's house, Jack?
human
Yes. Why?
gpt
So that I can call you up, of course! I'm going after Graves. Later I'll tell you who he is. I'm in luck, really. He took Dick's machine--and mine is a good ten miles an hour faster. I can race him and beat him but, of course, he couldn't know which was the fastest. Dick's is the best looking. I suppose that's why he picked it.
human
But where is Dick?
gpt
That's what I'm coming to. They may have caught him but I hope not. I don't think they did, either. I think he'll come along here pretty soon. And, if he does, he'll have an awful surprise.
human
I'll stay here and tell him--
gpt
You're a brick, Jack! It's just what I was going to ask you to do. I can't leave word for him any other way, and I don't know what he'd think if he came here and found the cycles and all gone. Then take him home with you, will you? And I'll ring you up just as soon as I can. Good-bye!