"While you are at it, Andy, better look the whole machine over carefully." "I will, Jack.

And maybe you had better look your machines over, too." "Good advice." While Andy was fixing his bicycle Pepper and the young major inspected their own bicycles.
"Well, I never!" gasped The Imp, as the light fell on his rear wheel.
"Another quarter of a mile and I would have had a spill and no mistake!" "Same here!" came from Jack.

"Oh, isn't this the worst yet!" "What's wrong ?" queried the acrobatic youth.
"The back wheel is loose, and two of the sprockets of the sprocket-wheel have been filed down, to let the chain slip," answered Pepper.
"And my handle-bars are loose and the chain all but filed in two," cried Jack.

"Boys, this was done on purpose!" "Of course!" came from both of the others.
"Done by our enemies!" "Sure." "Ritter and his cronies." "Well, we'd have to prove that," answered Andy, slowly.
"Don't you believe it, Andy ?" "I do; but that isn't proof." "And that isn't getting us to Point View Lodge," came from Pepper.

"I guess we'll have to walk!" he added, with something like a groan.
"Walk! We can't walk that distance," replied the young major.
"Well, we can't trust ourselves on these machines.