Chapter 1.

“Yes,” sad Scoot Whizzer, “for getting over the country and seeing the scenery, give me the motor car every time.”

These words were spoken to Bill Buddle by Scoot Whizzer as they flew along the road in the new “Rattlebury” which Scoot had just purchased and was bringing home from the city.

“You see,” said Scoot, enlarging on the virtues of the motor car; “with train travelling you see the same old scenery every time.”

“I can never manage to see any scenery when I'm travelling in a motor car,” replied Bill; “everything seems to shoot past like a big basin of haggis.”

“Yes,” said Scoot, ignoring Bill's nasty indictment; “give me the motor car for variety, and there's nothing can beat the motor for giving a man a thrill.”

“And they can give you a dirty spill, too,” said Bill.

“I said ‘thrill,’” yelled Scoot, “not ‘spill.'”

Scoot's sense of humour had long since been embalmed by the constant inhalation of the vapours of many mysterious and terrible spirits, and with a deep touch of motor reverence in his voice, he continued:

“For combining business wth pleasure, give me the motor car. Nothing to touch it for killing two birds with one stone.”

“I thought the motor had a better average than that,” said Bill, and the conversation was closed.