Perceiving that they evidently expected something in return, Speedy brought the hand of his "police guard" to its head and returned the salutes!
It was too good to last, thought Speedy, though he was praying that he would get away with it for just twenty more minutes or so. He had crossed 42nd Street, the crossroads of the world, by this time and was still going strong.
Ten blocks further on, he made his almost fatal blunder. He was forced to pass very close to the policeman on the corner, something he had heretofore been able to avoid. But the cop, evidently as much deceived as had been his brother bluecoats farther uptown, snapped to a salute. With danger so near, almost within arm's length, Speedy clutched the "lieutenant's" wrist nervously to return the salute and did not bring the limp hand up quite far enough. The hand did not reach the peak of the cap. It only got as far as the nose! The "lieutenant's" thumb pressed against his nose.
The traffic cop, astonished, stared sharply. In a flash he recognized the hoax that had been put over on him. Speedy, meantime, had smitten Nellie sharply across the back. She broke into a more furious gallop than ever. It was now or never! A police whistle shrilled behind him. The fat cop was shouting. A block down Broadway another policeman on horseback straightened up to attention at the tocsin of alarm. His insulted fellow bluecoat was evidently pointing to the reeling horse car. The mounted cop urged his own horse forward and started in furious pursuit. The chase was on!
