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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Motor Boys Overland, by Clarence Young
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: The Motor Boys Overland
+       Or, A Long Trip for Fun and Fortune
+
+
+Author: Clarence Young
+
+
+
+Release Date: May 20, 2013  [eBook #42748]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTOR BOYS OVERLAND***
+
+
+Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
+http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
+      file which includes the original illustrations.
+      See 42748-h.htm or 42748-h.zip:
+      (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/42748/42748-h/42748-h.htm)
+      or
+      (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/42748/42748-h.zip)
+
+
+Transcriber's note:
+
+      Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).
+
+      Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=).
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: FOR NEARLY TEN MILES THE AUTOS WERE CLOSE TOGETHER.]
+
+
+THE MOTOR BOYS OVERLAND
+
+Or
+A Long Trip for Fun and Fortune
+
+by
+
+CLARENCE YOUNG
+
+Author of "The Motor Boys," "The Motor Boys in Mexico," etc.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+New York
+Cupples & Leon Co.
+
+
+      *      *      *      *      *      *
+
+BOOKS BY CLARENCE YOUNG
+
+
+=MOTOR BOYS SERIES=
+
+12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, 60 cents, postpaid
+
+  THE MOTOR BOYS
+      Or Chums Through Thick and Thin
+
+  THE MOTOR BOYS OVERLAND
+      Or A Long Trip for Fun and Fortune
+
+  THE MOTOR BOYS IN MEXICO
+      Or the Secret of the Buried City
+
+  THE MOTOR BOYS ACROSS THE PLAINS
+      Or The Hermit of Lost Lake
+
+  THE MOTOR BOYS AFLOAT
+      Or The Stirring Cruise of the Dartaway
+
+  THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE ATLANTIC
+      Or The Mystery of the Lighthouse
+
+
+=THE JACK RANGER SERIES=
+
+12mo. Finely Illustrated. Price per volume, $1.00, postpaid
+
+  JACK RANGER'S SCHOOLDAYS
+      Or The Rivals of Washington Hall
+
+  JACK RANGER'S WESTERN TRIP
+      Or From Boarding School to Ranch and Range
+
+  JACK RANGER'S SCHOOL VICTORIES
+      Or Track, Gridiron and Diamond
+
+  (Other volumes in preparation)
+
+      *      *      *      *      *      *
+
+Copyright, 1906, by
+Cupples & Leon Company
+
+THE MOTOR BOYS OVERLAND
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+ CHAPTER.                             PAGE
+       I. AN AUTOMOBILE RACE             1
+      II. HO FOR THE WEST!              10
+     III. THE OLD MILL ON FIRE          18
+      IV. A CHASE AFTER A RASCAL        26
+       V. THE MYSTERY OF THE MINER      34
+      VI. A HOLD-UP                     42
+     VII. A FRUITLESS PURSUIT           49
+    VIII. IN THE WINDY CITY             56
+      IX. A SHOT IN THE DARK            64
+       X. ENCIRCLED BY COWBOYS          72
+      XI. CAPTURING A HORSE THIEF       79
+     XII. THE AUTO ON FIRE              87
+    XIII. AT DEAD MAN'S GULCH           95
+     XIV. NODDY STEALS A MARCH         103
+      XV. IN THE NICK OF TIME          111
+     XVI. A RUSH OF GOLD SEEKERS       119
+    XVII. OVER THE MOUNTAINS           126
+   XVIII. A TRICK OF THE ENEMY         133
+     XIX. THE AUTO STOLEN              140
+      XX. ATTACKED BY INDIANS          147
+     XXI. OVER A CLIFF                 154
+    XXII. THE CHASE                    161
+   XXIII. WRECKED                      169
+    XXIV. FORWARD ONCE MORE            176
+     XXV. A RACE TO THE MINE           183
+    XXVI. GOLD!                        191
+   XXVII. BESIEGED AT THE MINE         198
+  XXVIII. WINNING THE CLAIM            205
+    XXIX. THE FIGHT AT THE MINE        212
+     XXX. AN ESCAPE--CONCLUSION        220
+
+
+
+
+LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
+
+   FOR NEARLY TEN MILES THE AUTOS WERE CLOSE TOGETHER.
+   “TAKE THAT!” NED CRIED.
+   THEY RUSHED TO ONE SIDE, THUNDERING PAST THE AUTO.
+   THE SAVAGES BEGAN CIRCLING ABOUT THE MACHINE.
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+
+_Dear Boys_:
+
+Here we have the second volume of "The Motor Boys Series," a line of
+books relating to the doings of some bright and up-to-date youths, on
+wheels, at home and abroad.
+
+In the first volume of the series, called "The Motor Boys," the writer
+told how Bob, Ned and Jerry won several important races, including that
+which brought to them a much-wished-for prize, a grand touring car.
+
+The car won, there was nothing to do but to take a long trip, and in
+this present book, "The Motor Boys Overland," are given the particulars
+of a journey in the automobile to the great West. On the way the boys
+fall in with an old miner, who has the secret of a lost gold mine of
+great value. The lads decide to take the miner to the lost mine in their
+touring car, and the long and perilous journey among the mountains is
+begun. Enemies also hear of the wonderful lost mine, and then begins a
+wild race, to see who shall get there first and claim the riches.
+
+This "Motor Boys Series" will be continued by a third volume, to be
+called "The Motor Boys in Mexico." I earnestly hope the boys will find
+the stories to their liking. I can assure all it has been a pleasure
+to pen them, for the writer is something of an automobile enthusiast
+himself, and some of the experiences on the road have been taken from
+life.
+
+CLARENCE YOUNG.
+
+_March 22, 1906._
+
+
+
+
+THE MOTOR BOYS OVERLAND.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+AN AUTOMOBILE RACE.
+
+
+There was a whizz of rubber-tired wheels, a cloud of dust and the
+frightened yelping of a dog as a big, red touring automobile shot down
+the road.
+
+"You nearly ran over him, Chunky!" exclaimed Jerry Hopkins, to the stout
+youth at his side.
+
+"That's what you did, Bob Baker!" chimed in Ned Slade, leaning over from
+the rear seat of the auto. "I thought you said you were an expert."
+
+"I didn't come within five feet of the pup," answered Bob Baker, giving
+the steering wheel a twist to avoid a chicken that scooted across the
+country road.
+
+"Never mind--miss as good as a mile--we certainly are skating
+along--never say die--hit a dog, biff! bang! up in the air--down
+again--bust a tire--break your leg--kill the animal--off again--whoop!"
+
+"Say, Andy Rush, if you're going to talk as fast as that the first time
+Chunky speeds the machine, I'm going to get out!" cried Jerry, with a
+laugh. "There's excitement enough without you making any more."
+
+"All right, fellows, I'll keep quiet," agreed Andy, who was a small,
+nervous chap, never still for a moment, and so full of energy that he
+talked, as Jerry sometimes said, "like a house afire."
+
+Bob leaned forward and pulled one of the levers. The auto slowed down,
+as the low-speed gear came into play, and bowled along under a stretch
+of shady trees.
+
+"Fifteen miles in thirty minutes," remarked the stout lad, pulling out
+his watch. "Not so bad for a starter, eh, Ned?"
+
+"The machine certainly can go!" observed Jerry.
+
+"I didn't have the full-speed lever on, either," remarked Bob, who was
+called "Chunky" by his companions, because of his fleshiness. He turned
+off the gasolene as the auto came under a large chestnut tree, and the
+four boys stretched out comfortably on the leather-upholstered seats.
+
+There was Bob Baker, a lad of fifteen years, son of Andrew Baker, a rich
+banker; Ned Slade, sixteen years old, the only son of Aaron Slade, a
+department store proprietor, and Jerry Hopkins, the son of a widow, Mrs.
+Julia Hopkins.
+
+These three were faithful chums, seldom apart. With them was a mutual
+friend, Andy Rush. All the boys lived in the village of Cresville, not
+far from Boston.
+
+The three first named had, the week before the story opens, come into
+possession of a fine touring car, which they had won as the first prize
+of a motor-cycle meet, given by the Cresville Athletic Club, as related
+in the first volume of this series, entitled "The Motor Boys."
+
+In that was told how they had incurred the enmity of Noddy Nixon, a town
+bully, who had robbed the mill of Amos Judson of one thousand dollars,
+which crime the Motor Boys were instrumental in fastening on Noddy.
+
+In consequence of the pending disclosure of his guilt, Noddy had fled
+from town, a short time before the races, in his father's automobile.
+Bill Berry, a town ne'er-do-well, accompanied him. Not long after Noddy
+had fled in the terror of his guilt being found out, he sent back a
+letter threatening vengeance on the three boys, whom he accused as being
+responsible for the fact that he had to leave home.
+
+But the Motor Boys, as they now called themselves, cared little for this
+in view of the pleasures they anticipated when they got the automobile.
+It had come in due time; a fine affair, with all the latest improvements
+and attachments, and was a car capable of making a trip almost anywhere.
+
+The company from whom the auto was purchased sent an expert out to
+Cresville with it, to instruct the boys in the running of the machine.
+They learned readily, and were soon able to make short trips on the
+country roads surrounding the village. This was the first time they had
+made an extended trip, and the drawing of lots had given Bob the chance
+to drive the auto, with the result that he nearly came to grief when the
+dog unexpectedly ran across the road.
+
+For about half an hour the three chums and Andy rested in the shade. It
+was a pleasant fall afternoon, and though the sun was warm there was a
+cool breeze.
+
+"Whose turn to crank her up?" asked Bob, for, of course, it could not be
+expected of him, in charge of the steering wheel, to start the engine.
+
+"I guess it's mine," came from Ned, with a sort of groan. His arm still
+ached from the previous turning of the flywheel.
+
+"I'll do it--lots of fun--first time I ever had a chance--let me--good
+for my muscle--whoop!" exclaimed Andy, bustling from the car.
+
+"Oh, it's good for your muscle, all right enough," observed Ned. "Go on,
+I'll not stop you."
+
+It was harder work than Andy had anticipated, but he managed to give
+the crank a few turns and spin the heavy flywheel around. Bob switched
+on the spark, turned the gasolene into the cylinders, and soon there was
+a throbbing that told the engine had started. Andy jumped to one side
+and nearly toppled over.
+
+"Did you think I'd run you down?" asked Bob.
+
+"I don't know anything about autos," answered Andy.
+
+"She can't go until I connect the speed-gears," explained Bob, with
+something of a superior air. "Hop in, Andy!"
+
+Andy climbed back to his rear seat, Bob threw the lever forward to
+first speed, and the car, moving slowly at first, but with increasing
+swiftness, started down the road.
+
+"Look out for dogs!" advised Ned.
+
+"We don't want roast chicken for supper, so you needn't bother to kill
+any," came from Jerry.
+
+"I can steer as good as either of you," exclaimed the stout lad. "You
+nearly hit a man the other day, Jerry, and I guess you've forgotten,
+Ned, how you broke down one of Mr. Smith's shade trees. I'm not as bad
+as that."
+
+Honk! honk! sounded down the road in the rear of the boys.
+
+"Here comes another auto," said Jerry. "Keep over to one side, Bob."
+
+Honk! honk! This time it was Bob who blew his horn to let the oncomers
+know some one was ahead of them. The noise of the approaching car
+sounded nearer.
+
+"Better keep well over, Chunky," advised Ned.
+
+"I'm not going to give 'em more than half the road," answered Bob,
+firmly. "If they want a race they can have it, too."
+
+He threw the third-speed clutch into place, and the boys' car shot ahead
+so suddenly that Andy was nearly toppled out of his seat. The red auto
+dashed down the road.
+
+Behind it, at a swift pace, there came a big, green affair, almost twice
+the size of the Cresville machine. It was going at a great pace, a lone
+man occupying the steering seat, and no one being in back. As the green
+car shot past the red one, the solitary rider gave three toots to his
+horn. Bob answered, and then, before the other boys could stop him he
+advanced his spark, turned on more gasolene, and was away after the
+green dragon like a streak of red fire.
+
+"What are you going to do?" yelled Ned.
+
+"See if I can beat him!" exclaimed Bob.
+
+"You're crazy! That's a ninety horse-power car and ours is only forty!"
+
+"I'm going to try," repeated Bob, between his clenched teeth.
+
+It looked like a hopeless undertaking. The green car was a quarter of a
+mile ahead before Bob could get his machine speeded up. When he did,
+however, the new auto ran along swiftly and easily.
+
+Bob shut off his power temporarily and then, with a quick yank, pulled
+the lever to full speed ahead. Then he turned on the spark and gasolene.
+The red auto seemed to double its already swift motion.
+
+The car swayed from side to side, and the boys, except Bob, who had a
+firm grip of the wheel, were bounced up into the air, again and again.
+Bob had on big goggles, and, with head bent low, was watching the road
+like a hawk ready to pounce on a chicken.
+
+"We're gaining on him!" he muttered, and he tooted the horn. Back a
+faint, answering blast came.
+
+Indeed, it was evident that the red auto, though a smaller and less
+powerful machine, was creeping up on its rival. The lone chauffeur
+glanced back, saw the pursuing car, and turned on full power.
+
+For a few moments he increased his lead. But Bob advanced his spark
+further, and turned on a trifle more of gasolene. The red auto once more
+leaped forward.
+
+"We've got him!" cried Bob. "He can't get another inch out of his, and I
+haven't used the accelerator pedal yet. We'll beat him!"
+
+"If we don't all break our necks!" exclaimed Jerry, holding to his seat.
+
+"Terrible fast--takes your breath--shakes the liver-pin out of
+you--loosens all your teeth--great sport--smash the machine--never say
+die--don't give up the ship--whoop!" yelled Andy, as he slid down to the
+bottom of the car, unable any longer to remain upright.
+
+Slowly the red car crept up on the green one. The dust arose in clouds
+about both machines. The autos swayed from the terrific speed, but
+Bob held the wheel firm and was ready to shut off power and apply the
+emergency brake in a second. The man in front again glanced back, and
+did not seem to relish being passed by mere boys in a smaller car than
+his. He was making desperate efforts to draw away.
+
+The distance between the machines lessened. Bob was watching his
+opportunity.
+
+"Now we've got him!" he cried. "Here we go!"
+
+He pushed down the accelerator pedal, used only to give a momentary
+burst of speed. The red car shot forward and the front wheels almost
+lapped the rear ones of the machine in the lead.
+
+There was a slight turn to the road, just where Bob had decided to pass
+his rival. A clump of trees hid the view, excepting for a short distance
+ahead. Just as the boys' auto was on the point of making the turn and
+passing the green one, Ned glanced up and gave a shout of terror.
+
+Right in front was a load of hay, overturned in the road, and both cars,
+at full speed, were dashing straight for it!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+HO FOR THE WEST!
+
+
+"Put on the brake!" yelled Ned.
+
+"Shut off the power!" shouted Jerry.
+
+A frightened cry came from the farmer whose load of fodder had
+overturned in the road. He was unhitching his horses, and jumped to one
+side as he saw two big autos bearing down on him.
+
+"You're in for a spill, lads!" called the man in the green car. At that
+instant he applied his emergency brake and shut off the power. His car
+came to such a sudden stop that he was thrown from his seat, high into
+the air.
+
+Bob seemed unable, from the very terror of fright, to make a move to
+stop the auto he was steering, and clung to the wheel like grim death.
+
+"Put on the brake!" yelled Ned again. "We'll be killed!"
+
+The load of hay was not ten feet in advance. Bob gave the wheel a sudden
+twist. The red car shot to one side, out into a ditch along the road. It
+skidded on two wheels, the boys were nearly thrown out, and bounced high
+in the air.
+
+With another quick twist, Bob sent the car straight ahead. Then another
+turn of the wheel and he was back in the road again!
+
+He had passed the obstruction, going between it and the green auto, and
+had reached the highway in safety after as daring a bit of steering as
+ever a boy undertook. Then he shut off the power and applied the brakes
+hard, the car coming to a stop with a groan and screech as the emergency
+band gripped the axle.
+
+"Whew! That was a close shave!" came from Jerry, as he drew a long
+breath.
+
+"A little too near for comfort!" was Ned's opinion.
+
+"Bet your life!" was all Andy could say, his rapid fire of words failing
+to discharge this time.
+
+"I thought it was the only thing to do," remarked the stout steersman.
+"I was afraid to stop too suddenly, and I figured we just had room
+enough to get through. But I wouldn't do it again."
+
+"Speaking of sudden stops, I wonder what has become of the man in the
+green car?" spoke Jerry. "We must go back and find out."
+
+The four lads leaped from their machine and ran back past the load of
+hay. The farmer was rapidly walking about in a circle, wringing his
+hands and crying:
+
+"He's killed! He's killed! I know he is!"
+
+With rather anxious hearts the boys hurried around to the other side of
+the big pile of dried grass. As they reached the place they saw a man
+attired in an automobile suit, with big goggles on, wiggle out from the
+mass of hay. He pulled several wisps from his hair and then saw the boys.
+
+"Did you shoot right through the pile and come out on the other side?"
+he asked.
+
+"We ran around it," explained Bob. "We beat you," he added, not without
+pride.
+
+"So I see. It came pretty near being the end of all of us. You're a
+plucky lad. I don't mind being beaten by you. I thought I had a good
+car, but yours is better."
+
+"Ours is much lighter; I guess that's why we went ahead," returned
+Jerry, willing to concede something to a vanquished rival. "But are you
+hurt?"
+
+The man carefully felt of different parts of his body. Then he took off
+his goggles and looked over as much as he could see of himself.
+
+"I don't seem to be," he said, finally, with a laugh. "It was like
+falling into a feather bed to land in that hay-pile the way I did.
+That's all that saved me. I wonder how my machine stood the emergency
+brake."
+
+He examined his car carefully, and was apparently satisfied that no
+injury had been done by the sudden stopping of it.
+
+"Where is he?" asked the farmer, suddenly appearing from behind the hay.
+"Is he dead?" And then he seemed to realize his error and joined in the
+laugh that followed.
+
+"No, I'm not dead yet," replied the owner of the green car. "Well," he
+went on, "I must be going. Are you boys coming along? If you are, no
+more races."
+
+"We'll have to go back to Cresville," answered Bob. "We promised to
+return for supper."
+
+The man bade the boys good-by and soon the big, green dragon was
+throbbing down the road in a cloud of dust. The boys, finding they could
+not help the farmer in his trouble, got in their machine and, promising
+to send help from the first farmhouse they passed, they left the owner
+of the hay and were soon speeding toward Cresville.
+
+"Isn't this glorious!" exclaimed Jerry, as the auto sped along. "I wish
+we could take a long trip."
+
+"Why can't we?" asked Ned.
+
+"We talked of a tour when we found we had a chance to get a car," put in
+Chunky. "I for one would like to go out West."
+
+"Ho for the West!" piped up Andy. "Over the plains--herds of
+cattle--cowboys in chase--rattlesnakes and horned toads--sandy
+deserts--Indians--bang! Shoot 'em up! Lots of excitement--take me
+along--whoop!"
+
+"Easy!" pleaded Jerry. "One thing at a time, Andy. Haven't we had
+excitement enough for one day?"
+
+"We ought to make a strike to go on a western trip, though," spoke Ned,
+in serious tones. "Here we have a car that we could cross the continent
+in. Let's speak about it at home. It can't do any harm. Maybe the folks
+will let us go."
+
+"It's worth trying for," said Jerry. "What do you say, Chunky?"
+
+"I'm with you," replied Bob. "It will be the best sport ever. But
+wouldn't we have to wait until next spring? It's fall, and if we go West
+it may be very cold, with lots of snow soon."
+
+"We can bear off to the south," said Jerry.
+
+"Sure enough," agreed Chunky.
+
+That night, when the automobile had been safely put away in the barn at
+Bob's house, three anxious boys broached the subject to their respective
+parents. So insistent were they that it was not long before a general
+council was arranged. Mrs. Hopkins and Mr. Slade were induced to call
+at Mr. Baker's house, where, with the three boys, the whole subject was
+gone over.
+
+"I'm afraid it's too much of an undertaking," said Mr. Baker.
+
+"That's my idea," agreed Mr. Slade, and Mrs. Hopkins nodded to indicate
+that that was her view.
+
+The boys set up a chorus of pleadings. The parents had many objections.
+The distance was too great, the boys did not know enough about
+automobiles, they would lose their way and break down far from help. In
+fact, so many negative reasons were given that it looked as if the plan
+would not go through.
+
+"Will you please wait ten minutes before you make a final decision?"
+asked Jerry, appealing to the trio of parents.
+
+They agreed, wondering what he was about to do. Jerry got his hat and
+hurried from Mr. Baker's house. In a little while he returned, all out
+of breath.
+
+"He'll be here in five minutes," said the boy.
+
+"Who?" asked Mr. Slade.
+
+"Mr. Wakefield." Jerry referred to Horace Wakefield, an instructor at
+the Athletic Club, who was quite a friend of the boys, and who himself
+had recently purchased an automobile. He lived near Mr. Baker.
+
+"What's all this I hear about a trip to the West these boys are going to
+take?" asked Mr. Wakefield, a few minutes later, coming into the parlor
+where the conference was going on.
+
+"You mean the trip they think they are going to take," corrected Mr.
+Slade, with a laugh. "I suppose Jerry told you it was all settled."
+
+"To be honest, he wanted me to come over and settle it for him and his
+chums," replied the instructor. "He said there was some doubt about the
+feasibility of making the trip."
+
+Mr. Baker explained how matters stood. He and the other parents were
+willing the boys should have a good time, he said, but did not want them
+to run into danger.
+
+"Do you think they could make a trip away out West in their car?" asked
+Mr. Baker.
+
+"From what I know of the boys, and from the build of their car, I have
+no doubt it could be done with perfect safety, as far as ordinary
+conditions are concerned," said Mr. Wakefield. "Of course, there will be
+some few troubles, but none that cannot be overcome with a little work.
+I think the trip is perfectly possible. In fact, you know, autos have
+gone clear across the continent."
+
+"Then you think we ought to let the boys go?" asked Mr. Slade.
+
+"I--think--you--ought to," replied the instructor, with purposed
+deliberateness, smiling at the anxious lads.
+
+"Hurrah!" yelled Bob, forgetting that he was in the house.
+
+"Lucky I thought to go and get him," spoke Jerry to Ned.
+
+"I might add," went on Mr. Wakefield, "that I am going to make a trip as
+far as Chicago. If you decide to let the boys go, they could accompany
+me that far, at least. It would be a good experience for them."
+
+"Oh, dad! Please let us go!" pleaded Bob.
+
+"Yes, yes!" chimed in Jerry and Ned.
+
+There was a moment of silence, while the parents were gravely
+considering the matter. During it the boys could almost hear the beating
+of their own hearts.
+
+"Well," began Mr. Baker, "I'm willing, if the rest of you are."
+
+"I suppose I may as well say yes," spoke Mr. Slade.
+
+"Then the only thing left for me to do is to agree with the majority,"
+said Mrs. Hopkins, with a laugh.
+
+"Westward ho!" fairly shouted Bob, and he began to do an impromptu jig
+until his father stopped him.
+
+"We'll take Andy Rush along," said Ned, "and we'll start the first of
+the week!"
+
+"Hark! What was that?" asked Mr. Baker, suddenly.
+
+Out on the night air sounded an alarm.
+
+"Fire! Fire! Fire!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+THE OLD MILL ON FIRE.
+
+
+They all rushed to windows and looked out into the night. Off to the
+north a dull red glare lighted the sky.
+
+"What is it?" asked Mr. Baker.
+
+"I can't see from here," replied Jerry.
+
+"Come on, fellows! Let's go!" exclaimed Ned. He started for the door.
+
+"Take the auto," suggested Bob. "No telling how far off it is."
+
+The next instant the three boys were in the automobile shed, getting the
+machine ready for a start. The red glow in the sky increased. People
+began running past on their way to the fire.
+
+There was a clatter and bang, a ringing of bells, and the one engine the
+town possessed, in all the glory of its brass and nickel plate, rushed
+past, as fast as the horses could drag it. The hose-cart followed.
+
+"Hurry up or we'll miss the fun!" cried Ned to Bob, who was cranking
+the auto. Somehow, Chunky could not get the engine started. At last he
+succeeded and the boys climbed to their seats.
+
+"It's my turn to steer!" cried Jerry, and no one disputed him. He ran
+the car out of the side path, past the Baker home. On the stoop stood
+Mr. Slade, Mrs. Hopkins and Mr. Baker, watching the fire.
+
+"Want to come along?" asked Ned.
+
+"Let's go," exclaimed Mr. Slade, and he and Mr. Baker got their hats
+and were soon in the rear seat with Ned. Mrs. Hopkins, with a laugh,
+declined the trip. Jerry speeded the car ahead and soon was chugging on
+toward the fire, which was some distance outside of town.
+
+On the road the automobilists passed scores of men and boys who were
+running at top speed. In their excitement many were yelling at the top
+of their voices.
+
+"Where is it?" asked Bob of a group of boys.
+
+"The old windmill!" was the answer.
+
+"The place where we found the box Noddy Nixon stole from Mr. Judson!"
+cried Jerry, turning to his companions. "Queer, isn't it?"
+
+"Maybe he got his toady, Jack Pender, to set the place afire so nothing
+would ever come out about it," suggested Bob.
+
+"Hardly," ventured Jerry. "But what's the trouble up ahead?"
+
+In advance could be seen quite a crowd of people in a group about some
+object. Just then came a long-drawn-out whistle of a steam engine.
+
+"The fire apparatus is stuck!" cried Ned. "The horses can't pull it!"
+
+"I always thought that machine was too heavy for two horses," said Mr.
+Slade.
+
+The auto soon came up to the scene of the trouble. The fire-engine had
+sunk deep down in a rut of the road and, pull as they did, the horses
+could not budge it.
+
+"Lay hold of the wheels, boys!" called the driver of the apparatus.
+"Everybody give a hand!"
+
+Willingly enough the crowd tried to aid. But the roads were soft and the
+engine was heavy. It seemed bound to stick fast.
+
+"Hold on!" cried Jerry. "Let us through, will you? I have an idea!"
+
+The crowd parted, the attention of the men and boys being attracted from
+the stranded engine.
+
+"What are you going to do?" asked Mr. Baker.
+
+"Give 'em a lift," replied Jerry. "I say, have you a rope?" the boy
+called to the driver of the steamer.
+
+"Yes!" was the reply. "But we need more than a rope to get out of here."
+
+"No, you don't! I'll show you!" shouted Jerry. He had brought the
+machine to a halt by throwing out the gear, but did not stop the
+gasolene engine. He quickly fastened the rope to the rear axle of the
+auto.
+
+"Now tie the other end to the engine and we'll pull you to the fire,"
+the boy said.
+
+The driver saw the feasibility of the scheme at once. He unhitched the
+straining horses, attached the cable to the pole and gave the word.
+Jerry threw on the clutch, there was a tightening of the rope and slowly
+but surely the engine was dragged from the mud hole. Then, once on solid
+ground, Jerry put on more speed, and, amid the cheers of the crowd, he
+started off at a swift pace, dragging the engine to the fire.
+
+The hose-cart had gone on ahead and was waiting for the steamer. Power
+was soon up in the apparatus, and soon two streams were directed toward
+the mill, which was now a mass of flames.
+
+There was no chance of saving it, such a start had the fire gained, and,
+in fact, the loss would be small if it burned down, but the fire company
+could not let slip a chance of going to the blaze. So the crew continued
+to squirt water, though most of it did little good. However, there was
+plenty of excitement, which suited the boys.
+
+Those in the auto watched the old mill gradually being consumed. To the
+boys it brought a recollection of the time they had there made the final
+discovery of Noddy Nixon's villainy, and had practically forced him to
+admit his guilt. At last the roof fell in, with a big shower of sparks,
+and the fire was practically out, though the steamer continued to pump
+water.
+
+"Let's go home," suggested Mr. Baker. "We've seen enough."
+
+"Oh, stay a while longer!" pleaded his son. "It's a fine moonlight night
+and it will be fun going home later."
+
+"You boys can stay if you like," said the banker, "but home's the place
+for me, eh, Mr. Slade?"
+
+The merchant agreed. So Jerry turned the auto toward Cresville and made
+a quick run, leaving Mr. Baker and Mr. Slade at their respective homes,
+and then he and the boys came back in the machine to the fire. They
+found most of the crowd gone, and the engine about to return to quarters.
+
+"Do you want us to trail along and pull you again if you get stuck?"
+asked Bob of the engineer.
+
+"Well, you might come in handy," was the answer. "We're much obliged to
+you, boys."
+
+"Glad we were on deck," said Jerry. "However, I guess you will not need
+us again," and he sent the auto ahead at a good speed. "We'll take a
+little ride before we go home," he added to his chums.
+
+It was a bright moonlight night, rather warm for the close of September,
+and the road was a fairly good one, so the boys skimmed along, their
+thoughts on the western trip they were soon to make. For several miles
+they kept on. Suddenly Jerry yanked the levers and put on the brakes.
+
+"What's the matter?" asked Bob, as the auto came to a stop.
+
+"There," replied Jerry, pointing ahead.
+
+The boys looked and saw, a little in advance, a tumble-down hut, from
+the window of which a light gleamed.
+
+"That's queer," observed Jerry.
+
+"What is, to see a light in a hut?" asked Bob.
+
+"No; but in that particular one," replied Jerry. "I came past there day
+before yesterday and I noticed that the place is almost ready to fall
+apart. No one can be living in it, and any one who is there at night
+with a light is there for no good purpose."
+
+"Let's take a look," suggested Bob.
+
+Jerry shut off the power, took out the spark plug and the boys advanced
+cautiously, leaving the machine on one side of the road.
+
+"Maybe there are tramps in there who won't like being spied on," said
+Ned.
+
+"Don't make any noise," was Jerry's answer. "Be ready to run when I give
+the word."
+
+On tiptoes the boys drew near the hut. Suddenly Bob grabbed Jerry by the
+arm.
+
+"What is it?" asked Jerry.
+
+"Smell that?"
+
+"Acetylene gas! Some one has been here with a gas lamp, and within a
+few minutes," agreed Jerry, sniffing the peculiar odor.
+
+"Isn't that a motor cycle leaning against the building?" asked Ned.
+
+"Sure enough!" said Jerry. "Go slow, boys."
+
+Walking like cats, they reached the window from which the light
+streamed. As they glanced inside they saw a sight that startled them.
+
+Lying on a pile of rags in one corner of the bare room, in the glare of
+a candle, was an old man, with matted and unkempt hair and beard. His
+face showed pain and suffering. His clothes were old and ragged. But
+what attracted the attention of the boys was the fact that he wore about
+his waist a wide leather belt, with several compartments or pockets in
+it. The pockets were open and in them, as well as scattered on the floor
+in front of the man, were little piles of yellow, gleaming gold.
+
+"He's a miner!" whispered Bob, hoarsely.
+
+As the boys watched they heard the old man moan:
+
+"Don't rob me! Don't take what little I have left! If I wasn't sick and
+suffering no one would dare play this trick on Jim Nestor!"
+
+The next instant the boys heard a sound from the farther corner of the
+room. Out of the semi-darkness came a figure. It stooped over the old
+miner. There was the sound of a blow, a deep groan--and then came
+darkness as the candle was extinguished.
+
+Some one ran rapidly from the hut.
+
+"Help! help!" called the miner, feebly. "Help! He's robbed me!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+A CHASE AFTER A RASCAL.
+
+
+"After him!" cried Jerry. "Catch the miserable thief!"
+
+"You and Bob chase him, whoever he is!" called Ned. "I'll stay with the
+old miner here in the hut. He may be badly hurt."
+
+"Hurry back to the auto!" shouted Jerry. "We can catch the thief in
+that."
+
+As he spoke he looked ahead. A dark figure crossed the patch of
+moonlight in the rear of the hut. Then came a sound of a motor-cycle
+being started, and soon the chug-chug of the machine on the road told
+that the thief was escaping that way.
+
+Jerry and Bob ran to the auto. In a trice Jerry had the engine cranked
+up. Bob jumped in, followed by his companion, and they put off down
+the road after the fleeing motor-cyclist, whom the moonlight plainly
+revealed.
+
+"He can't get away from us!" exclaimed Jerry. "We will overhaul him in a
+jiffy!"
+
+But Jerry reckoned without knowing who he was after. He did not dare put
+on full speed, while the cyclist rashly had his machine going as fast
+as the explosions could follow one after the other. Besides, the thief
+had a good start with his light apparatus.
+
+But Jerry determined to make the capture. He threw in the second speed
+gear and in a little while had lessened the distance between the auto
+and the motor-cycle.
+
+"I wonder who it is?" asked Bob.
+
+"Maybe we can tell," answered his chum. Jerry switched on the
+searchlight in the front of the auto. A dazzling pencil of illumination
+shot down the road.
+
+In the white glare the figure of the motorist stood out sharply, and the
+red motor he rode could be plainly seen. At the sight both boys gave a
+start.
+
+"Jack Pender!" exclaimed Bob.
+
+"As sure as guns!" cried Jerry. "We must catch him!"
+
+He was about to take chances and put on the third gear, when Pender, on
+his cycle, suddenly turned from the main road, and took a path leading
+through the fields.
+
+"That ends it!" exclaimed Jerry. "No use trying to follow him. Our auto
+isn't built for 'cross-country riding."
+
+He slowed up, turned around, and, with a last glance in the direction
+Noddy Nixon's former toady and friend had taken, sent the car back
+toward the lonely hut.
+
+Meanwhile, Ned, after his companions had started on the chase, had
+struck a match and lighted the candle in the cabin. He found the old
+miner, for such the boys correctly guessed him to be, lying unconscious
+in a corner. The belt, with the gold-dust was gone, though a few grains
+of the precious metal were scattered over the floor. Ned found a pail of
+water in the place. He bathed the old man's head and poured some of the
+fluid down his throat.
+
+"Where am I? What happened?" asked the old man, opening his eyes. Then
+he passed his hand over his head. His fingers were stained with blood.
+
+"You're all right," spoke Ned. "I'll take care of you. What's your name
+and where did you come from?"
+
+"Don't let him rob me!" pleaded the old miner. "I have only a little
+gold, but I need it. I know where there is more, much more. I'll tell
+you, only don't hit me again. I'm sick, please don't strike poor Jim
+Nestor!"
+
+"No one is going to hurt you," said Ned, in soothing tones, but the old
+man did not seem to comprehend. Ned felt of the miner's head, and found
+he had a bad cut on the back. He washed it off with some water and bound
+his handkerchief around it. This seemed to ease the old man, and he
+sank into a doze.
+
+"Well, of all the queer adventures, this is about the limit," spoke Ned,
+to himself.
+
+The boy glanced about the hut. There was nothing to throw any light on
+the strange happenings. The candle flickered in the draught from the
+open door, and cast weird shadows. The man breathed like a person in
+distress. Ned was about to bathe the wounded man's head again, when the
+sound of the automobile returning was heard.
+
+"What luck?" asked Ned, running to the door. "Did you get him?"
+
+Whereupon Jerry told of the fruitless chase after Jack Pender. The three
+boys entered the hut, and Ned told his chums what he had done to relieve
+the miner.
+
+"He's got a bad wound on the head," he went on. "I guess Pender must
+have hit him. Jack probably came this way, saw the old man in here sick,
+and unable to help himself, and watched his chance to rob him. There
+must have been considerable gold-dust in that belt."
+
+Jerry stooped down and gathered a little from the floor.
+
+"There is some mystery here," he said. "I think we had better get a
+doctor for the old miner. After he gets better he may talk. I'd like to
+get my hands on Pender for a little while."
+
+"So would I," chorused Ned and Bob.
+
+"The question is, shall we take the old man back in the auto with us, or
+run back to town and bring out a doctor?" went on Jerry.
+
+"I think we'd better go get a doctor and fetch him here," was Ned's
+opinion. "It might injure the old man to move him."
+
+This was voted the best plan. They made the unconscious miner as
+comfortable as possible on the bed of rags, placed the pail of water
+where he could reach it, and prepared to run back to town. Ned
+volunteered to stay with the miner until they returned, but Jerry
+advised against it, as the hut was on a lonely road.
+
+It did not take long to reach Cresville. Dr. Morrison was routed out of
+bed by the boys, and agreed to return with them in the auto, when the
+case had been explained to him.
+
+"Just wait until I get dressed," he said, "and pack up some instruments
+and I'll be with you."
+
+While waiting, Jerry examined the auto to see that there was plenty of
+water and gasolene in the tanks. He found everything all right.
+
+While Dr. Morrison was making ready to relieve the sufferings of the
+miner in the hut, Jack Pender, on his motor-cycle, was still speeding
+on, to get as far away as possible from those in pursuit of him. When
+he turned from the road and cut across lots he thought very likely that
+the auto would not follow. But he was taking no chances, and, when he
+emerged into the highway again, about a mile farther on, he still ran
+his machine at full speed.
+
+"That was a close call!" he exclaimed. "Who would ever have thought that
+those boys, the same ones who made all the trouble for Noddy, would be
+after me! I escaped just in time. I hope I didn't kill the old man,
+though it was a hard blow I struck him!"
+
+Pender slowed down his machine and listened. No sound of pursuit came to
+him on the quiet night air. He stopped alongside of the road, under a
+big oak tree.
+
+"Guess I'll light up and see how I made out," he said to himself. He
+lighted his acetylene lamp and, standing in the glare of it, drew from
+his pocket the belt he had stolen from the old miner.
+
+"Feels heavy," he muttered. "Ought to be plenty of gold in it. Well, I
+need the money if I am to join Noddy. I must read his letter again."
+
+He pulled out a sheet of paper and began glancing over it.
+
+"Dated New York," he said. "He says he's having lots of fun and no end
+of larks with Bill Berry. I don't care much for Bill, myself. He never
+was any good around town, and he's a desperate man. Hum! let's see!" He
+turned to the letter again. "'Come and join me, Jack. We'll go West
+and have a good time. Bring some money.' Well, I've got the money, all
+right. Now to start West. I'll ride the motor as far as the depot and
+take a train."
+
+Replacing the letter and the belt of gold in his pockets, Pender
+remounted his machine and started off down the road, dark shadows from
+the trees soon hiding him.
+
+It was just about this time that Dr. Morrison had completed his
+preparations to visit the injured miner. The physician took a seat in
+the auto beside Bob, Ned and Jerry being in front, the latter steering.
+
+"Now, don't go too fast," cautioned the doctor to Jerry. "You know I'm
+an old-fashioned man, and not used to making professional visits any
+faster than my horse, old Dobbins, can take me. I don't want an upset."
+
+Jerry promised to be cautious. The moon had begun to go down, and it was
+no easy task steering along the shadowy road, but the boy managed it,
+and soon the deserted hut was reached.
+
+"Now to see what sort of a case I have," spoke the doctor.
+
+"I'll bring one of the oil lamps," said Jerry, unfastening a lantern
+from the dashboard, after stopping the automobile engine. "You can see
+to work by it."
+
+The boys and Dr. Morrison entered the hut. Jerry held the lamp up high
+to illuminate the place.
+
+"Now I'm ready," announced the physician. "Where is the patient?" and he
+opened his medical case.
+
+In wonderment the boys gazed around the hut. To their astonishment,
+there was not the slightest sign of the wounded miner. He had
+disappeared!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+THE MYSTERY OF THE MINER.
+
+
+"He's gone!" exclaimed Ned.
+
+"Are you sure he was here?" inquired the physician.
+
+Of that the boys had not the slightest doubt, and they speedily
+convinced the medical man. The lantern was flashed in every corner of
+the hut, but there was not a sign of the miner.
+
+"It's rather queer," commented Dr. Morrison, when he had listened to the
+details the boys gave him.
+
+"Do you suppose some one came and carried him off?" asked Bob.
+
+"More likely he was not as badly hurt as you supposed," replied Dr.
+Morrison. "He may have been only stunned by a blow on the head. When he
+regained his senses he probably feared another attack, and so he hurried
+from the hut. Let me take the lamp."
+
+The physician flashed the lantern outside the door of the cabin, holding
+it close to the ground.
+
+"I thought so," he said. "See, there are a few grains of the gold-dust
+showing on the door sill, and here are more, farther along the path. The
+man has gone away, and has left a little golden trail."
+
+The physician attempted to follow it, but the yellow specks soon
+disappeared and there was no other clew.
+
+"Depend on it, he has run away in fear," said the doctor. "Rather
+disappointing, too. I believe he could tell a queer story. Who robbed
+him, I wonder?"
+
+"It was----" began Bob, but a nudge from Jerry stopped him.
+
+"We saw some one run from the hut," explained Jerry. "We gave chase in
+the automobile, but the fellow cut across lots and we couldn't follow."
+
+"I suppose I may as well go back," announced the doctor. "There is no
+use staying here. I don't believe the miner will return and solve the
+mystery for us."
+
+The auto was turned toward Cresville and a quick trip was made, the boys
+speculating among themselves on what might be revealed if the wounded
+man could be found.
+
+The physician was left at his home, and then the boys began thinking of
+their beds, as it was growing late.
+
+"Queer that both Noddy and Jack should turn thieves, isn't it?" remarked
+Jerry.
+
+"And that we should happen to be mixed up in both cases," put in Ned. "I
+wonder if we will meet either of them again."
+
+If the boys could have looked into the future they would have seen that
+they were destined to soon encounter Noddy and Jack, and under the
+strangest of circumstances.
+
+The auto was put away and three tired boys were soon snoring in their
+beds. They were up bright and early the next morning and in consultation
+about the proposed trip to Chicago. They called on Mr. Wakefield to
+learn his plans.
+
+He said he expected to start for the Windy City by way of New York,
+on Thursday. It was then Tuesday, and the boys realized that they had
+little time to spare in which to make their preparations.
+
+The three parents, who had somewhat reluctantly given their consent to
+the project, were soon almost as enthusiastic as the boys. Stocks of
+clothing were looked over, money matters were arranged, and the boys
+packed their dress-suit cases with what they thought would do them on
+the trip. They were each given a fairly liberal allowance of funds.
+
+Then the automobile was got ready. It was given a thorough overhauling,
+and an extra supply of tools, together with a full new set of tires, was
+provided. Andy Rush was told to prepare to go, it having been decided
+to take him as far as New York or Chicago, he having relatives in both
+cities.
+
+At last the time came to start. It was a fine, crisp September morning,
+and the boys were up early enough to see the sun rise. The suit-cases
+had been strapped to the machine, tires were pumped up, there was plenty
+of water and gasolene in the tanks, the batteries were renewed, and
+every bit of machinery had been gone over carefully. Andy Rush, the
+night previous, had sent his things over to Bob's house, from whence the
+trip was to be begun. Andy himself arrived right after breakfast.
+
+"Hurrah!" he shouted. "Here we go--all aboard--blow the horn--get out
+of the way--turn on the gasolene--off brakes--break the records--mile a
+minute--whoop!"
+
+"You'll have all the excitement you want for once, I hope, Andy," said
+Jerry.
+
+"Betcherlife!" exclaimed Andy, in one breath.
+
+The boys piled into the auto; good-byes were called, over and over
+again. Then came a toot of a horn as Mr. Wakefield came up the road in
+his machine, a friend, who intended making the trip, accompanying him.
+
+"All ready, boys?" he called.
+
+"All ready!" replied Jerry, who was going to steer for the first stage.
+
+With a blaring of the automobile trumpets, a waving of hands from those
+who had gathered to see the start, and a chorus of cries, wishing every
+one good luck, the little party rode away.
+
+Mr. Wakefield, who knew the road better than did the boys, took the
+lead. His car was of the same pattern as theirs and both machines were
+of equal speed. For several miles the two autos puffed along over the
+pleasant country roads.
+
+No attempt to make time was tried, and at noon the travelers found
+themselves in Providence, Rhode Island, that being the first stopping
+place Mr. Wakefield had decided on. The machines were run up in front
+of a quiet but good hotel, and every one was hungry enough to do full
+justice to the meal.
+
+"How do you boys like it?" asked Mr. Wakefield at the table. "Do you
+think you can stand it as far as Chicago?"
+
+They were all sure they could run the machine to San Francisco, if
+necessary, and Mr. Wakefield and his friend laughed at their enthusiasm.
+
+"We have come about seventy miles without a mishap," said Mr. Wakefield,
+"but there are many miles ahead of us yet."
+
+After a short rest the journey was again taken up, and throughout the
+afternoon the autos were speeded along. The way was through a pleasant
+country, and the boys enjoyed the scenery and fresh air. Several times
+they stopped at farmhouses to get drinks of cold milk, and once a
+motherly-looking woman filled the boys' pockets with newly baked
+doughnuts that were delicious.
+
+"We'll spend the night in Norwich, Conn.," said Mr. Wakefield, when the
+two autos were ready to start, after a momentary stop at a farmhouse.
+
+"Norwich--Norwich! I know Norwich!" exclaimed Andy. "I saw it in a
+book once--years ago--I was a little fellow--man in the moon came down
+too soon to inquire the way to Norwich--went by the south--burnt his
+mouth--eating cold bean porridge!"
+
+"You remember your nursery rhymes well," said Mr. Wakefield, with a
+laugh, in which all joined.
+
+On and on chugged the autos. The afternoon waned to dusk and frequent
+signboards told that the distance from Norwich was constantly lessening.
+Mr. Wakefield was about half a mile in advance, on a straight, level
+road. Suddenly came a sound as of a pistol shot.
+
+"Tire busted!" exclaimed Jerry, shutting off the power. Mr. Wakefield
+heard the noise and turned back.
+
+"Accident?" he inquired.
+
+Jerry explained that one of their inner tubes had blown out.
+
+"Want any help?" asked the athletic instructor.
+
+"We may as well begin now as any other time to mend our own breaks,"
+spoke Jerry. "You go ahead. We'll catch up to you soon."
+
+"All right," said Mr. Wakefield. He felt that it would be a good thing
+to accustom the boys to depend on themselves. So, telling them that the
+road to Norwich was now a straight one, and that the town was about ten
+miles off, he left them to their own devices.
+
+The boys started in on the not very easy task of taking off the heavy
+outer shoe and inserting a new inner tube, of which they carried a
+supply. It finally became so dark that they had to light the lamps to
+see to work. At length they were finished and the tools were put away.
+
+The new tire was pumped up and the engine started. The boys took their
+seats, and, at Bob's request, he was allowed to steer.
+
+"Go slow at first," advised Jerry, "until we see how the new tube holds."
+
+Bob started off at first speed. It was now quite dark, but the oil and
+acetylene lamps gave a good light. All at once Bob, who was peering
+ahead, shut off the power with a jerk and put the brakes on hard.
+
+"What's the matter?" asked Jerry.
+
+"Something in the road," replied the steersman, pointing to a dark
+object.
+
+The next instant three figures loomed up in the glare of the auto lamps.
+
+"Climb out of that gasolene gig!" exclaimed a rough voice. "We're hard
+up an' we need help!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+A HOLD-UP.
+
+
+"Who are you?" asked Jerry, boldly.
+
+"Never mind who we are!" exclaimed the same voice. "Just git out of that
+choo-choo wagon an' hand over what spare change you have."
+
+"Is this a hold-up?" demanded Ned.
+
+"If it isn't it's a good imitation of one," was the answer, accompanied
+by a laugh. "Come, now! Look lively!"
+
+One of the men came around to the side of the auto and grabbed Bob by
+the arm. At the same time another of the tramp trio attempted to seize
+Jerry. Ned was in the rear seat.
+
+"Let go of me!" exclaimed Jerry, striking at the man who had climbed up
+on the step of the machine. The boy's blow fell on the man's arm.
+
+"Oh, that's your game, is it?" cried the ruffian. He drew back his fist
+as though to fell Jerry.
+
+"Help! help!" yelled Bob. He was being pulled from the car by the tramp
+who had grabbed him. It looked bad for the Motor Boys.
+
+Ned sprang up from the rear. He had been fumbling in a valise on the
+floor of the tonneau. He leaned forward over the front seat. In each
+hand he held some object, bright and shining, and he aimed them full in
+the faces of the two tramps on either side of the auto.
+
+"Take that!" Ned cried.
+
+[Illustration: "TAKE THAT!" NED CRIED.]
+
+There was a sharp, hissing sound, a click, and the air was filled with a
+pungent odor.
+
+"I'm killed! He's blinded me!" yelled the tramp, who had grabbed Bob.
+
+"Oh! oh! My head is blown off!" yelled the other ruffian.
+
+Both of them toppled from the steps of the auto and rolled over and over
+in the road, screaming with pain and fright.
+
+"And there's one for you!" shouted Ned, taking aim at the tramp in front
+of the machine, and once more the hissing sound was heard.
+
+"Wow!" cried the fellow, and, whirling around, he dashed off, full
+speed, down the road.
+
+"Bully for you! Hit 'em again--knock 'em out--smash--bang--never say
+die--hear 'em yell--do it again--siss--boom--ah! Whoop!" cried Andy,
+standing on the seat and waving his cap.
+
+The two tramps who had fallen to the road got up, and, still yelling in
+pain, followed their companion.
+
+"Start off!" exclaimed Ned to Bob. "I guess they won't bother us again
+very soon."
+
+"What in the world did you do to them?" asked Jerry.
+
+"Used an ammonia squirt-gun on each one," said Ned.
+
+He showed the boys two affairs that looked like small revolvers, only
+the ammunition was liquid spirits of ammonia, quite strong, contained
+in a rubber bulb in the handle. By pressing the bulb a fine stream of
+ammonia could be shot for quite a distance.
+
+"I saw 'em advertised in a magazine," said Ned. "They were just the
+things for vicious dogs and men, it said, for they blind a person
+temporarily and make his face smart like sixty, but no permanent injury
+is done. I had 'em in my valise and I just happened to think of them
+when those chaps held us up."
+
+"Lucky you did," commented Jerry. "I thought we were surely going to be
+robbed."
+
+"I guess they thought they were killed when they felt that ammonia,"
+said Bob. "Ned, you're all right, that's what you are!" he finished,
+heartily.
+
+"I guess we'd better move along, or Mr. Wakefield may be worried about
+us," suggested Jerry.
+
+So Bob threw the gear into place and the machine moved away. No further
+sign of the tramps was seen, and the boys reached Norwich without
+further incident. They found the hotel Mr. Wakefield had arranged to
+meet them at, and soon were eating a good supper. The adventure with the
+tramps was related, and Mr. Wakefield congratulated the boys on their
+pluck.
+
+An early start was had next morning and good progress was made, so that
+by noon the travelers were in Waterbury, Conn., where dinner was eaten.
+Mr. Wakefield said that by swift traveling New York could be reached
+late that night, but he did not advise it. Instead, the night was spent
+in Danbury.
+
+By noon the next day more than half the distance between their last
+stopping place and New York had been covered, and late that afternoon
+found the two autos speeding down Riverside Drive, leading to the
+metropolis. Not an accident had occurred since the hold-up by the tramps
+and the blowing out of the tire on the boys' auto, and each one was
+congratulating himself that the trip was being made under the best of
+luck.
+
+The travelers were about opposite Grant's tomb, and were moving along
+slowly, when suddenly, with a noise like a shot, one of Mr. Wakefield's
+tires burst. A young woman, driving a spirited horse, was passing his
+auto at the time, and the animal, taking fright, took the bit in his
+teeth and bolted.
+
+The young woman screamed in fright, lost her hold on the reins and clung
+desperately to the seat. There were no vehicles on the drive in that
+vicinity just then, excepting the two autos and the runaway.
+
+"Quick!" cried Mr. Wakefield to the boys, as he brought his machine to a
+stop. "Take after her! There may be an accident! I can't go on until I
+mend this break!"
+
+Ned was steering, and made a turn. Like a flash he threw on the third
+gear and the auto sprang forward like an unleashed hound. Bob, Andy
+and Jerry clung to the seats, while Ned steered the machine after the
+runaway horse.
+
+The animal was now galloping at top speed, but the auto was creeping
+up on him. It made scarcely a sound, only a purring as the cylinders
+exploded, one after another.
+
+"What are you going to do?" asked Jerry. "Go close enough so one of us
+can jump in the carriage?"
+
+"Watch!" was all Ned replied.
+
+Faster and faster went the auto. At length it passed the galloping
+steed, and the boys could see the young woman clinging in desperation to
+the seat. Then, as Ned steered the machine ahead of the horse, the boys
+saw what his plan was.
+
+The animal was now directly behind the auto, coming on like the wind.
+Ned gave one glance back. Then he quickly threw the gears to first
+speed. So quickly was it done that the horse nearly rammed his nose
+into the rear of the tonneau. The animal did not think of dashing to one
+side and so passing the car. Instead he kept his place behind it.
+
+Then Ned shut off the power and allowed the machine to drift along. The
+horse, seeing the obstruction continually in front of him, gradually
+reduced his speed, and finally, when the auto came to a stop, the animal
+did likewise.
+
+Jerry jumped from his seat and, running back, grasped the bridle. He
+spoke soothingly to the animal, and soon had him quieted. The young
+woman, pale and trembling, regained her composure.
+
+"I'm so much obliged to you," she said. "Really, I don't know what
+possessed Dexter. He never was frightened at autos before. I'm a little
+ashamed of myself, too. I ought to have kept hold of the reins and I
+could have managed him."
+
+"Are you sure you will be all right now?" asked Jerry. "If not, one of
+us will go with you."
+
+"Oh, I can take care of him now," replied the lady. "Dexter will be all
+right. I thank you boys very much," she added, sweetly, and a moment
+later drove off.
+
+The boys turned the auto around and speeded back to where they had left
+Mr. Wakefield. He had repaired the break in the tire in the meanwhile
+and was ready to proceed.
+
+In a short time the travelers steered for the hotel, uptown, where Mr.
+Wakefield had engaged rooms for all. The machines were sent to a garage,
+and the boys prepared to wash up for supper. It was getting quite dark,
+and the electric lights in the streets were gleaming. Jerry was looking
+from the window of the sitting-room of the suite which the boys had on
+the third floor.
+
+Suddenly he gave a start and cried:
+
+"There he goes!"
+
+"Who?" asked Ned.
+
+"Noddy Nixon!" replied Jerry, dashing from the room.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+A FRUITLESS PURSUIT.
+
+
+For a few seconds the other boys did not know whether Jerry was joking
+or in earnest. But when he did not return in a little while they knew he
+must have meant what he said.
+
+"I don't see anything of Noddy," spoke Ned, looking out of the window
+whence Jerry had spied their enemy.
+
+"It's getting too dark to see anything," said Bob.
+
+"Well, I guess if Jerry said he saw Noddy he meant it," put in Andy. "I
+hope he catches him and gives him a good thrashing!"
+
+"Well, boys," exclaimed Mr. Wakefield at that instant, entering their
+room, "are you all ready for supper?"
+
+"We are," answered Ned.
+
+"Where is Jerry?" asked the athletic instructor, looking around.
+
+"He went out for a little while," replied Ned, quickly, not wishing to
+state Jerry's real errand. "I guess he'll be back in a short time."
+
+"He doesn't know his way around New York; I hope he will not get lost,"
+spoke Mr. Wakefield.
+
+"Trust Jerry to find his way back," said Ned.
+
+Then the party went down to supper without waiting for the missing
+member. Meanwhile, Jerry was in hot pursuit of Noddy.
+
+"I wonder what he is doing in New York?" thought Jerry, as he jumped
+into an elevator that was just going down, and got out on the ground
+floor.
+
+The boy ran out into the street and glanced in the direction he had
+seen Noddy taking. The thoroughfare was not crowded, and, though it was
+getting quite dark, Jerry caught a glimpse of Noddy's back.
+
+"I'll catch him and ask him what he meant about that note he wrote,
+threatening to get even with us," he thought, as he hurried on.
+
+Noddy had quite a start, and Jerry had some difficulty in getting close
+to him. He lost a little time at a street crossing, where there were a
+number of vehicles, and Noddy got farther ahead. Jerry broke into a run
+when he saw a passage, and hurried on.
+
+Noddy happened to glance back just as Jerry passed beneath an electric
+light, and seeing he was pursued, started forward at a rapid rate.
+
+The pursuit was getting hot. They had passed from a busy part of the
+city and were on a street containing only old buildings. There were
+less people, too, and Jerry had a good view of Noddy.
+
+Suddenly Noddy turned, shook his fist, and disappeared into a
+dilapidated tenement house, which he was in front of at the time. With
+a cry, Jerry bounded forward. As he entered the hallway he bumped into
+a roughly dressed man, as he could see by the dim light of a lamp
+suspended at the rear end of the passage.
+
+"Now, then, wot's all this rush about?" demanded the man.
+
+"I beg your pardon," said Jerry, halting.
+
+"Be you the doctor?" asked the man.
+
+"The doctor? No. Why?"
+
+"'Cause he's took bad, an' we've sent fer the doctor. I t'ought you was
+him."
+
+"Who's sick?" inquired the boy, forgetting for the moment what had
+brought him to the place.
+
+"He's an old miner. I don't know him, but he come to me, sick an' dead
+broke, an' I let him sleep in my room. He's off his trolley, I guess,
+but he says his name is Jim Nestor."
+
+"Jim Nestor!" exclaimed Jerry. He remembered that was the name of the
+miner in the hut, whom Pender had robbed.
+
+"That's the name he gave."
+
+"Off his trolley?" went on the youth, wondering what form of disease
+that was.
+
+"Yep. Nutty, you know; bug-house, wheels, crazy, if that suits you
+better."
+
+"Oh!" replied Jerry, understanding.
+
+"If you ain't the doc. no use of me wastin' my time on you," the man
+went on. "I'll have to chase out after one."
+
+"I saw the sign of a doctor's office a little way back on this street as
+I came along," volunteered the boy. "I'll go and stay with the man while
+you run there."
+
+"Bully for you!" said the man. "Some of the people in this house is
+afraid of him 'cause he talks in his sleep. You'll find him on the
+second floor front."
+
+Jerry went up. In a dimly lighted room he saw an old man lying on a bed,
+covered with ragged quilts. One glance showed Jerry that the man was the
+miner who had mysteriously disappeared from the hut when they sought to
+aid him.
+
+Suddenly the sick man opened his eyes. He looked sharply at Jerry and
+exclaimed:
+
+"Oh, you've come back, have you? Where is the boy who took my gold?"
+
+"He got away," explained Jerry, realizing that the sick man was in his
+right senses, for a time at least.
+
+"I remember you," went on the miner. "You and some other boys helped me
+after I was struck. You left me alone in the cabin. I was afraid the
+one who took my gold would come back, so I crawled out. The air made me
+feel better. I walked to the railroad, got on a freight train, and came
+here. Then I got sick again.
+
+"Gold! gold! gold!" exclaimed the miner, suddenly. "I see it all around.
+Millions and millions of it! There is gold for all of us! Do not rob me!"
+
+Jerry knew the man was wandering again. Just then the doctor came in and
+Jerry, after promising to come back, hurried around to the hotel, where
+he found his friends worried over his absence. He explained about his
+chase and the finding of the mysterious miner.
+
+"Did you catch Noddy?" asked Andy.
+
+"I forgot all about him when I saw Nestor," replied Jerry. "I guess
+Noddy got away, all right, probably out of a back door."
+
+"What are you going to do about the miner?" asked Mr. Wakefield, after
+supper.
+
+"I'd like to befriend him if we could," said Jerry. "He seems like an
+honest man."
+
+"I'll go around and see him," remarked the athletic instructor. "Perhaps
+we can arrange to do something for him."
+
+It was quite late that night when Mr. Wakefield returned from his visit
+to Jim Nestor. He found the boys up waiting for him.
+
+"It's a queer story," said Mr. Wakefield. "Part of it I want you to
+hear for yourselves from him, part I will tell you. It seems that James
+Nestor, which is his name, found quite a rich claim out in Arizona. He
+staked it out and, with some of the gold in his possession, came East
+to see if he could find a former partner he wanted to share in his good
+luck.
+
+"He reached Cresville and there he was taken sick. He went to the old
+hut, where you found him, and there, while he was helpless, some one,
+whom you boys know to be Jack Pender, came along and robbed him.
+
+"Nestor made his way to New York, after his mysterious disappearance
+from the hut, and he found poor but faithful friends in the tenement
+house."
+
+"What part of the story do you want him to tell us himself?" asked Ned.
+
+"About his claim--his gold mine," said Mr. Wakefield. "I would rather
+you get that from him direct."
+
+"Is he very sick?" asked Jerry.
+
+"The doctor thinks he will be around in a few days."
+
+"And what do you propose?" asked Bob, who could see that Mr. Wakefield
+had something on his mind.
+
+"I think if you boys are going to make a western trip you cannot do
+better than take this miner along with you," answered the gentleman.
+"I talked to him about it, after the doctor had given him some quieting
+medicine, and he said he would be glad of a chance to get out West."
+
+"Shall we wait here until he gets well?" asked Jerry.
+
+"My plan would be for you boys to make up his fare to Chicago," said Mr.
+Wakefield, "and let him join you there, say in a week. You can go by
+auto and he can go by train."
+
+This plan met with the approval of the three chums. They made up a purse
+for Jim Nestor and arranged for Mr. Wakefield to take it to the miner.
+The latter did so, and planned for the miner to come on to Chicago when
+he was well and strong.
+
+"The boys will put up at the Grand Hotel," said Mr. Wakefield, passing
+over the money, which was to be Nestor's fare to Chicago.
+
+"And I'll meet 'em there an' put 'em up against the greatest proposition
+they ever heard of," promised the miner.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+IN THE WINDY CITY.
+
+
+Five days later the automobile travelers were in Chicago. No serious
+accidents had occurred on the road, and they finished the first part of
+their trip in good shape. All the boys thought of was whether they would
+be allowed to proceed farther West.
+
+Andy Rush was obliged to leave them, for he had promised to visit a
+relative of his mother. He did not relish being separated from his chums.
+
+"Tough!" he exclaimed. "Wish I could go along--bully fun--shoot
+Indians--lasso the cowboys--kill the buffalos--ride a wild bull--break a
+bucking mustang--chase over the prairies--lots of sport--whoop!"
+
+"We'd like to have you come," said Jerry, "but your folks said you could
+go no farther, and we have agreed to leave you here and take Mr. Nestor.
+So we have to keep our word."
+
+Andy agreed that this was right, but the galvanic youth certainly did
+hate to part from his friends. The three chums put up at the Grand
+Hotel, and Mr. Wakefield, after some parting words of advice, left
+them, as he had some business to transact. He said he did not expect
+to see them again before he returned to Cresville, and wished them all
+sorts of good luck.
+
+"What's the first thing to do?" asked Bob, when the boys found
+themselves alone in their hotel rooms.
+
+"Wire home that we are safe and ask if we can go farther West,"
+suggested Jerry. "But don't say anything about the miner. He may not
+show up, and they'll laugh at us if they find that we have been fooled."
+
+The wires were soon busy with messages from each of the three boys.
+
+A day of anxious waiting ensued. Then, on the second afternoon the
+bellboy brought three yellow envelopes to their rooms. With trembling
+fingers the boys tore the missives open.
+
+"Hurrah! I can go!" cried Jerry.
+
+"So can I!" exclaimed Ned.
+
+"Me, too!" put in Bob.
+
+The boys executed an impromptu war-dance in their delight.
+
+"Ho for the West and the gold mines!" cried Ned, trying to hug Jerry and
+Chunky at the same time and finding it was too much of a contract.
+
+There came a knock on the door.
+
+"I guess that's some one to tell us to stop our noise," remarked Jerry.
+"I thought you chaps were cutting up too rough."
+
+"As if he didn't make as much of the row as any of us!" exclaimed Ned.
+
+Bob opened the door. A well-dressed man, with iron-gray moustache and
+hair, entered.
+
+"Here I be!" he announced, "an' I see you boys are right on deck!"
+
+"I guess you've made a mistake," said Jerry, gently.
+
+"Ain't this the Grand Hotel, where I was to meet the boys that
+befriended old Jim Nestor?" the man asked.
+
+Then the boys saw it was their friend, the miner. But he had so changed
+in appearance, with a new suit of clothes, and with his hair and
+whiskers trimmed, that they did not recognize him. They greeted him
+heartily.
+
+"I got well quicker than I expected," went on Nestor, "an' I couldn't
+stand New York any longer. Mr. Wakefield left me a tidy sum. He
+grub-staked me, so to speak, an' I come West. Got a quick train an' made
+Chicago 'most as soon as you boys did in your auto wagon."
+
+"We're glad to see you," remarked Jerry.
+
+"No more than I am to see you," put in the miner. "Now let's git right
+down to business. That's my way. No beatin' around the bush for Jim
+Nestor.
+
+"I told your friend, Mr. Wakefield, that I'd put you boys up against
+a good big proposition. Now I'm goin' to do it. Can you go as far as
+Arizona in that wagon of yours?"
+
+"Farther if need be," replied Ned.
+
+"Good! Now will your folks let you go?"
+
+For answer the boys held out their telegrams.
+
+"Good, again I see it's all right. Now I want you boys to know I ain't
+so poor as I looked to be when you found me. I'm rich, that's what I am,
+only I can't git at my money.
+
+"The long and short of it is that I discovered down in the southern part
+of Arizona a rich gold mine. It assays high. In fact, if you saw the
+gold I had in the hut, you saw some of the yellow stuff that came from
+my mine. It's a lost mine."
+
+"A lost mine?" exclaimed Bob, blankly. "Then what good is it?"
+
+"It was lost, but I found it again," explained Nestor. "There's millions
+in it. It's up in the mountains, about a hundred miles from Tucson. The
+gold is there, but it's hard to reach.
+
+"Now what I want to know is, can you boys go there, or near there, in
+your choo-choo cart? If you can, and we are successful, there's a chance
+for us all to make our fortunes, for I'll give you boys a share apiece
+for what you did for me when I was in trouble."
+
+"I guess we can go," said Jerry.
+
+"It'll be a hard trip, full of trouble an' some danger," warned the
+miner.
+
+"We'll risk it," said Ned.
+
+"When can you start?" asked Nestor.
+
+"Let's go right now!" exclaimed Bob, with such earnestness that the
+other laughed.
+
+"To-morrow or next day will do," said Nestor. "I have a few things to
+attend to. I'll meet you here, say day after to-morrow."
+
+At the agreed time Nestor was on hand. In the meantime the auto had
+been thoroughly overhauled, put in shape for a long, hard trip, and
+extra supplies purchased. It was a bright, sunny day when the start from
+Chicago was made.
+
+"Let her go!" exclaimed Nestor, as he climbed into the rear seat with
+Bob.
+
+Jerry, who was steering, threw in the gear clutches and the machine
+moved off on its long and what was destined to be eventful trip.
+
+"Hold on!" cried Nestor, suddenly.
+
+"What's the matter?" asked Jerry, stopping the car.
+
+"Have you boys got guns?"
+
+"Guns?" repeated Jerry, somewhat in bewilderment.
+
+"Well, revolvers, then," went on the miner.
+
+In answer, Ned rather sheepishly took from his valise three new
+double-action revolvers of excellent make.
+
+"I thought we might need 'em," he said, "but I was afraid you'd laugh at
+me and say it was foolish."
+
+"It's all right!" exclaimed Nestor. "I was going to tell you to git
+some. You see, you don't always need a gun in Arizona, but when you do,
+as the man in the story said about Texas, you need it mighty bad an'
+mighty sudden. So it's a prime thing you have 'em. I've got mine," and
+he showed two big .45 calibre ones.
+
+Well armed, as well as otherwise provided for, the little expedition
+started off again, the automobile wending in and out through the busy
+Chicago streets.
+
+"We'll make as straight a course as we can for Tucson," said Nestor. "I
+know the roads pretty well, 'cause I traveled 'em in a stage years ago,
+when Chicago was only a village."
+
+The machine was puffing along at a fair rate of speed and had almost
+reached the outskirts of the city when a policeman, mounted on a
+motor-cycle, dashed up.
+
+"I'll have to take you in," he announced.
+
+"What for?" asked Ned.
+
+"Riding too fast in the city limits."
+
+"But we were going slow," objected Jerry. "If you know anything about
+automobiles you can see the lever is only on the first-speed notch, and
+that only goes ten miles an hour at best."
+
+"Can't help it," replied the officer. "I timed you and you went too
+fast."
+
+"Dog-gone his hide, let me git my gun out an' I'll show him who he's
+a-holdin' up!" exclaimed Nestor, in a whisper.
+
+"No, no!" expostulated Ned, who overheard the miner's threat. "This
+isn't out West. Don't pull any guns!"
+
+"Well," put in Jerry, speaking to the officer, "if you think we were
+violating the law I suppose we'll have to go back with you. Shall I turn
+around and accompany you?" he asked, politely.
+
+"That's what you better do. I don't want no fuss, but if you want
+trouble I'll make it for you."
+
+The other boys wondered at Jerry's easy compliance with what they knew
+was an unreasonable and unjust command. The steersman started the
+machine slowly ahead, and, as the road was wide, began to turn in a
+circle, to head back to Chicago.
+
+But when the auto was half way around, and pointed in the direction of
+the Windy City, Jerry did not continue on the way the officer expected.
+Instead, the boy widened his circle, made a complete revolution and
+then, throwing in the second speed, dashed away down the road, leaving
+the discomfited motor-policeman to rage over the trick that had been
+played on him.
+
+"I wasn't going to submit to arrest when I knew we were not guilty,"
+said Jerry.
+
+In a little while Chicago was left behind, and the auto dashed along a
+pleasant country road and was making good time toward the West.
+
+Suddenly there came a puffing from behind that told of another machine
+coming. It passed the boys, who had slowed down a bit, and as it went by
+the occupants of the Cresville machine had a good view of those in the
+other car.
+
+"Did you see them?" cried Jerry, in amazement.
+
+"Who?" asked Bob, who had not given much heed to the other auto.
+
+"Noddy Nixon was in that machine, and with him were Jack Pender and Bill
+Berry!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+A SHOT IN THE DARK.
+
+
+As Jerry spoke, the other boys looked and saw Noddy turn to stare at
+them. The bully rose in his seat and shook his fist at the Motor Boys,
+while the wind bore back some indistinguishable words he shouted.
+
+"Let's take after him!" cried Ned.
+
+"What would be the use?" asked Jerry. "We don't want trouble if we can
+avoid it. The farther off those fellows are the better we'll be."
+
+The boys explained to Nestor something about the character of Noddy,
+Berry, and Pender, the miner listening, gravely.
+
+"Well, on the whole," he remarked, "it's better to have an enemy in
+front of you than at your back. I guess we can make out to beat 'em at
+whatever game they play. But I'd like to catch the chap as took my gold."
+
+Jerry started his machine up again, but made no effort to catch up with
+Noddy, who was now far in advance. The Cresville auto bowled along, and
+at noon a stop was made in a small village, where dinner was eaten.
+
+They traveled along all the afternoon. Toward dusk they struck a lonely
+stretch of country, and inquiry at a log cabin brought out that the
+nearest town was ten miles ahead.
+
+"We must push for it," said Nestor; "that is, if we intend to sleep in
+beds to-night."
+
+Ned was steering, the boys having agreed to take turn and turn about.
+It became quite dark, and the auto was shooting along at reduced speed,
+for, even with the gas and oil lamps, the road was dim.
+
+Suddenly a shot rang out in the darkness. It was followed by a louder
+report as one of the auto tires burst, punctured by a bullet. The car
+careened to one side and bumped along on the flattened rubber.
+
+"They're shooting at us!" cried Nestor. "Two can play at that game!"
+
+He whipped out his revolver and fired three shots straight ahead, the
+flashes cutting the darkness.
+
+"They're behind, not ahead!" yelled Jerry, who was in the rear seat with
+the miner. "It was one of the back tires that burst!"
+
+Ned had shut off power and the auto came to a halt. The boys got out,
+and Jerry took off one of the oil lamps to see what damage had been
+done. A new inner tube would be needed, and it would be hard work
+inserting it in the dark.
+
+"That's some of Noddy's or Pender's work," observed Ned. "They must be
+following us, and yet they started off ahead."
+
+"There are so many roads around here that they could go off to one side,
+wait, and then come up behind us," said Nestor. "But what's to be done?"
+
+"We can't go ahead until we fix the tire," said Jerry.
+
+"Don't try to do it in the dark," advised the miner. "Tell you what to
+do. I'll camp here with the machine, for I'm used to sleeping outdoors
+nights. It's only about two miles into town now, and you boys can walk
+it. In the morning you can come back and fix things up."
+
+"What will you do for supper?" asked Jerry.
+
+"Don't you worry about that," replied the miner. "I've got a couple of
+sandwiches in my pocket. I got 'em at the place we had dinner, 'cause
+I always like to travel with a little grub about me. They'll do until
+morning."
+
+So it was arranged. The lights on the auto were put out and Nestor
+curled up in the tonneau, with some lap-robes over him. The boys started
+afoot for the town, promising to come back as soon as it was light
+enough to see to put the new tube in the tire.
+
+"I wonder what Noddy's game is?" asked Ned of his companions. "And how
+did he and Pender come together?"
+
+"There's no telling what those two may do," said Jerry. "I'm afraid
+we're in for trouble."
+
+They were to meet it sooner than they expected. About this time, a mile
+from where the crippled auto was stalled, two figures were sneaking
+along the road.
+
+"Are you sure you hit the tire, Bill?" asked a voice, which, if the
+Motor Boys had heard, they would have recognized at once as Noddy
+Nixon's.
+
+"Course I winged 'em," replied Bill Berry. "It was easy. All I had to do
+was to jump out from behind the bushes where we were hid and pop at 'em.
+I could hear the tire bust."
+
+"I wonder if it made 'em lay up for repairs?"
+
+"It sure did. I heard 'em shut off the power. Now we'll hustle back to
+our car and continue the trip."
+
+"I'll teach those Cresville cubs to come meddling after me," spoke
+Noddy. "I'll follow 'em close and make all the trouble I can. As you
+say, we may as well start off again. I hope Pender isn't tired waiting
+alone for us in the car. How far ahead is it now?"
+
+"Half a mile, I guess."
+
+As the Motor Boys knew, Noddy had made for New York after running away
+from home with Bill Berry. He wrote to the boys and to Pender from
+there, and later Pender joined the rascally pair.
+
+Noddy was preparing for a trip with his companions, and was just about
+to start when Jerry spied him from the hotel window. He escaped through
+the tenement house and at once got ready to leave New York in a hurry.
+
+It was by the merest chance that he passed the Cresville auto on leaving
+Chicago, and at once had formed the plan of annoying the three chums.
+
+As Nestor had said, Noddy and his companions had taken a side road,
+allowed the Cresville auto to get ahead and then, at Berry's suggestion,
+had ambushed themselves to try and do some damage as the Motor Boys
+passed. The chief conspirators were now on their way to where they had
+left their auto.
+
+They reached it, found Pender half asleep, curled up on a seat, and
+started slowly off in the darkness.
+
+By keeping to the diverging road they were on, they passed around the
+disabled machine, and came out into the main highway again, ahead of the
+three boys who were tramping toward the town.
+
+Noddy was steering, and with a reckless disregard of the dangers of
+the road was going very fast. Suddenly there was a crash and the auto
+stopped.
+
+"You've gone an' done it now!" exclaimed Bill.
+
+"What if I have?" snapped Noddy. "It's my machine, ain't it?"
+
+"An' it's my neck you're tryin' to break," replied Bill. "What's the
+trouble, anyhow?"
+
+Noddy got out to look. Something had gone wrong with the sliding gear
+and he had to crawl under the machine to fix it, while Pender held a
+light. Bill obstinately refused to lend a hand, as he said it was all
+Noddy's fault.
+
+"I'm goin' to walk on to the next town," declared Berry. "You can stop
+an' pick me up on your way through. I'll be at the hotel."
+
+He went off in the darkness, while Noddy and Jack continued to work at
+the auto. It took more than half an hour to fix the break, but at last
+the machine was ready to start. Noddy was about to crank it up when he
+heard the sound of some persons coming along the road, voices mingling
+with the footsteps.
+
+He looked up, and was much surprised to see, in the glare of the lamps,
+Jerry, Bob and Ned.
+
+"Oh!" said Noddy, faintly, for he did not know what else to say.
+
+On their part the Motor Boys were as much startled as was Noddy at the
+unexpected meeting.
+
+"So you're here, are you?" asked Jerry.
+
+"Can't you see without having to be told?" inquired Noddy, with a surly
+growl. "Now you've seen us, you'd better go on and mind your own
+business."
+
+"I guess this is a free country, and we have as much right on this road
+as you have," spoke Ned.
+
+"You haven't any right to follow me all the while!" burst out the former
+bully of Cresville.
+
+"We wouldn't be following you if you hadn't fired at us and punctured
+the tire!" cried Bob.
+
+"Who says I fired a shot?" demanded Noddy.
+
+"I do!" exclaimed Ned.
+
+"You don't know what you're talking about!" exclaimed the bully. "If you
+say another word I'll lick you!"
+
+He was mad clear through, and made a rush at Ned. Jerry sprang forward
+and met Noddy with a blow straight from the shoulder. The bully went
+down. He got up quickly, and the two boys went at each other, "hammer
+and tongs." Jerry kept his head and landed twice, heavily, on Noddy. The
+latter gave Jerry a bad blow on the right eye, but the latter retaliated
+by making Noddy's nose bleed.
+
+As Noddy felt the warm blood trickling down his face he became
+frightened.
+
+"Help! help!" he cried. "Why don't you help me, Jack?"
+
+Pender had discreetly remained in the car. At this he jumped out. Ned
+was ready, however, and stepped in front of him. Jack aimed a blow at
+Ned. The latter dodged it and sent a straight left for Pender's head.
+It caught him on the jaw and he went down heavily.
+
+By this time Noddy had broken away from Jerry and ran toward the auto.
+Jerry was satisfied with the punishment he had inflicted and did not
+follow. Noddy quickly cranked up his machine and leaped to the steering
+seat.
+
+"Come on, Jack!" he cried.
+
+Pender wiggled from the grip in which Ned held him, jumped into the car
+beside the bully and the next instant the two enemies of the Motor Boys
+were chugging off down the road.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+ENCIRCLED BY COWBOYS.
+
+
+For a few moments the three chums stood staring at the vanishing auto.
+Then Jerry, with a grunt, felt of his damaged eye.
+
+"I guess I don't owe Noddy anything," he remarked, drily.
+
+"I paid off some old scores to Pender," said Ned, with a grin.
+
+"Wish I'd got a chance at one of them!" observed Bob.
+
+"You're just as well off, Chunky," spoke Jerry. "We may as well keep on
+to town, now the excitement is over. It's getting late, and I'm hungry."
+
+In about half an hour they were in the village, where they found a good
+hotel. They caught no sight of Noddy and his companions.
+
+The next morning the boys made a hasty breakfast and hired a man to
+drive them out to their stranded auto. They found Nestor just awakening
+from what he declared had been a refreshing sleep. The punctured tire
+was soon repaired, and, dismissing the driver of the wagon, the boys and
+the miner sped to town in the machine. They put up at the hotel, where
+Nestor made a good breakfast.
+
+As a few supplies were needed for the auto, it was decided to lay over
+for a day in the town. Jerry attended to the purchases, while Nestor and
+the other boys took things easy in the room they had hired at the hotel.
+
+"I'm sure glad I met you, boys," said the old miner, stretching out in a
+comfortable chair. "I'm jest countin' the days 'till we git out to the
+gold mine."
+
+"Will it take long now?" asked Ned.
+
+"We ought to reach Tucson in about two weeks now. Of course it's going
+to be a little hard gittin' over the New Mexico mountain range, but
+I guess the choo-choo wagon will do it. We may have a little trouble
+findin' the mine, too."
+
+"I thought you said you had it all staked out," observed Chunky.
+
+"So I have," answered Nestor. "But you see it's in a part of the
+mountains not very well traveled. I've lost my way more than once there.
+But I reckon I can find the mine. Once I strike the trail leadin' out of
+Dead Horse Gulch I'm all right. The mine isn't far from there."
+
+If the miner could have looked into the next room he would not have
+talked so freely concerning the mine. For, in the adjoining apartment
+was Bill Berry. He listened intently to what Nestor said, and soon was
+able to tell, from the conversation, who the occupants in the room next
+to him were.
+
+"A gold mine, eh?" said Bill, softly. "I reckon Noddy and I will get in
+on that deal. We must profit by this. I wish Noddy would hurry up. We
+must follow those young cubs."
+
+Bill, in a measure, was stranded at the hotel. He had reached it after
+leaving Noddy the night previous, and expected his companion to follow,
+after repairing the auto, and pick him up. But the encounter between
+Noddy and the Motor Boys made the former change his plans, and he ran
+the machine through the village without stopping for Berry. Later,
+however, Noddy came back and got his companion.
+
+For some time Nestor and the boys conversed about the gold mine, the man
+telling the lads many stories of western life. Jerry had completed his
+purchases by dusk, the auto tanks were refilled with gasolene and water,
+and the start was made early the next morning.
+
+A few hours of travel brought the adventurers to the Mississippi River,
+and crossing it, they found themselves in Missouri. For several days the
+auto journeyed on, and Kansas was more than half traversed.
+
+One hot afternoon, passing over a road that led across the rolling
+prairie, Bob, who was steering, looked ahead and noticed quite a cloud
+of dust.
+
+"Looks like a whirlwind coming," he remarked.
+
+Nestor stood up and peered forward.
+
+"So it is, but not the kind you're used to," he said.
+
+"What kind is it?"
+
+"Cowboys, an' they're headed right for us. I expect there'll be some fun
+presently," and the miner began loading his big revolver.
+
+"Will they--will they kill us?" asked Bob.
+
+"Well, no; not exactly kill you," spoke the miner, slowly, "but they'll
+try to scare you to death, and that's about as bad."
+
+The wind now bore to the ears of the boys a thundering sound. It was
+the rapid hoof-beats of the cowboys' ponies as they raced along. As yet
+nothing of the riders could be seen because of the dust.
+
+Suddenly there came from the center of the cloud a series of terrific
+yells, punctuated by a score of revolver shots. At the same time forty
+cowboys were disclosed to the astonished gaze of the Cresville lads. Bob
+stopped the machine, for it was fairly surrounded by a circle of the
+rough riders.
+
+"Throw up your hands!" yelled one who seemed to be the leader of the
+herders. He was astride a black pony, and as he spoke he leveled two big
+revolvers at the party in the auto.
+
+Tremblingly, the boys obeyed.
+
+"I mean you, too, you old greaser on the back of this new-fangled stage
+coach!" exclaimed the leader, waving his gun at Nestor. "Put up your
+hands, an' do it mighty suddint!"
+
+Nestor's reply was a shot from his revolver, and the hat of the leader
+went spinning in the air.
+
+"Here!" cried the cowboy, angrily, but not returning the fire, "don't
+you know better than to shoot a gentleman's hat off?"
+
+"Gentlemen?" inquired Nestor, standing up and surveying the bunch of
+cattlemen, with a smile. "I don't see any."
+
+There was a laugh among the herdsmen at the discomfiture of their
+leader, and seeing the joke was against him, the man on the black pony
+joined in the merriment.
+
+"We didn't intend no harm nohow," he said. "We're jest out for a lark,
+an' we seen your Old Nick wagon comin' along. No offense I hope. We was
+only jokin'!"
+
+"Don't mention it," said Nestor, who seemed to know how to take the
+cowboys. "I suppose my friends may now lower their hands," for Jerry,
+Ned and Bob still held their arms aloft.
+
+"Sure!" cried the leader, quickly. "Come on, boys, three cheers for the
+tenderfeet!" he exclaimed, turning to his companions.
+
+The cheers were given with a will, some of the more exuberant of the
+cow-punchers firing their guns in the air.
+
+"Some of us boys would like mighty well to take a little spin in that
+shebang," spoke the leader to Nestor. "S'pose we could take a few turns?"
+
+"I reckon so," answered the miner, and he spoke a few quick words to
+Jerry, advising that the wish of the cowboys be complied with, as they
+might, in their recklessness, make trouble if they were denied.
+
+Jerry took Bob's place at the wheel, the others got out and the leader
+of the cowboys and two of his companions got into the auto. They were
+delighted with the way Jerry spun the machine along. By turns nearly all
+of the cattle rustlers were given a short journey in the car.
+
+Then three, who seemed full of the spirit of mischief, took their seats.
+No sooner had Jerry started off with them than the cowboy in the seat
+with him tried to grab the steering wheel.
+
+"Hold on there!" exclaimed the boy.
+
+"That's all right, sonny," said the cowboy. "I reckon I can run this as
+well as you. Let me have a turn at it. I'll show you what's what!"
+
+Jerry was firm in his refusal to let the man run the machine. He knew
+the cattle-puncher would speedily come to grief. Nestor observed the
+little difficulty and appealed to the leader to use his persuasion on
+the refractory fellow.
+
+But the latter's two companions now joined in his demand, and Jerry
+was being roughly handled as the men sought to put him from his seat.
+Suddenly the boy brought the car to a stop. He had a plan in mind.
+
+"Did you ever see an automobile turn a somersault?" he asked the man who
+had first wanted to steer.
+
+"No, I didn't, sonny," was the answer.
+
+"Would you like to see it?"
+
+"Bet your boots."
+
+"I can't do it with you in, it takes experts to work that trick," went
+on Jerry. "If you will kindly get out and allow my friends to get back
+in, I think I can surprise you."
+
+"Whoop!" yelled the cowboys in the auto, as they descended. "Whoop! Now
+for some fun!"
+
+Jerry drove the car to where Nestor, Bob and Ned were standing. He
+motioned them to get in, and they obeyed, wondering what he was going to
+do. The cowboys, gathered in a wide circle about the machine, looked on
+in anticipation of seeing the auto do a flip-flop.
+
+"Hold fast!" cautioned Jerry to his companions in the car. They did so.
+The next instant the boy put on full power and dashed straight at the
+encircling ring of cattlemen.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+CAPTURING A HORSE THIEF.
+
+
+"Whoop! Watch it turn over!" yelled some of the cowboys.
+
+But Jerry kept straight on. Nearer and nearer he came to the ring.
+At length, ten feet away, when he feared he would have to put on the
+emergency brake to avoid a collision, the nervous mustangs in front of
+the car broke into a frightened run and dashed over the prairie, while
+Jerry guided the car away from the herdsmen, who were soon left far
+behind.
+
+"I told them I'd give 'em a surprise, and I did," said Jerry. "I didn't
+promise to make the auto turn a flip-flop, I only asked them if they
+ever saw it done. Well, I never did, either. I guess things are about
+evened up."
+
+The astonished cries of the cattlemen left no doubt but that Jerry's
+trick to escape from them had been very much of a surprise.
+
+"They didn't intend any harm," said Nestor. "I know the character of
+cowboys. They're full of fun an' thoughtless. It's jest as well we got
+away, though. No tellin' what damage they'd have done to the machine."
+
+The auto rolled along for several miles and the occupants were beginning
+to think of supper, which they planned to eat in a small town about
+three miles further on.
+
+"What's that?" asked Ned, pointing off to the left of the road. The
+others looked, and saw strolling over the prairie a peculiar figure.
+
+It was that of a little man, wearing a big, flapping brimmed hat. The
+old fellow held a big butterfly net in his right hand, and a large,
+green box in the other. On his back was slung a bag. Every now and then
+the stranger would raise the net high in the air and bring it down with
+a swoop.
+
+"That's funny," remarked Jerry.
+
+"Looks to me like he was looney," suggested Nestor.
+
+Jerry brought the machine to a stop. The queer little man came nearer.
+His eyes were staring in front of him at something he seemed to desire
+to capture in the net. Whatever it was it continually escaped him.
+
+At length the odd figure was close to the automobile. Yet the little
+man did not notice the car. Suddenly his eyes glanced at one of the big
+front tires. The boys looked and saw perched on the rubber a small,
+brown butterfly.
+
+"Softly--softly!" exclaimed the little man, speaking to himself. "Easy
+now. I have you, my beauty. Long have you escaped me, but I am on your
+trail. Ah! Don't move now. Softly! There!"
+
+He banged the net down on the tire, sprang forward and caught the meshes
+between his fingers. Through his bespectacled eyes he peered eagerly at
+what he thought he had captured. A disappointed look came on his face.
+
+"Got away again!" he muttered. Then he looked up and saw the party in
+the auto watching him. He did not seem in the least surprised. At once
+his eyes fastened on Jerry.
+
+"Don't move! Don't move! I beg of you!" he cried to the boy. "Don't stir
+as you value your life. I'll lose one thousand dollars if you move the
+hundredth part of an inch! Easy now. Ah! There you are, my little brown
+beauty. Don't move, my boy, and I'll catch it in a second!"
+
+Somewhat puzzled at the little man's words, Jerry sat still. His
+companions saw on his back the little brown butterfly that had escaped
+from the tire.
+
+Quickly the little man brought his net down on Jerry's shoulders. Once
+more the meshes were eagerly grasped, and this time it seemed with
+success, for the little man set up a yell of delight and capered about
+like a boy who has found a hornets' nest.
+
+"I've got it! I've got it!" he cried. "One of the rarest butterflies
+that exist. I've been chasing after this one all day. I knew I'd get
+it. But pardon me, gentlemen. No doubt you are surprised. Allow me to
+introduce myself. Professor Uriah Snodgrass, A. M., Ph.D., M. D., F. R.
+G. S., etc."
+
+"Is that all, pardner?" asked Nestor, with a grin.
+
+"I contemplate taking the degree of B. A. this winter, when I have
+completed my study of the fauna and flora of the prairies," replied the
+little man.
+
+Jerry introduced himself and his companions, and said they were making a
+tour across country.
+
+"Just what I am doing myself," said Professor Snodgrass. "I am
+collecting specimens of rare plants, stones, bugs, butterflies, in fact,
+anything that can add to knowledge and science. I have been out all
+day----"
+
+He stopped talking and made a sudden grab at the sleeve of Nestor's coat.
+
+"What's the matter?" exclaimed the miner. "Rattlesnake?"
+
+"Pardon me!" replied the professor. "There was a very scarce specimen of
+what is commonly called the potato bug on you, and I wanted it."
+
+"I'd rather you'd have it than me," observed Nestor.
+
+"Thank you," replied Professor Snodgrass, as he placed the bug, together
+with the butterfly, in his green box. "What was I saying?"
+
+"That you had been out all day," repeated Jerry.
+
+"Oh, yes! I left town early this morning, and my labors have been richly
+repaid. See, I have my box and bag nearly full."
+
+He showed the box. Through the glass top the boys could see that it was
+full of toads, grasshoppers, small snakes, lizards, bugs, butterflies
+and bees. The bag was loaded with stones, grass, pieces of wood, plants
+and flowers.
+
+"It has been a grand day," went on the professor, enthusiastically, "and
+I haven't had a bit of dinner."
+
+"None of that for mine," put in Nestor. "I wouldn't go without my meals
+for all the bugs and stones in the world."
+
+"Ah, but you are not a naturalist," observed the professor, wiping his
+bald head.
+
+"Did you walk all the way?" asked Ned.
+
+"No; I had a horse. And, bless my soul, I've forgotten what I did with
+the beast. I got off him early this morning to chase after that brown
+butterfly and I left the horse standing somewhere on the prairie."
+
+"He evidently was too fond of your company to leave you, however," said
+Jerry.
+
+"Why so, young man?" and the professor gazed up through his spectacles.
+
+"Because that is evidently him coming along back there," and Jerry
+pointed to a horse slowly approaching.
+
+"Ah, yes! There he is. I'm glad I didn't lose him, for I suppose the man
+from whom I hired him would have been angry."
+
+"I guess yes," spoke Nestor, in a whisper.
+
+"If you are going into town we'll ride along with you," said Ned. "That
+is, if your horse isn't afraid of automobiles."
+
+"I don't think he is afraid of anything," replied the professor. "I
+captured a fine specimen of grasshopper on his left ear this morning,
+and he never shied when I put the net over his head."
+
+The little man, seeing that his bag and box were safely strapped to his
+back, and folding up his net, mounted the horse that had approached
+where he was standing and started off alongside of the auto, which Jerry
+ran slowly.
+
+The boys learned that the professor was stopping in the same town where
+they planned to spend the night.
+
+"We'll be there very soon now," observed the little man, "and I'll be
+glad of it, for I'm hungry."
+
+Suddenly, from behind, there came a wild chorus of yells and shouts,
+revolver shots mingling with the noise.
+
+"It's the cowboys coming back!" cried Ned.
+
+"Nonsense; they are miles behind us," observed Nestor.
+
+"Well, they're some kind of cowboys, anyhow," cried Jerry. "And they're
+after us."
+
+Bang! bang! went the guns. "Whoop!" yelled the cattlemen who were riding
+like mad. "Stop the horse thief!" they shouted.
+
+Nearer and nearer came the cattlemen, a bunch similar to those who had
+wanted to run the auto.
+
+"They seem to be after us," observed Bob.
+
+"We haven't stolen any horses," said Ned.
+
+"What's all the noise about?" asked Professor Snodgrass, suddenly
+becoming aware that there was some commotion. He was riding close to the
+auto.
+
+There came a hissing, whistling sound in the air. A long, thin line shot
+forward. A loop settled around the professor's neck. The next instant he
+was jerked, none too gently, from the back of his horse and fell to the
+ground. He had been lassoed from behind by one of the cowboys.
+
+Jerry shut off the power and the auto stopped. In a few seconds it
+was surrounded by a crowd of angry men. Several of them drew their
+revolvers, while two or three busied themselves in securely binding the
+poor professor.
+
+"What's all this for?" asked Nestor, getting ready to draw his gun.
+
+"I don't know as it's any of your business, unless you're in on the
+game," spoke a dark-complexioned cowboy, who seemed to be the leader.
+
+"What game?" asked the miner.
+
+"Stealing horses," was the reply.
+
+"Who's stolen any nags around here?" demanded Nestor.
+
+"That bald-headed galoot!" exclaimed the cowboy. "We want him for taking
+that pony he was riding. It belongs to One-Eyed Pete."
+
+"He never stole that!" exclaimed Jerry.
+
+"He didn't, eh? Well, he can tell that to Judge Lynch. There's only one
+thing happens to horse thieves in this country."
+
+"Swing him up!" yelled the cowboys, yanking Professor Snodgrass to his
+feet.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+THE AUTO ON FIRE.
+
+
+"Can't we save him?" cried Jerry to Nestor. "He never took that horse.
+It's all a mistake."
+
+"It's no use to reason with those brutes," said the miner. "They
+evidently believe they're right. It's too bad, but we'd only git into
+trouble if we interfered."
+
+"Bring him along, boys!" cried the leader. "There's a tree that will do
+to swing him from, and I've got the rope!"
+
+The boys were almost horror-stricken at the scene they were about to
+witness. It was bad enough to see any one hanged, but to witness the
+death of the little bug-hunting man they all believed innocent was too
+much.
+
+The cowboys, with the poor professor in their midst, rode across the
+prairie to where a single tree grew. They had quieted down, now that
+their man-hunt was over. Jerry started the auto and steered it across
+the rolling land toward the scene of the prospective lynching.
+
+"What are you going to do?" asked Nestor.
+
+"I can't desert him," replied Jerry. "Maybe we can get the cowboys to
+let him go."
+
+Nestor shook his head pityingly. He knew the rough western men too well.
+They never let even a suspected horse thief escape.
+
+Little time was lost in preparation. Once beneath the tree the men
+formed in a circle. The rope was thrown over a limb and a noose made.
+The professor was placed beneath it, and the other end of the rope was
+grasped by a dozen hands.
+
+"Have you anything to say before we string you up?" asked the leader.
+
+Aside from a little paleness, which hardly showed in the waning
+afternoon, Professor Snodgrass gave no sign of what must be a terrible
+ordeal for him. He did not seem to appreciate what was taking place.
+
+Suddenly, as he stood beneath the fatal noose, he leaned forward. One
+hand sought the green box which was still strapped to his back. The
+other went out with a cautious gesture to the arm of the leader of the
+cowboys.
+
+"Don't stir! Don't move for the world!" exclaimed the professor, in a
+strained whisper. "Just a second and I'll have him!"
+
+His hand closed on something on the leader's coat-sleeve and he uttered
+a cry that was more of delight than fear.
+
+"I've got it! I've got it!" he cried.
+
+"Got what?" asked the cowboy.
+
+"One of the rarest specimens of a prairie lizard that exists!" replied
+the professor, as, all unconscious of the dangling noose, he thrust the
+specimen into his green box. "This is certainly a lucky day for me."
+
+"I'd say it was particularly unlucky," observed the leader, with a grim
+smile, adjusting the noose about the neck of the naturalist.
+
+"Why, what's all the fuss about?" asked the professor, noticing for the
+first time that he was in a crowd. "Has anything happened?"
+
+"Well, I'll be jiggered!" exclaimed Nestor, who overheard the
+conversation. "The poor professor is so absent-minded that he don't know
+he's been lassoed and is all ready to be strung up!"
+
+"Hold fast!" exclaimed Jerry, suddenly. "I'm going to rescue him!"
+
+"How?" asked Nestor.
+
+"I'm going to run the auto in close to him. When I do, you reach out and
+grab him up."
+
+"Sure, I'm on!" said Nestor.
+
+Jerry gave a loud blast on the horn. The cowboys, who did not know
+exactly what to do about hanging a man who didn't seem to mind being
+lynched, turned to see what was going on, having forgotten all about the
+auto. There was a living lane between the men right up to where the bug
+collector stood.
+
+Jerry sent the machine ahead with a rush. Straight at the professor he
+steered it. Then, when very close to the bug hunter he gave the wheel a
+twist.
+
+Nestor, who was in the rear seat, on the side nearest Mr. Snodgrass,
+leaned over. As he swept past the professor the miner grabbed him up,
+box, basket, net and all, and lifted him into the auto.
+
+"Full speed ahead!" yelled Nestor, and Jerry threw on all the power he
+had.
+
+The little, bald-headed man was yanked from under the tree, and, as the
+noose was about his neck the rope came along with him, pulled from the
+surprised and unresisting hands of the cowboys.
+
+They gave a great shout of astonishment, and several leaped on their
+horses to give pursuit. Others drew their revolvers and fired at the
+fast-vanishing auto, but the machine was soon out of reach of the
+bullets.
+
+"That's what I call pullin' off a pretty neat trick," observed Nestor.
+"They'd have hung you in another minute, professor."
+
+"I'm sure I'm much obliged to you," observed the little man, calmly. "I
+hope my specimens are not injured, for I have some very valuable ones."
+
+"Well, he is the limit!" said Nestor, half to himself. "He gits pulled
+out of the very jaws of death an' all he cares about is his bugs an'
+butterflies!"
+
+Soon they were nearly at the town where they were to stop overnight. The
+professor, who seemed a little dazed from what he had gone through, was
+gazing at the rope that had been taken from his neck and tossed to the
+floor of the tonneau. All at once he stood up and shot a glance at a
+horse that was grazing beside the road.
+
+"Hold on!" he cried.
+
+"What's the matter--want to take another nag?" asked Nestor.
+
+"No; but that is the horse I hired. I recognize him by the extra
+butterfly net I fastened to the saddle. I was afraid I might lose one.
+The other horse wasn't mine."
+
+"Wasn't yours?" fairly shouted the miner. "Then whose was it?"
+
+"It must have belonged to the cowboys," was the answer. "You see, I
+forgot all about my horse until I met you. Then I took the first animal
+I saw. I supposed, of course, it was mine."
+
+"Then you really were a horse thief after all," said Ned, laughing,
+"though you didn't know it."
+
+"And the cowboys were right, as far as they knew," observed Jerry. "They
+saw you on one of their horses and naturally thought you stole it.
+However, it all came out right, and I guess I did the best thing when I
+rescued you, for they might have hanged you before the mistake was found
+out."
+
+The auto created no little surprise as it puffed through the western
+town, though a sign, "Gasolene for Sale," exhibited in front of the drug
+store, indicated that machines sometimes paid a visit. The hotel where
+Professor Snodgrass was stopping was soon reached, and every one washed
+up and had supper.
+
+The next morning, after a few minor repairs had been made to the auto,
+and the gasolene tank replenished, the travelers prepared to start away
+again. The professor was up to see them off.
+
+"I wish I was going with you," he said, with a pleasant smile, after
+they had told him something of the trip they had in view.
+
+"Why can't you?" inquired Jerry. "We are going into somewhat new
+territory, and you may be able to collect some fine specimens. We can
+easily make room for you."
+
+"I might go along with you on a horse," ventured the little man.
+
+"That's too risky," observed Nestor. "Take the boys' offer and come
+along without a horse."
+
+"I believe I will; I have nothing to keep me here," said the bug
+collector, and so it was arranged.
+
+A good stock of provisions was laid in, the auto being piled with all
+it could hold and still leave room for the five passengers. Nestor said
+they would probably have to camp out a few nights, as on leaving Kansas
+and skirting down into New Mexico, settlements were few and far between.
+So some rubber and woolen blankets were added to the outfit.
+
+So far the weather had been fine, but this morning there was a haze in
+the sky that denoted a storm. It did not worry any one, however, and
+made the professor smile.
+
+"There'll be so many more grasshoppers and bugs for me after the
+shower," he observed.
+
+An hour passed, and the auto was bowling along at a good pace on a level
+stretch of road. Soon Nestor, who was sitting in front with Bob, who was
+steering, jumped up.
+
+"What's the matter?" inquired Jerry. "One of the professor's
+grasshoppers bite you?"
+
+"The seat seems to be gittin' too hot for comfort," said the miner.
+
+From beneath the auto there came a muffled explosion, followed by a big
+cloud of smoke. Then flames shot out, and the whole under side of the
+car was enveloped.
+
+"We're on fire!" yelled Bob, preparing to jump.
+
+"Sit still!" exclaimed Jerry. "Don't let go the wheel whatever you do!"
+
+"Turn off the gasolene!" cried Ned. "The tank is leaking and the
+gasolene is burning!"
+
+There was great excitement. The only person who kept his head was
+Professor Snodgrass. He did not seem to know the auto was on fire, but
+was calmly examining a small bug crawling on the cushion near him.
+
+"What shall we do?" wailed Bob. "The auto will be destroyed!"
+
+"We're in a bad fix!" muttered the miner.
+
+Bob reached over to shut off the power, and was making ready to jump.
+
+"Sit still!" exclaimed Jerry.
+
+"And be killed?" objected Bob.
+
+The smoke became more dense and the flames spouted up higher around the
+car.
+
+"Quick! There's a small creek! Steer for it!" yelled Jerry, pointing
+ahead.
+
+Bob saw the water and realized Jerry's plan. He quickly turned the auto
+toward the water. There was a sort of ford turning off from the main
+road, which latter led over a small bridge.
+
+Into the creek dashed the burning machine. There was a hiss as the water
+reached the flames, and clouds of steam arose.
+
+Then, amid a swish of spray, the machine shot out on the opposite bank,
+only the machinery, as far up as the under side of the floor of the car,
+having been submerged. The fire was put out as good as if a whole city
+department had been called to battle with the flames.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+AT DEAD MAN'S GULCH.
+
+
+Bob brought the auto to a stop under a big sycamore tree. The engine was
+still smoking, and there was considerable heat. Jerry jumped out and
+examined the car.
+
+"Not much damage done," he said, after a long inspection. "I guess we
+can fix it up."
+
+"Can we go on?" asked Ned, anxiously.
+
+"It will take a good hour to mend things," replied Jerry.
+
+"That will give me a chance to gather some bugs," observed the
+professor. "Pardon me," he exclaimed to Nestor. "There is a beautiful
+specimen of a katydid on your leg," and, with a deft gesture, the bug
+collector captured the insect and transferred it to his box.
+
+"I hope you didn't want it yourself," said the naturalist, looking
+rather anxiously at the miner, who seemed surprised.
+
+"Oh, land, no!" was the reply. "Help yourself whenever you see any of
+the crawlin' things on me. It's a favor, more than anything else. I
+hate bugs an' things."
+
+While the professor wandered about with his net, Jerry proceeded to
+repair the leak to the gasolene tank. Bob and Ned decided they were
+hungry, and got out some lunch, of which, a little later, all were glad
+to partake.
+
+"There," announced Jerry, "I guess we can go on again."
+
+"There's a good place to camp about twenty miles farther on," said
+Nestor.
+
+"What place is it?" asked Ned.
+
+"Dead Man's Gulch," was the grim reply.
+
+"Doesn't sound very pleasant," observed Bob.
+
+"It's a better locality than it sounds, Chunky," went on Nestor.
+"There's a little town there, if you want to sleep in beds."
+
+The boys decided to push for the Gulch, not that sleeping in beds was
+an inducement, for they rather liked the idea of resting in the open.
+But the gathering clouds indicated rain, and that would make camping out
+rather damp.
+
+Without further mishap the machine was sent along. Ned was at the wheel
+and he turned on plenty of gasolene so that the car fairly skimmed over
+the roads. As they passed a stone post on the highway, Nestor called out:
+
+"Good-by, Kansas!"
+
+"What's that for?" asked Ned.
+
+"Because that's the boundary mark between Kansas and Indian Territory,"
+replied the miner. "We are now on the old Indian ground, pretty soon
+we'll be in Texas, and then we'll land in New Mexico."
+
+"We're getting to be travelers for fair!" remarked Bob.
+
+The gathering clouds became blacker and a strong wind sprang up. There
+was every prospect of a severe storm, and Ned sent the machine ahead
+still faster. As it came to the top of a little hill, Nestor exclaimed:
+
+"There's Dead Man's Gulch!"
+
+Looking down into the valley, the boys saw a small settlement.
+
+"Hold the machine back," cautioned the miner. "It may get away from you
+on the grade."
+
+Ned shut off the power and coasted down. In half an hour they reached
+the level and started up the road, which led into the main street, and,
+in fact, the only thoroughfare in the town. Just as they reached the
+solitary hotel in the settlement the rain came down in torrents.
+
+The auto was run under a shed and the occupants entered the hostelry, to
+the no small surprise of the inmates of the place, who had not heard the
+car come up.
+
+"Howdy, strangers?" called the clerk, a big man, with an immense black
+moustache.
+
+"Howdy?" responded Nestor, who seemed much at his ease, though the boys
+were rather startled to find themselves in what was evidently rough
+company.
+
+"Where ye from?" asked the clerk.
+
+"East," replied Nestor.
+
+"Where ye goin'?"
+
+"West."
+
+"Ain't much on the talk, be ye, stranger?" sneered the clerk.
+
+"I am when it suits me."
+
+"Aw! he's one of them stuck-up automobilists!" put in a tall, thin,
+dark-complexioned man, who was sitting in one chair, with his feet in
+another.
+
+"An' who might you be?" asked Nestor, turning to him.
+
+"Pud Stoneham, at your service," and the dark man bowed with elaborate
+grace, a sneering smile spreading over his face.
+
+"Well, you'd better be mindin' your own business!" snapped Nestor,
+turning away.
+
+"What's that!" exclaimed Stoneham, who was a gambler, hanging around the
+hotel on the lookout for victims. "I don't allow any man to insult me!"
+and he reached his hand to his hip-pocket, with a quick gesture.
+
+Before he could draw his gun, which was his intention, Nestor had him
+covered with a weapon.
+
+"No shootin', gentlemen!" called the clerk. "Against the rules. Put up
+your gun, stranger."
+
+"Not unless he agrees to put up his," stipulated Nestor.
+
+"I'll make him," said the clerk. And, with a scowl, Stoneham promised to
+be peaceable. In a little while he sneaked out.
+
+Nestor and the boys registered and were assigned to rooms for the night.
+The hotel was not a very stylish one, but they were glad even for the
+rough accommodations when they heard the torrent of rain outside.
+
+While they were washing up for supper, Ned suddenly called out:
+
+"Hark!"
+
+"What is it? The place on fire?" asked Jerry.
+
+"I thought I heard an automobile horn," replied Ned.
+
+"Maybe some boys are monkeying with our machine," came from Bob.
+
+"No, it isn't that, Chunky," went on Ned, looking from a window.
+
+"What then?"
+
+"It's another automobile coming up the road. My, how the mud and water
+splashes! And, say! Good land! Who do you suppose is in the car?"
+
+"The President?" answered Jerry, sozzling his face in the water.
+
+"It's Noddy Nixon, Jack Pender and Bill Berry!"
+
+"No!"
+
+"Yes, it is!"
+
+The others crowded to the windows to look. Sure enough, there were the
+three enemies of the Motor Boys. They ran their machine up under the
+shed where stood the red auto, and then Ned lost sight of them.
+
+"Well, it's a free country," observed Nestor. "It looks as if they were
+following you, but there's no law to prevent it. I guess they won't stay
+here long, though, after that chap that robbed me knows I'm stopping at
+this hotel. Wait until I get my hands on him."
+
+"Perhaps it would be better not to let him know who you are," suggested
+Jerry. "They may be up to some trick, and we can work to better
+advantage against them by keeping quiet."
+
+"Right you are," admitted the miner, after thinking the matter over. "He
+wouldn't know me if he saw me, since I got shaved. We'll just lay low
+an' watch."
+
+The Motor Boys, with Nestor and Professor Snodgrass, were the first
+ones down to the dining-room to supper. In a little while Noddy, Jack
+and Bill entered. The three latter started in surprise at beholding the
+Cresville boys, and for a moment seemed undecided what to do. Then, at
+a whispered word from Berry, they filed to the other side of the room
+and took their seats at a table.
+
+"I wonder if they really followed us," Jerry said.
+
+"Must have," was Nestor's opinion. "But I reckon they didn't expect to
+find you here."
+
+"But what can their object be?"
+
+"I don't think they exactly know themselves," replied the miner. "I
+guess they hope to annoy you, or they may expect to get a line on what
+our plans are. But we'll try to fool 'em."
+
+Before the meal was over, Pud Stoneham came in and took a seat at
+Noddy's table. In a little while the gambler seemed to be on good terms
+with Bill Berry and his companions.
+
+It was still raining hard when the three boys, with the professor and
+Nestor, went up to bed. The naturalist and the boys had two rooms, while
+Nestor was by himself. Noddy and his chums disappeared after the meal,
+Pud Stoneham accompanying them.
+
+It must have been about midnight when Nestor was awakened by hearing
+voices in the room next to his. At first he paid no attention to them,
+for he was sleepy. But he sat up suddenly when he heard some one say:
+
+"They're on the trail of a rich gold mine. I know, for I heard the old
+man talking about it."
+
+"Are you sure, Bill?" asked a second voice, which Nestor recognized as
+Noddy's.
+
+"Sure as I am that my name is Berry," was the reply.
+
+"Then, count me in on the game," said a third man, whom the miner had
+no difficulty in knowing was Pud Stoneham. "I've got money. We'll go in
+this together and win out. I owe that miner something for insulting me,
+an' I'll pay him back, too!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+NODDY STEALS A MARCH.
+
+
+Nestor sat up in bed, listening with all his might. But though he could
+hear a murmur of voices in the next room, and though he was certain
+Noddy and his companions were plotting against him and his friends, the
+miner could hear nothing more definite.
+
+"Forewarned is forearmed," he said, softly. "We'll see who'll win out,
+Pud Stoneham!"
+
+Nestor was up early the next morning. The weather had cleared and it was
+a beautiful day. The boys came down to breakfast with heavy eyes, for
+they had slept soundly. Professor Snodgrass, too, had arisen early, and
+was already searching for rare bugs.
+
+"I want to get a red tree-toad," he explained, as he strolled up at the
+sound of the breakfast gong, "but I am afraid they are not to be had."
+
+Suddenly he grabbed Ned's arm as the boy was walking toward the
+automobile shed.
+
+"One moment, I beg of you!" exclaimed the professor. "Steady now! Ah! I
+have the beauty. He was right on the back of your neck!" And he reached
+over and took from Ned's coat a small insect.
+
+"It's an extremely choice specimen of a sand flea," said the professor,
+proudly, popping the little animal into a glass case. "I hope I did not
+discommode you in removing it from you."
+
+"Not at all," laughed Ned, and the others smiled at the simple
+earnestness of the bug collector.
+
+"I want to have a talk with you boys after breakfast," spoke Nestor.
+
+His grave manner somewhat alarmed them, and they started to ask
+questions, but he would say nothing until after the meal. Then he told
+about what he had heard.
+
+"What worries me," said the miner, "is that I saw about the hotel a
+fellow that tried to follow me an' my pardner one day, and locate the
+lost mine. This chap's name is Tom Dalsett, and I saw him talking
+to Stoneham, the gambler, just before we came in to breakfast. Some
+mischief is in the wind when two such fellows whisper together."
+
+"Do you suppose they will try to get to the mine ahead of us?" asked
+Jerry.
+
+"I haven't a doubt of it," replied the miner. "We've got to look sharp
+from now on."
+
+"Had we better start right away?" inquired Ned.
+
+"It will do no harm to wait until the roads dry up a bit," was Nestor's
+opinion. "In the meanwhile, see to the machine. Look over every part.
+They may have damaged it during the night. See to your guns, too. We're
+going to have trouble from now on, or my name isn't Jim Nestor."
+
+His words rather alarmed the boys, but they were not going to back out
+now, and rather relished, than otherwise, a conflict with their old
+enemy, Noddy Nixon.
+
+Jerry went to the shed where the automobile had been left for the night.
+As he opened the door he uttered a cry of surprise.
+
+"What's the matter, have they taken our machine?" asked Ned.
+
+"No, they haven't done that, but they've skipped in their own," said
+Jerry. "I wonder if they have done any mischief to ours?"
+
+"That gang has stolen a march on us, all right," spoke Nestor. "They've
+gone on ahead. Well, they may get to the mine first, but we'll give them
+the hardest kind of a fight for the possession of it. I'm not going to
+lose a fortune if I can help it."
+
+Jerry soon ascertained that the red machine was not damaged. Nestor made
+inquiries and learned that the other party had left before daybreak, Pud
+Stoneham accompanying them.
+
+"What became of that chap with one eye and a scar on his left cheek?"
+asked Nestor of the hotel clerk, the description fitting Dalsett.
+
+"Oh, he went off with the others in the gasolene gig this morning," was
+the reply.
+
+It was plain now that Noddy and his gang were going to make a bold
+strike to discover the lost mine ahead of Nestor and his friends. How
+the Cresville bully had trailed the Motor Boys as far as he had was
+somewhat of a mystery, though it was afterward learned that he had been
+closer behind them after they left Chicago than they supposed. The
+meeting at the hotel was an accident, though.
+
+A stiff breeze sprang up, and soon dried the muddy roads. An early
+dinner was eaten and once more the party started forward, this time in
+pursuit of Noddy.
+
+"It's too bad to have to leave without getting that red tree-toad," said
+Professor Snodgrass.
+
+"We'll take you to a place where you can get horned toads," said Nestor.
+
+"Oh, that will be fine!" exclaimed the naturalist, with a boy's
+enthusiasm.
+
+The roads were none of the best, and the auto could not be speeded with
+safety. Nestor explained that the best plan would be to steer straight
+south for a while, after reaching New Mexico, and skirt around the edge
+of the mountain range, rather than attempt to make their way across the
+Rockies.
+
+"It will take a little longer," he said, "but sometimes the longest
+way 'round is the shortest way home. We'll aim for Messilla, which is
+not far from El Paso, and it's somewhat civilized there, so we can get
+supplies if we need 'em."
+
+The boys voted this plan a good one. By noon the auto had crossed the
+narrow stretch of land which is part of Indian Territory, lying between
+Texas and Colorado. Then they were in the big State of Texas, and, when
+night came on, they found themselves on a vast plain.
+
+"It's a case of camp out to-night," said the miner. "Now we'll see what
+sort of stuff you boys are made of."
+
+But if Nestor expected to find the Motor Boys tenderfeet, he was
+mistaken. They had camped out too many times before not to know what to
+do.
+
+The auto was run under the brow of a little hill, and Jerry took charge
+of things. Bob gathered wood for a fire and Ned went on a hunt for
+water. He found a little stream that answered admirably. Jerry got out
+the coffee-pot and frying-pan, and soon had supper cooking.
+
+There was fried canned chicken, with crisp slices of bacon, some thick
+biscuits, a jar of pickles and steaming hot coffee ready in a few
+minutes. Bob got out the tin dishes, and, seating themselves on the
+ground, the adventurers made a hearty meal.
+
+"Well, I must give you boys credit for knowin' a wrinkle or two," spoke
+Nestor. "I couldn't have done any better myself."
+
+"It's a good thing I bought some of those canned goods," said Jerry. "I
+thought that would be better than depending on what we could hunt."
+
+Supper over, and the things put away, the boys got out their blankets in
+readiness for the night. Nestor lighted his pipe and was puffing away,
+while in the fast-gathering dusk Professor Snodgrass went searching for
+rare specimens. He was successful in capturing two odd grass snakes, and
+seemed quite delighted. Then, as night settled down, each one rolled
+himself up in his blanket and fell asleep.
+
+Ned awoke first the next morning, and soon had the fire going and
+coffee made. The aromatic smell of the beverage greeted the others as
+they roused themselves, and soon a simple but satisfying breakfast was
+served. Then the journey was continued.
+
+It was a fine day, and the adventurers breathed in great whiffs of the
+pure air as their car dashed along. They passed through one or two small
+settlements, but inquiries failed to develop any traces of Noddy and his
+companions.
+
+"They may be going straight over the mountains," said Nestor. "Well,
+even if they do I think we'll beat them in the race for the mine.
+Mountain climbing is mighty onsartin' in one of these machines."
+
+But, had they only known it, Noddy and his gang were not aiming for the
+mountains, and were but a little way in advance of our friends. However,
+the Motor Boys soon learned, to their cost, where their enemy was.
+
+It was well along in the afternoon, and dinner had been eaten at a
+rude shack of a hotel in a small village, that the auto was skimming
+along, due south. Off to the right were the foothills of the mighty
+Rocky Mountains, while to the left was a vast rolling plain. Jerry was
+steering, with Bob on the seat beside him, while in the rear were the
+others, Professor Snodgrass busily engaged in sorting over some of his
+specimens.
+
+All at once a low, rumbling sound was heard.
+
+"Is that thunder?" asked Ned.
+
+"Can't be," replied Nestor. "There's not a cloud in the sky." Then he
+stood up and glanced behind him.
+
+"Great Scott!" he yelled. "Put on all the speed you've got!"
+
+"What's the matter?" asked Jerry.
+
+"Matter?" shouted the miner. "There's a herd of stampeded cattle coming
+straight for us. If they're not turned aside they'll go over us like a
+locomotive over a fly! Quick! Turn over toward the hills! Maybe we can
+escape them!"
+
+In terror, the boys looked behind them. Coming on with a mad rush, with
+a thunder of thousands of hoofs, and deep-mouthed bellows, were the
+steers, galloping like the wind!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+IN THE NICK OF TIME.
+
+
+Jerry headed the machine toward the foothills. Once among them the
+adventurers might escape. The auto was going almost at full speed,
+swaying from side to side on the rough road. Nestor, who was keeping
+watch of the herd, cried out:
+
+"I'm afraid it's no use. They have turned and are right after us!"
+
+The steers had changed their course to follow the red auto, which they
+probably took for an enemy. The thunder of their hoofs came nearer.
+
+Fast as the auto was going, its speed was not enough to take it out of
+reach of the infuriated animals, for the rough prairie was retarding it,
+but it was just the kind of country the cattle loved.
+
+Even Nestor, familiar as he was with danger, seemed much alarmed at the
+plight. The boys' hearts were well-nigh terror-stricken, but as for
+Professor Snodgrass, he did not appear at all frightened. He still kept
+on sorting his specimens.
+
+The auto topped a little hill, having to slow up a bit at the grade.
+Down it went on the other side, but still the steers came on. A long
+level stretch of country appeared.
+
+"We ought to be able to get away from them here!" cried Jerry, turning
+on more gasolene and increasing the current from the batteries. The auto
+seemed to jump forward.
+
+"Look out! Stop!" yelled Nestor, seizing Jerry by the arm.
+
+"We can't! We'll be killed if we do!" shouted the boy, thinking the
+miner had lost his head through fear.
+
+"And we'll be dashed to death if we keep on! We're running straight for
+a precipice three hundred feet high! Shut down the machine or we'll go
+over the cliff!"
+
+With a yank at the levers, Jerry turned off the power and put on the
+brakes. And it was only just in time, for, not one hundred feet ahead,
+the prairie came to an abrupt end, terminating in a sheer bluff,
+over which the auto and those in it would have been dashed had not
+the miner's practiced eye told him what to expect. He recognized the
+conformation of the land and knew what was coming.
+
+The adventurers were now between two dangers. They could not go on
+because of the precipice, and their escape to the rear was cut off
+by the maddened steers that now were but a quarter of a mile away,
+thundering on fiercely. To turn to the left or right was impossible, as
+the line of cattle was a curving one, like a pair of horns, and to go to
+either side meant to run straight into the midst of the beasts.
+
+"Let's get out of the machine and shoot as many as we can!" cried Ned,
+drawing his revolver. "Maybe we can scare them away!"
+
+"Don't think of it!" exclaimed Nestor. "Cattle are used to seeing men
+only on horseback or in wagons. Once on the ground we'd be trampled
+under foot in an instant. Our only hope is to stay in the machine. It
+will protect us somewhat when they rush over us."
+
+"Shall we shoot?" asked Jerry.
+
+"Our only chance is to turn them to one side, and shooting at them may
+do it," replied the miner. "Get ready and we'll all fire at once."
+
+Each one drew his revolver, even Professor Snodgrass taking an extra one
+Nestor had. The cattle were now about eight hundred feet away.
+
+"Fire!" cried Nestor.
+
+The five revolvers spurted slivers of flame, smoke and bullets. In rapid
+succession every chamber was emptied, but the rush of the steers was not
+checked. In fact, none of the cattle seemed to have been killed, or, if
+any were, they fell down and were trampled under the hoofs of the others.
+
+"I guess we're done for!" groaned Nestor. "Crouch down on the bottom of
+the car!"
+
+The galloping animals were almost at the auto. Suddenly there sounded
+a fusillade of shots, mingled with wild yells. Jerry peered up over
+the edge of his seat. He saw a man on a horse, riding straight across
+in front of the line of cattle. In one hand the stranger held a big
+revolver, which he fired right into the faces of the steers. In the
+other he held his coat, which he was waving like a flag.
+
+At the same time he was yelling like a man gone mad. The reins of his
+horse lay loose on the animal's neck, but the beast knew what was
+expected of him.
+
+It seemed that the stranger would be knocked down and trampled under
+thousands of sharp hoofs. But he did not seem afraid, riding closer and
+closer to the line of steers. He emptied one revolver and drew another,
+never ceasing to yell or wave his coat.
+
+Suddenly, with wild bellows, the leaders of the cattle turned. They were
+frightened at the strange figure before them. For a few seconds there
+was great confusion amid the mass of steers. Those behind the line of
+leaders tried to go straight ahead, but the latter, once having made up
+their minds that they would turn to the left did so.
+
+Then, like sheep following the bell-wether of the flock, the beasts took
+after their leaders. They rushed to one side, thundering past within
+twenty feet of the auto, while the stranger, pulling up his horse,
+still continued to wave his coat and shout.
+
+[Illustration: THEY RUSHED TO ONE SIDE, THUNDERING PAST THE AUTO.]
+
+"He's saved our lives!" exclaimed Nestor. "He's stampeded the cattle
+away from us in the nick of time!"
+
+On and on galloped the steers until the last one disappeared over the
+rolling hills of the prairie. Then the man on the horse rode over to the
+auto.
+
+"Howdy!" he called.
+
+"Howdy!" replied Nestor.
+
+"Got ye in kind of a tight place, didn't they?" went on the horseman.
+
+"We would have been killed only for you," spoke Jerry and his voice told
+how thankful he was.
+
+"Oh, shoo! That wa'n't nothin'," replied the stranger. "I seen ye comin'
+up in that there shebang of yours an' then I seen the cows chasin' ye. I
+was a leetle afraid ye'd go over the cliff, but ye stopped in time. Then
+I see it was up to me to stop them critters, an' I done it."
+
+"Lucky for us you did," put in Nestor.
+
+"I happened to be out huntin'," went on the horseman, "or I wouldn't
+have seen ye. I know cattle an' their ways an' I knowed there was only
+one way to head 'em off, an' that was to skeer 'em."
+
+"I'm Jim Nestor," said the miner, and he told the names of his
+companions.
+
+"Glad to meet ye," said the horseman, dismounting and shaking hands
+with each one. "I'm Hank Broswick."
+
+Nestor told the hunter something of the trip they were making, and
+Broswick in turn related how he was a free-lance hunter, roving over the
+prairies and among the mountains as suited his whims.
+
+"Had yer suppers?" Broswick asked.
+
+"No; an' I don't see any place around here to git 'em," spoke Nestor.
+"We've got some grub, though, an' we'd be pleased to have your company."
+
+"Thanks. I can add my share to the meal," replied Broswick. "I'd jest
+shot some prairie chickens afore ye come up, an' we'll roast 'em."
+
+While he went over to where he had left the fowls, Jerry backed the
+auto, turned it around, and sent it down the hill to the level plain.
+
+"It's a case of camp out again to-night," observed Nestor.
+
+"That suits me," spoke Ned, and the other boys agreed with him.
+
+A fire was soon made, the prairie chickens were prepared for roasting,
+coffee was set on to boil, and with some tinned biscuits the adventurers
+made a hearty meal.
+
+Sitting around the camp-fire as night came on, the hunter told several
+of his adventures while on the trail. Once he had a terrible fight with
+a grizzly bear, the scars of the combat being visible on his face and
+arms.
+
+"Are there any bears around here?" asked Bob.
+
+"Not getting afraid, are you, Chunky?" queried Ned.
+
+"No; I only just wanted to know," replied the stout youth, looking over
+his shoulder in as careless a manner as he could assume.
+
+"Waal, there's a few now an' agin'," answered the hunter, "but they
+don't bother me much, not while I have this along," and he patted a
+rifle which he had left with his game before he rode out to stampede the
+cattle.
+
+"Are you bound for any particular place?" asked Nestor of Hank.
+
+"Nope; I'm my own boss."
+
+"Then, why not come along with us?" proposed the miner. "We may need
+your help, for there's a bad gang ahead of us."
+
+He told something of the plans of himself and the boys, in regard to the
+gold mine, and related how there were enemies in front, and added that
+he might pay the hunter for his time.
+
+"I'll go 'long!" exclaimed the hunter, after a moment's thought. "I used
+to be a prospector myself."
+
+More fuel was heaped on the fire, the adventurers wrapped themselves in
+their blankets and prepared to spend the night in the open.
+
+It was past midnight when Bob was suddenly awakened by feeling some one
+trying to turn him over.
+
+"Go 'way," he said, sleepily. "Let me alone."
+
+Something cold and clammy was thrust against his face, and he heard the
+breathing and noted the peculiar smell of some wild animal.
+
+With a shout of terror he sat upright. In the glow from the fire he saw,
+rearing up on his haunches before him, a big, black bear!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+A RUSH OF GOLD SEEKERS.
+
+
+"Help! help!" screamed Bob.
+
+The bear made a dive for him and the boy cast himself forward on his
+face.
+
+"What's the matter? What is it?" cried Hank Broswick, springing to his
+feet.
+
+"Indians! Indians!" exclaimed Professor Snodgrass, rolling himself
+tightly up in his blanket.
+
+"It isn't Indians! It's a bear killing Bob!" cried Jerry.
+
+The animal, with savage growls, had pounced on the unfortunate boy and
+was trying to get hold of him with the powerful claws. Bob, after his
+first wild screams, became quiet, digging his fingers into the earth to
+hold himself down.
+
+"Wait a minute! I'll kill the brute!" cried the hunter.
+
+He had seized his ever-ready rifle and rushed over toward the bear.
+But the fierce beast was so close to Bob that Broswick could not fire
+without danger of hitting the lad.
+
+"Here, boy, take the gun!" yelled the hunter to Jerry. "If you see me
+getting the worst of it, fire!"
+
+"What are you going to do?" exclaimed Jerry.
+
+"I'm going to kill that brute with my knife!" cried Broswick.
+
+Drawing a keen blade from the sheath at his belt, he jumped straight
+on the bear's back. The beast, with a fierce growl of rage, turned and
+tried to bite the legs of the strange enemy that was plunging something
+terrible and sharp into his shoulders.
+
+Ned threw some wood on the fire. It blazed up brightly and, by the light
+of it, the boys and Nestor saw the bear rear on his haunches, with
+Broswick still clinging to his back.
+
+The hunter had one hand clasped in the shaggy fur of the brute, and
+the other was sending the knife, again and again, into the thick skin,
+trying to reach a vital spot.
+
+Bob had rolled to one side, out of harm's way, and suffered no more than
+a rough mauling by the brute. But Broswick was not to escape so easily.
+
+With a sudden movement the bear turned, shook the hunter loose, and
+then, before the brave fellow could defend himself, the savage animal
+had clasped him in the terrible and powerful claws.
+
+"Help! He's squeezing me to death!" Broswick cried.
+
+His arms were pinned to his sides and he could not get a chance to use
+his knife, which he still held.
+
+Jerry saw his chance. Approaching close to the bear from behind, the boy
+placed the muzzle of the gun against the brute's head.
+
+There was a loud report, a last fierce growl, and the animal, with a
+convulsive hug of the hunter, dropped over, dead. Jerry had shot just in
+time.
+
+Broswick, too, fell to the earth and at first the boys thought he was
+killed. But in a little while he arose and felt of his arms and legs.
+
+"I'm all here," he said. "Guess there ain't much harm done, but it was a
+pretty tight squeeze!"
+
+"I thought you were a goner," spoke Jerry.
+
+"That ain't nothin'," answered the hunter. "You ought to hev seen me
+fight a grizzly once!"
+
+In the light of the fire, which was now blazing brightly, it was seen
+that the bear was a big specimen. As he lay stretched out on the ground
+he measured eight feet from his nose to his short tail.
+
+"You know I tole ye there was a few bears now an' agin'," remarked the
+hunter, as he gave his former foe a kick. "Waal, I reckon some of 'em
+must 'a' heard me an' wanted to show I was tellin' the truth," he added,
+with a drawl.
+
+No one felt much like sleep after this excitement, so they sat around
+the camp-fire until it began to get light. Then coffee was made, and
+the hunter proceeded to skin his prize. He cut off some choice steaks,
+which were broiled over the coals. The boys thought they had never
+tasted anything so good.
+
+After breakfast the tires were pumped up, the baggage was packed into
+the auto and preparations made for the start.
+
+"Where's Professor Snodgrass?" asked Ned, noticing the absence of the
+naturalist. Then they all remembered that they had not seen him since
+the morning meal.
+
+"He's probably off gathering some bugs or stones," said Jerry. "Let's
+give a yell to call him in."
+
+In a chorus they gave a loud hallo, and in reply received a faint call
+from a small ravine.
+
+"He's over there," said Broswick, pointing in the direction the voice
+had come from. "But hark! Sounds like he was in trouble!"
+
+Faintly the wind bore to the adventurers the sound of the professor's
+voice pleading with some one.
+
+"Now, please don't!" he was saying, or rather calling aloud. "You know
+you shouldn't do that! Let me alone, I say! Get out of my way or I'll
+throw a stone at you!"
+
+"The Indians are after him!" exclaimed Bob.
+
+"There are no Indians around here, Chunky," spoke Jerry. "You must have
+redskins on the brain."
+
+Broswick and Nestor hurried over to the ravine. As they reached it they
+could be heard laughing long and heartily. Soon a small, wild goat was
+seen to run from the cut, leaping away over the plain. Out of the defile
+came the professor, Nestor and Broswick.
+
+"The wild goat had him treed," spoke Nestor.
+
+"Truly that was a savage brute," said the professor. "I was gathering
+some specimens, and had my arms full, when along comes this beast, with
+lowered horns, and nearly knocked me over. I had barely time to run for
+my life and climb a tree before he was after me again. His sharp horns
+scraped my shoe as I climbed. There I was, treed. I didn't dare come
+down, for fear he would eat me, or horn me to death. I don't know what I
+should have done if you gentlemen hadn't come along."
+
+"Oh, we only scared him away!" said Broswick.
+
+"Pardon me, just a moment," interrupted the professor, making a quick
+motion toward Nestor and picking something from his shoulder. "There, I
+have it. I am very much obliged to you."
+
+"What sort of game did ye git this trip?" asked the hunter, somewhat
+amused at the naturalist.
+
+"A rare specimen of the fly that lives in the wool of wild goats,"
+replied the professor. "The insect is very valuable. It must have jumped
+from the goat to you."
+
+After a little consultation the party started off, the auto making a
+pace slow enough so the hunter's horse could easily keep up. For several
+days the journey was continued, with no accidents to mar the way. The
+adventurers had reached well down into New Mexico by this time and had
+about one hundred miles farther to go before they could make the spur of
+the mountain and avoid going over the range.
+
+One afternoon, following a good day's run, Ned brought the machine to a
+stop below a little hill, where it was decided to spend the night, as
+the place was sheltered.
+
+Jerry happened to glance to the rear, over the back trail, as he was
+getting out the supper utensils, and uttered a cry.
+
+"What's that?" he asked, pointing to a long line of men that were filing
+along a road that joined the main one about where the camp was to be
+made.
+
+"Looks like a procession," observed Broswick.
+
+"They're miners, that's what they are!" cried Nestor, after a long look.
+"Every one has his pack on his back, his washing-pan and his pick and
+shovel."
+
+"What are they coming this way for?" asked Ned.
+
+"They are on the rush, seeking gold," explained the miner. "Word has
+come to the camp where they were that rich pay-dirt has been struck in
+some locality. They all want to get at it, so they pack up and leave
+for the new field. Many's the time I've done it."
+
+In a little while the foremost of the miners reached the auto camp. They
+seemed surprised to see the machine, but did not stop.
+
+"What's your hurry, mate?" asked Nestor, of one big, brawny chap who was
+walking fast.
+
+"Want to make as many miles as I can before sundown," was the reply.
+"There's rich diggin's ahead, an' I want to stake a good claim."
+
+"Where might they be located?" asked Nestor.
+
+"Why, ain't you heard? I thought every one had," answered the other.
+"They're in the lower part of Arizona, in what they call the Hop Toad
+District."
+
+Nestor gave a start. The miner passed on, fearful lest even his brief
+stop would cost him his place in the cavalcade.
+
+"The Hop Toad District!" muttered Nestor. "That's the district where my
+lost mine is located! I hope that hasn't been discovered. If it has it
+means all our work has gone for nothin'!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+OVER THE MOUNTAINS.
+
+
+On and on the stream of miners hurried. Several paused to stare at the
+automobile in wonder. Others passed by with never a glance. One man was
+mounted on a lame mule that made but little better speed than some of
+the pedestrians.
+
+Three men, who seemed to form a party by themselves, came to a halt in
+front of the machine. They whispered together a few moments and then one
+stepped forward and addressed Nestor.
+
+"Will you sell that machine for three thousand dollars?" he asked.
+
+"I'm not the boss. You'll have to speak to one of these boys," replied
+the miner.
+
+"How about it?" asked the man of Jerry.
+
+"I hardly believe we want to sell," answered the latter.
+
+"That's right," whispered Nestor. "There's some game afoot. Don't sell.
+There must have been a big gold strike lately to cause this rush!"
+
+The three miners saw that the boys would not part with their machine,
+which the prospectors wanted in order to make a quick trip to the new
+mining region. So they turned away and continued afoot on the trail.
+
+For nearly an hour the stream of miners continued to march by. Then, as
+the last stragglers were lost to view, Nestor said:
+
+"Boys, we're in a tight place. We'll have to hustle. Somehow or other
+news of the rich mining region near where my mine is located has leaked
+out. There's a rush, and we'll have to travel fast. We can't stick to
+our original plan. We've got to go over the mountains."
+
+"Must we start right away?" asked Ned.
+
+"The sooner the better," answered Nestor. "We'll have supper and travel
+night and day from now on. We'll have to race against not only Noddy
+Nixon and his gang, but these miners who have gone on ahead of us."
+
+From what was intended to be a peaceful camp, that of the Motor Boys and
+their friends was turned into a mere resting place. Every one was filled
+with excitement, and Professor Snodgrass forgot to start on a collecting
+tour. He did not open his green box, and, with the others, ate a hasty
+meal.
+
+As soon as Jerry had finished his supper he gave the auto a thorough
+overhauling. Plenty of oil was put on the bearings, the water tank was
+refilled from a convenient spring and the tires pumped up. Then the
+holder for the carbide, from which the acetylene gas for the lamps was
+generated, was packed with the chemical.
+
+"I'm ready when you are," announced Jerry.
+
+By this time each one had finished his meal. The dishes were placed in
+the basket, Professor Snodgrass stowed his specimens carefully away and
+Hank Broswick tightened the saddle girths on his horse.
+
+"Forward!" cried Nestor.
+
+With a series of chug-chugs the machine darted ahead. The hunter urged
+his horse on and the adventurers were once more moving toward the hidden
+mine. It was going to be a bright, moonlight night, as could be told by
+the silver disk that was already rising above the trees.
+
+"We'll hardly need the gas lamps," observed Ned.
+
+"But it's better to have them," remarked Jerry, who had been selected to
+do the steering.
+
+Leaving the broad and level road that led south over the plains, the
+adventurers headed due west. In a little while it was evident that the
+machine was going uphill, for the motor began puffing laboriously, and
+Jerry shifted the gear to first speed.
+
+"We've struck the foothills," observed Nestor. "In a short time we'll be
+going up the mountain. Then, look out!"
+
+Broswick rode along just behind the machine on his horse. The animal
+was a steady trotter and managed to keep up to the auto, which was
+obliged to move slowly, as it had quite a heavy load on a steep grade.
+
+For several hours the machine kept going. All the while the ascent
+became more and more steep until, at length, the adventurers found
+themselves well above the foothills and among the mountains.
+
+"We'll keep on until about ten o'clock," said Nestor. "Then we'll camp
+for the night. We must get some sleep or we'll be all tired out."
+
+Up, up, up went the auto. After quite a climb a small plateau or
+level stretch was reached, and there the going was easier. Jerry took
+advantage of it to run on the second gear. It was quiet, save for the
+mournful hooting of an owl now and then, as the machine made little
+noise, and no one felt like talking. All at once there came from the
+rear seat a strange sound.
+
+"What's that?" asked Jerry.
+
+"Chunky has fallen asleep and is snoring," answered Broswick, who was
+riding beside the machine.
+
+"I reckon it's time we camped for the night," put in Nestor. "Here's a
+good stopping place. We'll make an early start in the morning."
+
+The machine was halted, blankets were gotten out and a small camp-fire
+started. Tired and weary, the adventurers prepared for bed. Broswick,
+who carried his blankets on his horse, said he would stand the first
+watch, and Nestor agreed to take the second, so the boys could get a
+full night's rest.
+
+"I'll do my share," said Professor Snodgrass, anxious to be of service.
+
+But Nestor said there was no need for the naturalist to sit up. To tell
+the truth, the miner was afraid that if the professor was left on guard
+he would forget what he was doing and wander off in search of specimens.
+
+Silence soon settled over the little camp in the mountains. The three
+boys were slumbering peacefully, as was the professor. Broswick sat by
+the fire, keeping watch, and Nestor was rolled up in his blanket.
+
+Suddenly, from down the slope up which the auto had come, sounded the
+blast of a trumpet.
+
+"What's that?" cried Nestor, springing to his feet, for he was a light
+sleeper. He came over to where the hunter sat.
+
+"Sounded like Gabriel's trumpet," replied the hunter, quietly.
+
+"No; it was an auto horn," spoke Nestor. "A machine is coming up the
+trail. We must watch out. It may be Noddy Nixon and his gang."
+
+Once more silence settled down, but to the trained ears of the miner
+and hunter there came the faint throbbing that told an automobile was
+approaching. Nestor loosened the revolver in his belt and Broswick
+reached over for his rifle, which he always kept near him.
+
+Nearer and nearer came the machine. It reached the level stretch on
+which the adventurers were encamped and then the speed of the engine
+could be heard to increase. Nestor threw some light wood on the fire. It
+blazed up brightly, and the miner quickly drew Broswick back into the
+shadows of a big oak tree.
+
+"We'll watch as they go past," he said.
+
+A minute later an auto dashed by.
+
+"There they are!" exclaimed Nestor. "There's that gambler, Pud Stoneham,
+and with him is Tom Dalsett, the man who knows where my mine is. I
+wonder how they got behind us. I thought they were ahead."
+
+"I reckon we can keep 'em behind if we want to," whispered Broswick. He
+raised his gun.
+
+"Hold on! we don't want to murder any one!" exclaimed Nestor, in a
+whisper, knocking the weapon up.
+
+He was too late, as the hunter had fired.
+
+"I wasn't goin' to do any damage," spoke the old man. "I only aimed to
+bust a tire. However, you spoiled my mark. The bullet went over their
+heads."
+
+"I thought you were goin' to shoot one of them," said Nestor.
+
+Noddy, who, from the brief glimpse Nestor had, could be seen at the
+steering wheel, increased his speed at the sound of the report, as could
+be told by the faster explosions of the motor. The noise of the rifle
+going off awoke Jerry.
+
+"What's the matter?" he cried, sitting up.
+
+"Your friend Noddy just passed by," replied Nestor, "and the hunter gave
+him a salute."
+
+"I thought he was far away," said Jerry.
+
+There was nothing that could be done, and the camp again settled down to
+quietness and slumber. There were no more disturbances, and at midnight
+Nestor relieved Broswick. Almost before the boys knew it morning had
+come.
+
+Then, after breakfast, they were off once more.
+
+There were no signs of Noddy's machine save the marks of the broad tires
+in the dust of the road. Leaving the plateau the adventurers were soon
+mounting toward the clouds again.
+
+All the morning they hurried forward as fast as the auto could be urged.
+Broswick's horse kept well to the trail, for it was used to mountain
+climbing. At noon a stop was made beside a swiftly running brook and
+dinner was eaten. Then, after a rest beneath the trees, the journey was
+resumed.
+
+About five o'clock another halt was made for supper, thirty miles having
+been reeled off during the afternoon.
+
+"We'll do a bit of traveling as we did last night," said Nestor.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+A TRICK OF THE ENEMY.
+
+
+The gas and oil lamps were lighted, and, as the sun sank to rest behind
+the hills, the auto began the night trip. The way was still upward, for
+the summit of the mountains had not yet been reached. Ned was steering
+and Jerry was on the seat beside him.
+
+The machine topped a long rise and came to the brow of a small incline,
+the descent of which, on the other side, was quite steep.
+
+It was now dark, for the moon had gone behind a cloud. The road was not
+of the best, and Ned had the machine pretty well under control. Down it
+went on the slope.
+
+Suddenly Jerry gave a cry and reached over to shut off the power.
+
+"Jam on the brakes!" he cried to Ned.
+
+The steersman obeyed, and, with a grinding sound, the auto came to a
+halt, with a sort of jar.
+
+"What's the matter?" asked Nestor.
+
+"Some obstruction on the road; looks like a log," answered Jerry. "I
+just happened to see it in time."
+
+He got out and ran ahead.
+
+"It's a tree cut down right across the path," he called back. "A big
+one, too. If we'd hit it, running as we were, we'd have gone to smash."
+
+They all got out of the car and gathered about the obstruction. Broswick
+alighted from his horse and made a close inspection.
+
+"This was done on purpose," he declared. "It has been freshly cut and
+was chopped on the side next to the road so's to fall right across an'
+block our way."
+
+"I wonder who did it?" asked Bob.
+
+"There's only one gang who could have an object in such a trick as
+this," said Ned.
+
+"Who?" inquired Bob.
+
+"Noddy Nixon's crowd. They want to delay us as much as possible so they
+can reach the mine first."
+
+"I believe Jerry is right," put in Nestor. "This is one of the enemy's
+tricks, all right."
+
+For a little while the adventurers stood and looked at the tree that
+obstructed their further progress.
+
+"Well, what's to be done?" asked Ned.
+
+"It's too big for us to lift out of the way," said Bob. "We'll have to
+wait until morning and then go get some axes and chop it in two."
+
+"Don't do that," exclaimed Professor Snodgrass, so earnestly that the
+boys thought he might have some other plan to propose.
+
+"Why not?" asked Jerry.
+
+"Because there may be some valuable specimens of insects on that tree,
+little green or brown toads, katydids or other things. Let it stay there
+until morning so I may gather them."
+
+"The tree is likely to stay there until morning, all right enough,"
+observed Nestor, "so you'll have all the time you want, Professor."
+
+"There's no need of delay," spoke Jerry, suddenly.
+
+"How you goin' to git rid of the tree?" asked Nestor.
+
+"I'll show you," replied the boy.
+
+He ran to the back of the auto, took out a long, stout rope and fastened
+this to the tree, near the branch end. The other end of the cable Jerry
+brought back to the machine. This he now tied to the rear axle of the
+automobile, and then, getting into the front seat, he turned the machine
+around.
+
+Gradually increasing the speed, he sent the auto ahead. The rope
+tightened, there was a straining, cracking sound and the tree was pulled
+to one side of the road by the power of the auto. The thoroughfare was
+left free for passage.
+
+"I guess they didn't think of that," remarked Jerry, as he replaced the
+rope and turned the machine around. "Now we can go ahead."
+
+"Good for you!" cried Nestor. "We'll beat 'em yet, an' at their own
+game!"
+
+They piled into the auto, and with Jerry at the wheel, went forward
+again, Broswick's horse keeping up. They traveled for about an hour
+longer and then Nestor suggested that as they had reached a good spot it
+might be wise to camp there for the rest of the night.
+
+It was not long before every one was snoring in slumber. Ned was the
+first one to awake, and he did so as the result of a vivid dream he had
+that he was sliding downhill on top of a barrel, when it collapsed and
+threw him into a snow-bank.
+
+He opened his eyes to find the ground all white about him, and about
+three inches of snow covering his rubber blanket.
+
+"Where are we?" he called out, his voice awakening the others.
+
+"A snow squall!" cried Broswick. "I thought we were gittin' high enough
+to have 'em. Waal, it won't amount to much."
+
+"Are snow storms common here the end of September?" asked Jerry.
+
+"They are when you git high enough in the mountains," replied the
+hunter. "Many's the night I've gone to bed thinkin' it was summer, to
+wake up an' find it winter, an' me sleepin' under a foot of snow. The
+storms come up so easy you don't know anythin' about 'em."
+
+"Will it last long?" asked Ned.
+
+"No; it'll melt when the sun strikes it," was the answer. "But snow or
+no snow, we must have breakfast."
+
+Broswick scraped away a place amid the white blanket and found some
+wood. A blaze was soon kindled, and the appetizing smell of coffee
+filled the crisp air. A hasty but substantial meal was made, and then
+the travelers, urged on by the call of gold in the mine they were
+striving to reach, took up their journey again.
+
+As Broswick had said, as soon as the sun rose the snow began to melt
+and soon the landscape showed no signs of the winter costume it had
+masqueraded in. The adventurers were now close to the top of the
+mountain, and would shortly begin descending on the other slope. They
+had dinner beside a swift, cold brook, from which Broswick caught
+several large trout that made an excellent and very welcome addition to
+the meal, broiled as they were over the coals.
+
+It was late that afternoon when the hunter, who was riding somewhat in
+the rear, came galloping up on his horse.
+
+"I'm afraid we're in for it," he said.
+
+"In for what?" asked Nestor.
+
+"A rippin' old thunder storm," was the answer. "The clouds back there
+are as black as ink an' the wind's drivin' 'em right this way. If I know
+anythin' of signs, an' I ought to, considerin' I've hunted in these
+mountains for nigh onto twenty years, we're goin' to have a regular
+rip-snorter."
+
+"Snow one day and a thunder storm the next," observed Jerry. "This is a
+queer country."
+
+Events soon proved the old hunter was right. The wind began to blow a
+regular gale and the clouds made the sky almost as dark as night. The
+auto was going downhill; Jerry was taking it along as easily as he could.
+
+Suddenly the storm burst with a terrific peal of thunder that
+accompanied a blinding flash of lightning. It seemed to shake the very
+earth. Then came a regular deluge of rain.
+
+"Run the machine under a tree," advised Nestor. "We'll be washed away if
+we stay in the road."
+
+"There's a good place, just ahead!" shouted Broswick. "Under the oak.
+Leave the auto there and run for the cave!"
+
+"What cave?" cried Jerry.
+
+"There's one on the left side of the road, a little above the tree,"
+said Broswick. "I've stayed in it often when I was caught in a storm.
+It'll hold all of us an' the horse."
+
+The machine was halted beneath the oak. Then, after rubber blankets had
+been spread to keep dry the baggage in the auto, the adventurers raced
+for the cave, led by Broswick.
+
+They found the cavern to be a dry, roomy one, a natural hole scooped out
+of the side of the mountain. Once inside, the war of the elements could
+not harm them. They drew back from the mouth of the cave and listened to
+the heavy rumble of thunder and watched the brilliant lightning.
+
+It seemed as if the very flood-gates were opened. The wind blew a
+regular hurricane, and the lightning was incessant.
+
+Suddenly there came a dull rumbling and the cave was jarred by a shock.
+Then it grew as black as night.
+
+"That struck somewhere!" cried Jerry.
+
+"And near here!" exclaimed Broswick. "I'm afraid it was too close for
+comfort."
+
+"Are we in any danger?" asked Professor Snodgrass, calmly.
+
+Broswick had groped his way forward. He seemed to be fumbling in the
+darkness at the mouth of the cave.
+
+"What's happened?" shouted Nestor.
+
+"A rock has fallen and closed the mouth of the cavern!" cried the
+hunter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+THE AUTO STOLEN.
+
+
+For a few moments the silence of despair was on every one. The knowledge
+that they were imprisoned in the cave came as a terrible shock.
+
+"Is there no way out?" asked Nestor.
+
+"Now don't you folks go to worryin'," spoke Broswick, in a more cheerful
+voice than seemed warranted under the circumstances. "I've been in
+tighter places than this, an' come out on top!"
+
+"But we're buried!" cried Professor Snodgrass, who, for once, seemed to
+have forgotten all about his beloved specimens.
+
+"That's nothin'," spoke Broswick. "You thought you was all goners when
+them cattle was comin' after you, but I got you out, an' I'm goin' to do
+the same now!"
+
+"You can't burrow out like a rabbit," said Ned.
+
+"I've got a little instrument here that will help me," said the hunter.
+"I never travel without a spade on my saddle. I've lost too many rabbits
+an' woodchucks through not havin' the means to dig 'em out, so I always
+carry a shovel along. I reckon it will come in handy. If I only had a
+light now----"
+
+"No need to worry about that," put in Nestor. "It would be a pretty poor
+miner that traveled without a bit of candle and some matches with him. I
+always go prepared for emergencies."
+
+He struck a match, a yellow glow filled the cave, and soon a candle gave
+good illumination. The boys could see that the cavern was of large size.
+
+"I've often stayed in here to keep out the rain," said Broswick, as he
+got his spade, "but I never was ketched like this before."
+
+Guided by the candle, the hunter went to the mouth of the cave and
+began digging away the mass of earth and rocks that had slid down and
+obstructed the opening.
+
+"Goin' to be quite a job," remarked the miner, as he looked over the
+mass. "It'll take a good while."
+
+"There's plenty of us to do the work," replied Broswick.
+
+He attacked the pile and made the dirt fly. After he had labored fifteen
+minutes Nestor relieved him. The miner, from his experience in digging
+into the earth, made more progress than had the hunter. Nestor kept at
+it for more than half an hour, refusing to yield the spade to any one.
+
+"There," he said, when he stopped to rest, "I've made quite a hole."
+
+The boys and Professor Snodgrass took turns, and then Nestor went at it
+again.
+
+"I wish I had a drink," remarked the miner. "This is dry work."
+
+"Nothin' easier," said Broswick. He took a second candle, which the
+miner had, and walked to the rear of the cave.
+
+In a little while he returned with a big gourd full of cold water.
+
+"What sort of a magician are you?" asked Jerry.
+
+"There's a spring back there," explained Broswick. "Many's the time I've
+taken a drink at it and the last time I was here I brought this gourd
+for a dipper. Now it comes in handy."
+
+Each one took a draught of the cool water and felt the better for it.
+Then Nestor insisted that he was going to continue the digging. The
+others wanted to relieve him, but he would not let them. He plied the
+spade vigorously and the dirt was scattered to one side.
+
+"Light! Light!" the miner cried, suddenly. "I can see light! We're
+nearly out!"
+
+A few more strokes of the shovel made the opening larger and then, with
+a shout and hurrah, the imprisoned adventurers rushed forward.
+
+"Why! Why! It's night!" exclaimed Bob, as he emerged from the cavern and
+saw the stars shining.
+
+"Of course it is," answered Nestor. "It was late afternoon when we took
+shelter in the cave, and we were there more than three hours."
+
+"Well, we're out now," said Jerry. "I wonder if the auto was damaged."
+
+The storm had ceased and the night was a fine, clear one. The moon was
+shining from a cloudless sky and thousands of stars were out. Jerry ran
+on ahead to the tree under which the auto had been left, for the machine
+was his chief concern.
+
+He paused as he reached the spot. Then he rubbed his eyes and wondered
+if he was seeing straight. He even pinched himself to see if he was
+awake.
+
+"What's the matter?" asked Ned, who was following close behind his chum.
+
+"The auto is gone!" cried Jerry.
+
+"Gone?"
+
+"Yes. Stolen!"
+
+"What's that?" exclaimed Nestor, running up.
+
+Jerry pointed under the tree. There was not any sign of an automobile.
+
+"That's funny," observed Broswick. "It couldn't fly away, that's sure."
+He led his horse from the cave up to the road and stooped down to
+examine the path closely.
+
+"Let's have one of those candles," the hunter called to Nestor. Lighting
+the wick the old man examined the road with care, moving about in a
+circle and then going backward and forward for quite a distance.
+
+"Well?" inquired Nestor, when the hunter straightened up.
+
+"Some one came along in another auto while we were in the cave," said
+the hunter, "pulled up here alongside of yours, hitched on to it and
+pulled it away, or else rode off in it."
+
+"What makes you think so?" asked Jerry.
+
+"I haven't hunted an' trapped twenty years for nothin', young man,"
+was the answer. "I can see the tracks your machine made as it stopped
+under a tree. Then along comes another machine, with tires a leetle mite
+smaller'n yours. Auto No. 2 stops. Some one gits out from it an' looks
+over your auto, for I kin see marks of hob-nailed shoes, an' none of us
+wear 'em."
+
+"Hob-nails, did you say, eh?" here interrupted Nestor.
+
+"That's what I said."
+
+"Then Tom Dalsett has been here."
+
+"How do you know?"
+
+"Look an' see if the soles of the hob-nailed shoes didn't have a cross
+in each one."
+
+"They did," replied the hunter, inspecting the tracks.
+
+"Then it's Tom Dalsett for sure. He always wore shoes like that, an' I
+seen 'em on him when he was at Dead Man's Gulch."
+
+"Then Noddy and his gang have stolen our auto!" cried Jerry.
+
+"That's about it," assented Nestor. "However, we mustn't give up yet.
+We'll take after 'em."
+
+"Not much chance of getting them, though," put in Ned.
+
+"You're welcome to my horse," said Broswick. "He ain't very fast, but
+he's better than nothin'."
+
+"There's no use doin' anythin' to-night," was the miner's opinion. "We'd
+only get lost on the road, and I don't know but what we're lost already.
+We'll have to camp until mornin'."
+
+After some consideration this was voted the best thing to do. It was
+a sorrowful band of adventurers that gathered about the fire which
+Broswick made, for the hearts of the boys were dispirited over the theft
+of their machine, and the men sympathized with them.
+
+Fortunately, the hunter had some bacon left, and a meal, such as it was,
+the travelers made on this. Then, selecting the driest places they could
+find, they prepared to spend the night in the open, without coverings.
+It was cold, but by keeping a good fire going some comfort was had.
+
+When the sun rose the adventurers got up, stretched themselves and
+wondered what they were going to do for breakfast.
+
+"Leave it to me," said Broswick. "I'm used to providing meals."
+
+He was gone some little time, and when he came back he had several
+plump birds. These were cleaned and were soon roasting over the fire on
+sticks. It was a good deal better meal than might have been expected
+under the circumstances.
+
+Then, with the hunter riding his horse, and the others following, the
+journey in search of the stolen auto was begun. The marks made by the
+broad tires of the two machines could be plainly seen.
+
+"I wouldn't care if I had my valuable specimens," wailed Professor
+Snodgrass.
+
+"We'll git 'em, an' the auto, too," said Broswick. "Don't you worry."
+
+They had covered several miles and were descending a long hill, when
+Jerry called out:
+
+"What's that ahead, there?"
+
+They all stopped and peered down the road.
+
+"There are two autos!" cried Nestor. "One looks like ours. I'm going to
+see about it."
+
+And he started off on a run.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+ATTACKED BY INDIANS.
+
+
+"Here, come back!" yelled Broswick.
+
+"What for?" shouted Nestor.
+
+"Take my horse," said the hunter. "That's better than going afoot."
+
+Nestor returned, mounted the animal and set off at a gallop toward the
+two autos, which were down in the valley.
+
+"He'll never catch them," said Bob, in a despairing tone.
+
+"You let him alone," came from Broswick. "He'll git 'em, all right.
+There's some trouble down there. One machine can't go."
+
+"How can you tell?" asked Jerry.
+
+"I've got sharp eyes, boy," was the answer. "I use 'em in my business."
+
+In fact, as the boys observed closely, they could see that the two
+machines were not moving. They could also note men walking about the
+cars.
+
+"Something's out of kilter," said Ned. "I guess they found plenty of
+trouble running two machines. I'll bet one of 'em is ours."
+
+They watched Nestor descend the slope and approach the cars. As he came
+closer to them it was observed that there was some commotion among the
+persons grouped around the machines. They saw the miner raise his hand
+in the air, and little clouds of smoke arose.
+
+"He's firing over their heads!" cried Broswick.
+
+Then, all at once, the persons down in the valley, who, as the boys
+afterward learned, were Noddy Nixon and his gang, made a rush for the
+head auto, jumped into it and made off at top speed.
+
+Nestor rode up to the remaining machine and waved his hat back to his
+friends. Taking this as a signal that all was right, they hurried
+forward.
+
+"It was them, all right!" cried Nestor, when Jerry and the others had
+joined him. "I scared them off by firing in the air. There seemed to be
+something the matter with our auto, for they were trying to fix it."
+
+The boys were worried lest some harm had befallen their machine. Jerry
+made an examination, however, and found things in good shape. There
+was some damage, and a battery wire had become disconnected, which had
+brought the machine to a stop, thus foiling the plans of Noddy.
+
+"That was a lucky break for us," said Bob.
+
+"You bet it was, Chunky," agreed Ned. "If we hadn't recovered the auto
+we would have had to walk back home, and home is a good ways from here."
+
+Repairs to the machine were quickly made, and then, with light hearts,
+the adventurers took their places and started forward once again.
+
+Nothing in the car had been disturbed, and even the collection of
+insects made by Professor Snodgrass had not been harmed. The steady
+chug-chug and puff-puff of the motor was heard as the adventurers moved
+on up the mountain.
+
+They stopped for dinner on top of a little hill in the midst of a grove
+of trees. A fire was kindled, coffee made, and some canned provisions
+set out.
+
+"This is something like," observed Bob, smacking his lips over some
+preserved tongue.
+
+"I'd have given five dollars for a cup of coffee last night," spoke
+Nestor.
+
+"Me, too," said the hunter.
+
+"I am so thankful my specimens are safe I could go without eating for a
+week," put in Professor Snodgrass, at which they all laughed.
+
+Taking a comfortable rest under the trees until the afternoon sun went
+down a little, the adventurers were thoroughly enjoying the pleasant
+day. Suddenly Broswick started up.
+
+"What is it?" asked Nestor, viewing with alarm the look of fear on the
+hunter's face.
+
+"Indians!" was the answer.
+
+"You don't mean real Indians?"
+
+"That's what I do. There's a reservation of some kind about fifty miles
+from here, and they break loose every now and again."
+
+"What makes you think some are loose now?"
+
+"Hear 'em yellin' an' screechin'!" said the hunter, raising his hand to
+caution silence.
+
+Straining their ears the adventurers noted the faint sound of some weird
+chant borne to them on the east wind. Then, as they watched, they saw,
+coming over the slope of the hill, a band of redskins, mounted on ponies.
+
+"Hurry to the auto!" cried Ned.
+
+He ran for the machine, followed by Jerry and Bob. Broswick picked up
+his gun and looked to the loading of it, as Nestor did to his revolvers,
+but neither of the men offered to retreat. Professor Snodgrass was
+intent on capturing some kind of grasshoppers, and did not seem to care
+whether there were Indians about or not. More and more of the savages
+came into view.
+
+"Hadn't we better skip?" asked Nestor of the hunter.
+
+"There are a few more than I reckoned on," was the reply. "I guess we
+may as well skedaddle if we don't want trouble. I don't know how my nag
+will run, compared to the Indian ponies, but----"
+
+"Better get in the auto," suggested Nestor. "It will hold six on a
+pinch."
+
+By this time Ned was frantically cranking up the machine. But, though
+he turned the flywheel with all his strength, while Bob attended to the
+spark and gasolene levers, the machine would not start.
+
+"What's the matter?" cried Jerry, who had delayed, to pick up some of
+the baggage that was unloaded for dinner.
+
+"She's stuck!" yelled Bob.
+
+Jerry sprang to the cranking handle. His success was no better than
+Ned's. There were a few faint compressions, but that was all.
+
+"Better start if you're goin' to," said Broswick, coming up. "They're
+almost here now."
+
+"We can't start!" exclaimed Jerry.
+
+"Then we'll have to fight!" observed Broswick, coolly.
+
+Suddenly the air was filled with fierce howls and yells.
+
+"You boys git in the back part of the machine," cautioned the hunter.
+"We men will attend to the redskins. Maybe they are only off on a
+holiday junket, account of bein' paid off by the Government. In that
+case they may let us alone. But they might be ugly, an'----"
+
+Just then a bullet, with an angry zip, passed over Broswick's head.
+
+"They're out fer business an' not fun!" he exclaimed. At the same
+instant he threw up his rifle and fired. A howl of pain came in answer,
+and one Indian fell from his horse.
+
+"I only took him in the leg," said the hunter, grimly. "No use killin'
+any if we can avoid it."
+
+Jerry, Bob and Ned sank down in the tonneau. Nestor and the hunter
+lined up in front of the auto and stood with ready weapons. Professor
+Snodgrass, with a revolver, which Nestor had given him, seemed more
+afraid of the weapon than of the Indians.
+
+Then, with savage yells, the band of redskins, who, as it afterward
+developed, had gone on a rampage from their reservation because they
+were dissatisfied with the Government rations, closed around the auto.
+They fired their guns off as fast as they could load them.
+
+But, either because they were poor shots, or because they didn't want
+to hit the adventurers, the Indians did no damage. Several bullets came
+uncomfortably close, and one or two grazed the auto, but no one was hurt.
+
+Then the savages, with whoops and yells, began circling about the
+machine. Around and around they went, riding their ponies at top speed.
+Suddenly, as if in response to some signal, they withdrew quite a
+distance, but still hemmed the travelers in a circle.
+
+[Illustration: THE SAVAGES BEGAN CIRCLING ABOUT THE MACHINE.]
+
+"They're up to some mischief," said Nestor.
+
+"Shall we wing one or two just to show we have bullets?"
+
+"Not for the world," replied Broswick. "Our only hope is not to get them
+too riled. They may draw off an' leave us alone."
+
+But this was not the Indians' intention. Once more they began making a
+wide circle about the auto.
+
+"I see what the trouble was!" cried Jerry, looking over from the tonneau
+to the front of the dashboard. "The sparking plug was out. No wonder we
+couldn't start the machine."
+
+He reached over and put the small brass pin in the proper socket.
+
+"Now I'm going to have another try!" he called to Broswick and Nestor.
+"Get ready to jump in the machine!"
+
+Before Nestor could stop him, Jerry had leaped to the ground. He ran
+around to the front of the auto, seized the cranking handle and gave
+several vigorous turns. As he did so a chorus of savage yells arose from
+the Indian ranks, and several more shots were fired.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+OVER A CLIFF.
+
+
+The bullets struck all around Jerry, but none of them struck him. Some
+of the leaden missiles hit the ground and made little clouds of dust,
+and others zipped on all sides of the auto.
+
+All at once the explosions of the auto motor mingled with the banging of
+the Indians' guns. Jerry had started the engine.
+
+"Get in!" he cried, leaping to the steering seat.
+
+Broswick, Nestor and Professor Snodgrass obeyed the command.
+
+"What about my horse?" cried the hunter.
+
+"Let him go! It's you or the nag!" yelled the miner.
+
+In another instant the whole party was in the auto and Jerry yanked the
+levers to full speed ahead. Off the car shot, Jerry steering for an
+opening in the circle of Indians.
+
+With wild yells the redmen watched the auto glide away. They fired shots
+at it, and one Indian hit Broswick, but the wound was only a slight one.
+
+"Here comes your horse!" shouted Bob, glancing behind, and, sure enough,
+Broswick's steed was galloping after the swiftly moving auto as though
+he was on the race track.
+
+In a little while the adventurers left the Indians behind and were at a
+safe distance from any bullets. The hunter's horse, too, kept running,
+and got away.
+
+"Well, we didn't bargain for this when we left home," remarked Jerry, as
+he slowed up the machine after an hour's run.
+
+"I should say not," put in Bob. "Being attacked by Indians was the last
+thing I ever thought of."
+
+"You're out in the wild an' woolly West," observed Nestor. "You'll see
+stranger things before you get through."
+
+"I'd like to see something to eat right now," came from Bob.
+
+"There goes Chunky," said Ned. "He's always as hungry as he was at home."
+
+In spite of poking fun at the stout youth, every one felt the need of
+food. So a stop was made, a fire built, and soon coffee was boiling.
+Broswick went off in the woods with his rifle and came back with a brace
+of birds and a jack rabbit. What the boys voted was the finest meal they
+ever ate was quickly prepared.
+
+"We must be careful not to lose the auto again," said Jerry. "We have
+had trouble enough with Noddy. The next time he may beat us altogether."
+
+When camp was made that night a system of watches was arranged so that
+some one would be on guard all through the dark hours.
+
+Nothing disturbed the adventurers, however, and in the morning they
+started again on their trip across the mountains, which, it seemed,
+would never come to an end.
+
+Several days, including Sunday, passed without incident. No very fast
+time was made, and the machine had to be sent along carefully, as
+the roads were bad and the trail was uncertain to them. One morning
+Broswick announced that he was going off on a hunt. Nestor and Professor
+Snodgrass said they would go with him. Accordingly, the hunter's horse
+was tied near the auto and the three men set off, while the three boys
+remained behind to make some repairs to the machine and do a little
+necessary overhauling.
+
+"We'll be back by dinner-time," announced Broswick; "that is, if
+something doesn't happen to us."
+
+The boys were so busy that they scarcely noted the passage of time. It
+was not until Jerry looked at his watch and announced that it was two
+o'clock that the lads wondered what had happened to their friends.
+
+"It's long past meal time," said Ned.
+
+"Maybe they're not hungry," suggested Bob.
+
+"More likely they're in trouble," spoke Jerry, an anxious look on his
+face. "I think we had better hunt them up."
+
+This the boys decided to do, after getting themselves a light lunch.
+They ran the auto along the track the three men had taken, but after
+riding half an hour found no sign of their friends.
+
+"Maybe we're on the wrong track," said Bob.
+
+"Or else they didn't come this way," put in Ned.
+
+They turned the machine around and rode back slowly, looking for marks
+along the road.
+
+"There's something!" exclaimed Jerry. He pointed to a small match-box
+lying on the ground. "Nestor always carried that," he said. "It must
+have dropped from his pocket. The men have been here."
+
+"Hark! What's that?" cried Bob.
+
+All listened. To their ears came a faint but unmistakable cry.
+
+"Help!"
+
+"There they are!" called Jerry. "Over to the left! We must hurry to
+them!"
+
+He sent the machine ahead at a swift pace. The road led along the top of
+a plateau and ran close to the edge of a cliff. As the machine neared
+this spot the cries became louder. Near the edge of the precipice Jerry
+brought the machine to a stop.
+
+"They are down there," he announced, after listening carefully.
+
+The boys dismounted from the car and approached the ledge. It went down
+straight for about fifty feet and then bulged out into a shelf before
+making a sheer descent to the valley, three hundred feet below.
+
+Near the edge of the precipice the earth and rocks were freshly torn
+away, showing that something had gone over. Jerry got down on his hands
+and knees and crept to the edge. What he saw as he looked down made him
+spring to his feet and shout in mingled fear and astonishment.
+
+There, on a jutting spur of the mountain, hardly large enough to hold
+them, were the three missing men.
+
+"Are you hurt?" Jerry called down.
+
+"Bruised and scratched, but no bones broken," shouted Nestor. "You'll
+have to haul us up some way, for we can't get down nor crawl up."
+
+"Git a rope!" shouted Broswick, "an' lower it down."
+
+"A rope! I don't believe there's one long enough within ten miles of
+here!" exclaimed Ned.
+
+"Yes, there is," said Jerry, quickly. "We have the one they tried to
+hang Professor Snodgrass with--the same we used on the tree. It's in the
+auto. You get it, Bob."
+
+In a few minutes a long rope was dangling over the edge of the cliff,
+and when the end reached the men imprisoned on the ledge they set up a
+joyful shout. The boys retained their end and at a signal from Nestor,
+who had tied the cable about the professor, under his arms, Bob, Ned and
+Jerry began to haul away. They strained and pulled, but the man at the
+other end did not budge.
+
+"It's caught!" exclaimed Ned.
+
+Jerry ran forward, telling Ned and Bob to retain their hold of the rope.
+He found that the cord rasped against an edge of rock as it passed up
+from the depths below, and this produced so much friction that great
+force would have to be used in pulling the men up. Then, too, there was
+the danger of the rope fraying and being cut in two.
+
+Jerry thought over the problem a few seconds.
+
+"What's the matter up there?" asked Nestor.
+
+"Never mind!" shouted back Jerry. "We'll have you up in a jiffy now."
+
+He hurried over to a little clump of trees and came back with a short
+section of a round limb.
+
+"This will be a roller for the rope to pass over, just like a pulley,"
+he announced. Then he proceeded to put his plan in operation. Lying down
+on his face, he held the log in position, the rope passing over it. Then
+he told Bob and Ned to pull.
+
+But even with this advantage there was trouble. The two boys managed to
+get the professor up a short distance, but they were not strong enough
+to hoist him all the way.
+
+"Help! help!" the naturalist cried, as he felt himself dangling.
+
+"This will not do!" exclaimed Jerry. "Let him down easy, boys; I'll have
+to think of another plan."
+
+It began to look as though the rescue of the men on the ledge was to be
+a harder task than at first supposed. At Jerry's direction, the end of
+the rope the boys had was fastened to a stake driven into the ground.
+
+"Now I wonder what we'd better do?" mused Jerry. "We'll have to use the
+limb of the tree as a roller, and some one has to hold it in place. Yet
+it will take all three of us to pull one man up. If only one of the men
+was up here to give a hand we could manage. As it is----"
+
+"I have it!" cried Ned, suddenly, and he ran back to where the auto
+stood.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+THE CHASE.
+
+
+Ned reached the machine, cranked it up, and a few minutes later steered
+it close to where Bob and Jerry stood.
+
+"The auto can do what we can't," he said.
+
+"What do you mean?" came from Jerry.
+
+"I mean it can pull the men up over the cliff!"
+
+"Hurrah! So it can!" exclaimed Jerry. "I see your plan."
+
+The car was turned around so the rear of it was close to the edge of the
+precipice. Then the rope was fastened to the axle.
+
+"Get ready, down below!" called Jerry.
+
+"We're ready!" came back the answer.
+
+Jerry and Bob stretched out on the ground, each one holding an end of
+the improvised roller. Ned started the auto slowly. The rope strained
+and tightened. Then, as the car gathered speed, the cable was pulled
+up, and Professor Snodgrass, tied to the other end, was hauled from his
+perilous position.
+
+As his head came into view over the edge of the precipice, Jerry
+shouted to Ned to stop the car. The next instant the naturalist was
+helped to solid ground by the two boys. The plan had worked.
+
+In quick succession Nestor and the hunter were pulled up in the same
+fashion.
+
+"Well, I must say you boys are smart chaps," spoke the miner.
+"Automobiles are useful critters in more ways than to ride in."
+
+"How did you ever get down there?" asked Jerry.
+
+"It was all my fault," said Professor Snodgrass. "We were walking along,
+and I saw a particularly rare specimen of a little garter-snake. It was
+moving through the grass and I raced after it. It went over the edge of
+the cliff, and I reached down and tried to get it. It was so far over
+that I had to lie down flat on my face and stretch my arms. Then----"
+
+"Yes, an' when he found he couldn't reach the critter even then,"
+interrupted Broswick, "he asked Nestor an' me to hold his heels while he
+stretched down. Blamed if I ever do such a thing ag'in."
+
+"Why not?" asked Bob.
+
+"'Cause jest as soon as me an' Nestor got hold of his heels an' was
+easin' him over the cliff, I'll be jiggered if the whole top didn't give
+way an' there we was, slidin' down the mountain at about forty miles a
+minute. I thought we was gone coons sure, but we struck on the ledge
+an' that saved us."
+
+"We'd been there yet if you boys hadn't come along," said Nestor. "But
+say, I'm mighty hungry."
+
+"There isn't much to eat," spoke Jerry.
+
+"Yes, there is," came from the hunter. "I shot some partridge jest afore
+we had that bloomin' old snake hunt."
+
+He walked over to where he had left his game and came back with a double
+brace of fine birds. It was not long before the partridges were roasting
+over a fire and every one with a good appetite prepared to eat.
+
+"Where's my specimen box?" suddenly exclaimed the professor, after an
+inspection of the auto. "It's gone!"
+
+"No; I just laid it to one side when I wanted to use the machine to haul
+you up with," explained Ned. "It is safe. But what do you want of it
+now?"
+
+"To put my snake in, of course," and the scientist showed a tiny serpent
+grasped in his hand.
+
+"So you got it after all, eh?" asked Broswick. "I thought you missed
+it when them rocks an' dirt slid an' let us all down kersmash over the
+cliff."
+
+"I wouldn't have lost that snake for ten thousand dollars," said the
+professor, as he put it safely away with his other curiosities.
+
+After dinner the journey toward the lost gold mine was again taken up.
+In a short time the auto and its occupants, as well as Broswick on his
+horse, were making good speed. Presently it was noticed that the road
+was sloping downward. Jerry remarked on the fact.
+
+"We've crossed the divide," announced Nestor. "From now on, until we
+get to the mine, we'll be going downhill. There's another rise of the
+mountains after we pass the mine, though."
+
+It was now about five o'clock, and as the adventurers had eaten dinner
+rather late they decided not to stop for supper, but to keep on until it
+was time to camp for the night and have another meal then.
+
+When it got too dark to go any further on the road, even though the gas
+and oil lamps gave a glaring light, a halt was made. Supper was eaten
+and soon all but Broswick, who mounted first guard, was slumbering.
+
+Next morning the travelers came to a long, level stretch, on top of a
+vast plateau, and here good speed could be made. Jerry was steering
+the car, his turn having come around, and Broswick's horse was keeping
+up well, for the boys would not leave the hunter behind, and regulated
+their pace to that of his steed.
+
+As they went around a curve and came to a straight stretch, Jerry cried
+out and pointed ahead. They all looked, to behold another automobile
+speeding away from them.
+
+"That's Noddy's car, I'm sure of it!" Jerry shouted. "I'd know it
+anywhere by this time."
+
+"I'd like to catch those rascals!" exclaimed Nestor. "They've made
+trouble enough for us, an' they'll make more if they can. Besides, I
+have my score to settle with that chap Pender. I'd have overlooked it if
+they'd let us alone, but now I want to git even!"
+
+"There's no reason why you shouldn't," said Broswick. "Your machine is
+as good as theirs. Give 'em a chase. If you catch 'em, put their auto
+out of business until you have enough of a start to get to the mine
+first. Besides, we could have the law on 'em for stealin' this machine."
+
+"But what about leaving you behind?" questioned Jerry, to whom the
+thought of a chase after his old enemies was not unwelcome.
+
+"Leave me behind; I'll catch up to you later," spoke the hunter.
+
+Jerry looked at Nestor. The miner nodded his head in approval. The next
+instant the auto fairly sprang forward, as Jerry threw on the high-speed
+gear and opened wide the flow of gasolene.
+
+The chase was on. Jerry sent out a challenging "honk" on the horn, and
+it was answered by the auto ahead. That machine, too, as soon as the
+occupants became aware of the pursuit, went forward at top speed.
+
+Fortunately for all, the road was much better than the average. It was
+wide and level, and as soon as the machines had warmed up they fairly
+flew along.
+
+"Aren't--we go-going a--a--trifle fast?" asked Professor Snodgrass, in a
+frightened tone, as he held fast to the car-side to avoid being bounced
+out.
+
+"That's the intention," said Nestor. "The other fellows are doin' it an'
+we have to do likewise. Hold tight!"
+
+As he spoke, the auto went over a rock and every one was tossed from his
+seat, to fall back with a jarring bump.
+
+The pace was now very fast. With straining eyes Jerry watched his rivals
+in front. Slowly but surely he could see that the distance between them
+was lessening. Once or twice some one in the forward car looked back to
+note the progress of the chase.
+
+"We'll catch them!" yelled Ned.
+
+Faster and faster went the auto. The trees and rocks seemed to shoot
+past. The distance between the two machines was constantly lessening
+until now it was but a quarter of a mile.
+
+"They may use guns," ventured Bob.
+
+"I reckon they will, son," replied Nestor, "but if they try that game
+they'll find we can shoot a bit ourselves."
+
+He got out his brace of revolvers and saw to it that they were loaded.
+
+"Not that I'm anxious to hurt any one," the miner went on, "but we must
+protect our lives and our machine."
+
+Soon but an eighth of a mile separated the pursued and pursuing forces.
+The occupants of the other car could be plainly seen, and Ned, who was
+riding beside Jerry, noticed Jack Pender stand up in the rear seat and
+shake his fist.
+
+"He wouldn't do that if we were a little closer," observed Ned.
+
+Jerry now saw victory before him. He prepared to run to one side ahead
+of Noddy's machine and so block its further progress.
+
+He was about to press the accelerating lever to give his car a momentary
+burst of speed when there suddenly sounded a great roaring. It seemed
+to come from the side of a small mountain along the base of which the
+plateau road now ran.
+
+Then the air seemed to fill with dust. The very earth trembled and all
+at once a section of the mountain slipped down right on top of the
+pursuing auto, fairly overwhelming it.
+
+It was a big landslide, and it had come just in time to catch Jerry and
+his friends and let the other machine escape, for the auto Noddy and
+his gang were in got out of the way of the rush of rocks and earth.
+
+There was a resounding crash. Then all seemed to become black to Jerry.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+WRECKED.
+
+
+When Jerry recovered consciousness he found himself sitting on the
+ground, while Ned and Nestor were bathing his head with water that
+Professor Snodgrass was bringing up in his hat.
+
+"Where am I? What happened?" asked Jerry.
+
+"You're still on the map," said the miner, "and as for what happened,
+it was what often happens out here. Part of the mountain parted company
+from the main hill, that's all."
+
+"Is the auto smashed?" asked Jerry.
+
+"It appears to be damaged some," replied the miner, and Jerry felt his
+heart sink. "But never mind that. It's lucky we're not all killed. You
+were struck on the head by a stone and knocked unconscious. The rest of
+us were just spilled out when the machine turned over. But how do you
+feel?"
+
+"I'm all right, only a little weak," replied the boy. He stood up, and,
+aside from a little dizziness, he found himself in good shape. His head
+ached from the blow and was cut slightly, but he was too anxious about
+the machine to mind his hurts.
+
+With legs that trembled somewhat, he made his way to where the auto had
+overturned from the force of the landslide. The machine presented a
+sorry sight. The baggage was spilled out and things were scattered all
+about. There was a break in the water tank and the fluid had run out.
+The steering-post was also bent, and one chain was broken. What other
+damage was done could not be seen until some of the dirt was removed.
+
+"I wish Broswick would come along with his spade," said Nestor. "We need
+him."
+
+"There he comes now," spoke up Ned, pointing back on the road they had
+come. At the top of a gentle slope a figure on horseback could be made
+out. The man waved his hand. It was the hunter, and in a short time he
+came up to the wreck.
+
+"Waal," he remarked, "looks like ye had trouble."
+
+"We did," replied Nestor, and he told of the landslide. "But," he went
+on, "I reckon these boys know how to git us out of it. I'll stake
+my last dollar on these boys," and he smiled in a way that made the
+down-hearted lads feel better.
+
+Broswick's spade did good service, and soon the machine was cleared of
+the dirt sufficiently to allow of its being righted. Then Jerry made a
+more careful examination. As he went around on the right side of it he
+uttered a despairing cry.
+
+"What's the matter?" asked Ned.
+
+"The battery box is gone!" exclaimed Jerry.
+
+"It was carried away in the landslide, and we haven't another cell.
+We're stranded, sure enough."
+
+He pointed to where, on the right step, a small, square box had rested.
+In this box were the dry batteries that supplied the spark.
+
+Without the vital spark the auto could not advance a foot, and, as Jerry
+had said, the last of the spare batteries had been used and no new ones
+procured. The adventurers were certainly in dire straits.
+
+"Maybe we can find the batteries somewhere in the dirt," suggested
+Nestor.
+
+Acting on this idea, the boys and men made a careful search among the
+rocks and gravel that covered the road. They found the battery box, but
+it was splintered to pieces and not a single cell could be located. They
+went over every inch of the debris with no better result.
+
+"Well, I reckon we're booked for a stay at this summer resort," said
+Nestor, with forced cheerfulness.
+
+"It will be a good chance for me to get some specimens," said the
+naturalist, as if nothing mattered so long as he got some bugs or
+snakes.
+
+"I reckon you'll have all the time you want," put in the hunter. "But
+speakin' of specimens reminds me that I'm hungry. I think I'll take my
+gun an' see if I can't pot somethin' for dinner."
+
+"We've got to eat if we can't travel," observed Nestor. "Supposin', Bob,
+you an' Ned make a fire, while Jerry tinkers over the auto. Perhaps he
+can make it go, after all. We've had good luck so far, all but this."
+
+Jerry shook his head. He knew that without the batteries the machine
+could not be operated. It was like trying to run an engine without a
+fire under the boiler.
+
+However, he set to work to repair what damage he could. With a small
+soldering outfit he mended the hole in the water tank, stopping the
+leak. Then, with an extra link, of which several were carried, the
+broken chain was mended.
+
+By this time Broswick came back with some partridges and rabbits and
+a meal, though it lacked many extras, was soon in preparation. After
+eating, Jerry went back to the machine. He took out the steering-post,
+and, with the help of Nestor, straightened it. Then some other small
+repairs were made, and, though the auto looked rather battered and
+battle-scarred, the paint being scratched in many places, it was still
+serviceable. All that was lacking was the battery box.
+
+Jerry even filled the water tank from a nearby spring, and then, not
+being able to do anything more, sat down on a stone and contemplated the
+useless auto, with sad eyes.
+
+"No use cryin' over spilt milk," said Nestor, with rude philosophy.
+"What can't be cured must be endured. It's a long lane that has no
+turns, an' the longest way 'round is the shortest way home."
+
+"Git a hoss! Git a hoss!" exclaimed Broswick, suddenly.
+
+"What's the matter with you?" asked Nestor. "Gone crazy or are you
+gittin' your second childhood?"
+
+"Git a hoss!" repeated the hunter, capering about like a schoolboy.
+
+"What ails you?" demanded Nestor.
+
+"Ain't that what the kids cry when they see a busted auto?" asked the
+hunter. "Seems to me I've read that in the funny papers. Am I right?"
+
+"You be," said Nestor. "But what's the use of rubbin' our misfortune
+in?" he grumbled.
+
+"I wasn't."
+
+"Then what made you yell 'Git a horse'?"
+
+"'Cause that jest's what you're goin' to do!"
+
+"Say, did you sleep in the moonlight last night, 'cause you must have,
+an' gone looney!" exclaimed Nestor. "You----" and then he stopped
+suddenly, as he caught the hunter's idea. "Well, I'll be ding-busted!"
+he finished, weakly.
+
+"That's jest what you're goin' to do," went on the miner. "My Kate is
+as strong a hoss as you'd want. We're goin' downhill most of the way,
+anyhow, an' it'll be easy for Kate to pull the machine an' us in it.
+There's a town about fifty miles ahead, an' maybe you can git some of
+them batter-cakes there."
+
+"Batter-cakes?" repeated Ned.
+
+"Yes. Ain't them what you want?"
+
+"Batteries--dry electric batteries," said Jerry, with a smile.
+
+"Waal, that's what I meant, only I spelled it wrong. They keep minin'
+supplies in this town, and they'll be sure to have batteries. Kate can
+pull us that far if we go slow."
+
+Broswick's suggestion was voted a good one. The spirits of all were
+raised, and soon the hunter and Nestor busied themselves making a rude
+sort of rope harness for the horse.
+
+The animal did not seem to mind pulling the auto, and, after everything
+had been collected, and some of the game the hunter had shot was packed
+to be taken along for supper at the next stopping place, the start was
+made.
+
+It was slow traveling, compared to the former speed, but it was
+sure. The slight down-grade helped the animal dragging the heavy
+machine, which otherwise would have proved too much for one horse. The
+adventurers rode in the car, and Ned steered.
+
+It was decided there would be no night traveling now, for they wanted to
+spare the horse as much as possible, and there was too much danger with
+the uncertain method of locomotion. So, when it grew dusk, camp was made
+and a fire built. Supper over, the travelers discussed the events of the
+day until, one by one, they fell asleep, after posting Ned as guard.
+
+The boy took up his position in the shadow of a big tree where he could
+watch the auto and observe any one approaching within the circle of
+firelight. He was sleepy, but he fought off the drowsiness. Again and
+again his head would nod and he would just catch himself falling off
+into a doze.
+
+"Come, this will never do," he said, shaking himself wide awake. "I must
+get a drink of water. Maybe that will make me feel more lively."
+
+He walked over to where a pail of the liquid had been placed and took a
+long draught. As he was walking back to his place he started as he saw a
+bright shaft of light glaring through the trees about half a mile off to
+the left.
+
+"That looked like a searchlight," whispered the boy. The next instant
+the unmistakable chug-chug of an automobile could be heard.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+FORWARD ONCE MORE.
+
+
+"If that's an auto, maybe we can get some batteries," thought Ned.
+
+He hurried back to the camp-fire and awoke Jerry.
+
+"There's an auto coming!" exclaimed Ned.
+
+"Where is it?" asked Jerry, at once alive to the situation, and thinking
+of the batteries, just as Ned had.
+
+The two boys listened. The chugging of the motor had ceased, but the
+searchlight was still playing over the trees.
+
+"Maybe they're wrecked, too," spoke Ned. "Let's go over and see what it
+is."
+
+"Better tell Nestor," suggested Jerry.
+
+They woke up the miner and told him what they had seen and heard.
+
+"Go slow," he cautioned. "Here, I'll tell you what to do. Jerry and I
+will take a look. No use runnin' into danger. It may be Noddy Nixon an'
+his gang, an' if it is, we've got to be careful."
+
+Neither of the boys had thought of this. However, they realized the
+force of it. Bidding Ned to be on guard, Nestor set out, accompanied by
+Jerry. The miner had his revolvers ready and Jerry carried the hunter's
+gun. They did not intend to shoot to kill or injure any one, but thought
+the weapons would be useful in an emergency to scare off the enemy, if
+they should happen to meet one.
+
+With great caution they moved in the direction from which the sounds had
+come. The white, glaring light was now stationary, and, like a giant
+finger, was pointing up toward the sky. It served as a guiding star for
+Jerry and Nestor.
+
+"Let me go ahead," suggested the miner, when they had come quite close
+to where the light had its source.
+
+Taking the advance, Nestor made his way through the underbrush and trees
+with great quietness. Jerry followed as best he could. Suddenly the
+miner stopped.
+
+"I see them!" he whispered.
+
+"Who are they?" asked Jerry.
+
+"We've got to play a trick," said Nestor, without answering the boy.
+"Here, you go over there to the right, about five hundred feet, and fire
+your gun. Leave the rest to me, and as soon as you've pulled the trigger
+hurry back to our camp."
+
+Jerry did not question the advice. He turned to the right, and, when he
+had gone what he thought was the required distance, he discharged his
+revolver. A loud report crashed out on the silence of the night. Jerry
+heard a crackling of underbrush and several shouts. Then, as Nestor had
+told him, he made the best of his way back to camp.
+
+As for the miner, he had remained where he was when Jerry left him. He
+was watching the other automobile, and something seemed to strike him as
+funny, for he chuckled silently.
+
+"I reckon there's goin' to be some surprises here pretty soon," he
+remarked.
+
+At the report of Jerry's gun, those about the automobile rushed off in
+the direction of the shot. At the same time Nestor, who was waiting for
+just this very move, ran in. He fumbled about the machine for a few
+minutes and then, clasping something tightly in his arms, hurried back
+through the woods to the camp, reaching there shortly after Jerry.
+
+Those who had been left sleeping were aroused by the gun, and they were
+anxious to know what the matter was. Ned told his part and then Jerry
+related what had befallen him and Nestor.
+
+"But what have you there?" asked Broswick of the miner, observing that
+Nestor carried something.
+
+"A box of batteries," was the reply. "I took them off the other
+automobile. Now we can go ahead under our own power."
+
+"But what--why--how?" began Jerry, with a puzzled look.
+
+"I'll explain it all," said Nestor; "but, first, hadn't you better fix
+these batteries on our machine? We may want to start soon."
+
+It did not take long for Jerry to make the necessary connections. Then,
+with the Cresville auto again in shape for flight, Nestor told his story.
+
+"Who do you think the crowd in charge of the other auto was?" he asked.
+
+"Give it up," exclaimed Bob, the quicker to find out.
+
+"Noddy Nixon and his gang! As soon as I saw through the trees I made
+up my mind it was better to use cunning than force. I happened to see
+on their auto the same kind of a box that was taken off ours by the
+landslide. I figured that they had made so much trouble for us, the
+least thing they could do would be to lend us their batteries. So I jest
+reckoned I'd borrow 'em.
+
+"I sent Jerry off to one side to fire a gun and draw their attention
+there. I knew they'd run when they heard the noise. They did, and I
+sailed in and yanked off the batteries. There they be."
+
+Nestor seemed quite proud of his work. The boys were very glad to have
+their auto in shape again, and it was felt that Noddy and his crowd got
+no more than they deserved.
+
+"They may trace us and make trouble," suggested Jerry.
+
+"I reckon they'll have hard enough work in the dark," said Nestor. "But
+perhaps we'd better move on, an' git a good start of 'em. They may have
+extra batteries an' set out to chase us."
+
+So, breaking camp, though it was still dark, the adventurers went
+forward once more, Broswick riding on his horse, that, no doubt, was
+glad to be relieved of the task of pulling the auto. The machine worked
+well, the batteries transferred from Noddy's auto doing good service.
+
+It was daybreak before the travelers halted, and by this time they were
+well beyond where Noddy and his companions had camped.
+
+"Here's a good place to stop," said Nestor, indicating a little clearing
+near a mountain stream. "We ought to get breakfast now."
+
+For several days after this the trip went on without incident. The
+weather continued fairly good, with only an occasional rainstorm. The
+adventurers heard of the big rush of gold seekers to the district where
+Nestor's mine was located; but so far, they were ahead of the big crowd
+they had seen some time before.
+
+"We'll git there fust, after all," said Broswick, as he sat astride his
+horse, that was now getting rather bony and thin from the long journey.
+
+"No tellin'," rejoined Nestor. "There's a lot of miners in this region,
+an' if they git to that mine ahead of us there's goin' to be trouble."
+
+One afternoon, following a good day's run, the auto came to the end of
+the long mountain slope down which the adventurers had been riding for
+so long. They were now on a vast plain, or rather level valley, lying
+between two of the big mountain ranges. It was a pleasant country to
+travel in, and every one felt in good spirits.
+
+"We're gittin' near to the place," said Nestor, on reaching the level
+stretch. "We'll keep on due west for a little while. I've sort of lost
+my bearin's, but I'll git 'em back in a little while."
+
+He seemed somewhat worried, and was continually peering first to one
+side, then the other.
+
+For several miles the auto journeyed on. No sign of human life was seen,
+though there were plenty of small animals and insects that Professor
+Snodgrass wanted to gather. But Nestor would hear of no delay.
+
+"Hold on!" cried the miner, suddenly, as the auto passed a sort of trail
+leading up the valley. "This looks as if I'd seen it before."
+
+Jerry brought the machine to a stop, and Nestor got out. He looked at
+the trees on either side of the trail and then came running back to the
+machine.
+
+"It's all right!" he cried.
+
+"What is?" asked Ned.
+
+"We've found the lost trail to the mine," replied Nestor. "I didn't
+think I'd strike it this way, but we have. Forward! Now for the richest
+gold mine in the Rockies!"
+
+"Hurrah!" shouted the boys, and Professor Snodgrass and the hunter
+joined in the cheers.
+
+"Leave your horse here, Broswick," advised Nestor. "He'll be safe and
+the trail ahead is a hard one on animals. Get in the auto with us."
+
+The hunter agreed to the plan, and his faithful steed was turned loose
+where there was plenty of food and water. Then, with the six in the
+auto, though they were rather crowded, the machine was started off
+toward the long-sought mine.
+
+Suddenly, from down the valley, sounded the noise of another machine
+approaching. Ned turned around.
+
+"Here comes Noddy Nixon!" he shouted.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+A RACE TO THE MINE.
+
+
+Before long Noddy Nixon and his crowd in their auto shot up alongside
+the Motor Boys and their friends. Noddy looked over and grinned, while
+Pud Stoneham raised his hat in mocking politeness.
+
+"Hurry up!" said Nestor to Jerry, in a low voice. "They are going to
+give us a race to the mine. We must get there first!"
+
+"What difference does it make?" asked the boy, as he speeded up his
+machine.
+
+"All the difference in the world," replied the miner. "I've staked my
+claim, but I haven't filed the papers in the Government office, as the
+law requires. The first man who comes along could jump my claim now.
+I was relyin' on the mine bein' hard to find, but I see it has been
+discovered. We must beat them!"
+
+"We'll do it if possible," said Jerry, with determination in his
+voice. "I wonder how they got in shape so quickly after we took their
+batteries?"
+
+"Probably had another set," was Nestor's opinion.
+
+The two machines were now moving almost side by side, up the defile
+which led to the mine. The autos were about two hundred feet apart and
+going at about the same rate of speed, which was not very fast, as the
+road was not of the best.
+
+"How are you?" called out Jack Pender.
+
+"None the better for seeing you," replied Ned.
+
+"Thought you was smart to take our batteries, didn't you?" went on
+Pender. "Well, we'll show you a trick or two. We'll get to that mine
+before you!"
+
+"You've got another guess comin', young man!" cried Nestor. "When I git
+through with you there won't be enough left to fill a hollow tooth. I've
+got a score to settle with you."
+
+At this, Jack sank back in his seat. Bill Berry, who had been eyeing the
+Motor Boys, shouted out:
+
+"If you cubs are lookin' fer trouble there'll be plenty of it. We're not
+in Cresville now, where all your friends are."
+
+"I'm a born trouble-hunter!" exclaimed Hank Broswick, rising in his seat
+and carelessly leveling his rifle at the wheels of Noddy's auto. "I kin
+hit trouble a mile off!"
+
+"Don't shoot!" yelled Noddy, trying to duck behind the dash-board and
+steer at the same time, with the result that he nearly overturned the
+auto.
+
+"I wasn't goin' to," replied the hunter, with a grim chuckle. "I only
+wanted to let you know I was on hand in case I might be wanted."
+
+After this the taunts from Noddy's gang ceased. In stern determination
+the race now settled down into a contest to see who should be first at
+the mine, for on that depended everything.
+
+For nearly ten miles the two autos were close together, neither gaining
+any advantage. It began to get dusk, and the boys considered whether
+they should stop for the night or keep on.
+
+"I think we had better camp until morning," advised Broswick. "We might
+git ahead of 'em, an', again, we might not. The chances are we'd bust a
+tire or sumthin', an' then we'd be worse off than before. Slow an' sure
+is better than quick an' never."
+
+So, somewhat to Nestor's disappointment, the auto came to a stop when
+the road was no longer visible because of darkness.
+
+"They're goin' on; I don't see why we can't," grumbled the miner.
+
+"Too risky," replied Broswick. "We'll make better time in the end."
+
+"Then we've got to start bright an' early in the mornin'," stipulated
+Nestor.
+
+To this they all agreed. Supper was prepared and the guard set. The
+other auto, with a last mocking toot of the horn, had disappeared.
+
+When the first indication of light in the east told that dawn was at
+hand, Broswick, who had the last watch, awoke his companions. A hasty
+breakfast was made and, even before the sun was up, the journey was
+renewed.
+
+"I'd feel easier if I could git a sight of them other fellers," said
+Nestor.
+
+"Do you s'pose they kept on goin' all night?" asked Broswick.
+
+"Let's see if we can't pick up their trail," suggested Professor
+Snodgrass. "We can easily tell if an auto has preceded us."
+
+Jerry stopped the machine and Broswick got out. He made a careful
+examination of the road and soon gave a yell that told he had discovered
+something.
+
+"They're ahead," he announced, "but they made a stop here. The ground is
+all trampled up. I wouldn't wonder if they had a breakdown, an' had to
+halt for fixin' their shebang up. They can't be very far in advance."
+
+With lighter hearts the adventurers started off once more, keeping a
+sharp lookout for the other auto. The sun rose high in the heavens, and
+it was hot in the valley. Mile after mile was reeled off, but Noddy's
+machine was not in view.
+
+It was almost noon when Professor Snodgrass, who was peering intently
+ahead, suddenly uttered a cry.
+
+"What is it?" asked Jerry.
+
+"I thought I saw a specimen of the almost extinct herds of buffalo,"
+answered the naturalist.
+
+"Buffalo!" cried Nestor, standing up to get a good view. "That's the
+other automobile you see!"
+
+"So it is!" admitted the professor, taking a second glance.
+
+"Put on all the steam you've got!" cried the miner. "We must catch them
+before night or the mine is lost! We're close to it now!"
+
+Jerry opened the throttle wide and shortened the intervals of sparking.
+The automobile fairly jumped ahead, but so rough was the road that the
+travelers were bounced about like peas in a pod.
+
+"We're gaining on them!" Ned shouted. "We'll soon be up to them!"
+
+In a little while not more than an eighth of a mile separated the two
+machines, and this distance was gradually being lessened. Stoneham and
+Dalsett, who were in the rear seat, looked back and shook their fists.
+
+"Not very pleasant chaps," commented Nestor. "Well, we don't mind how
+they look."
+
+Five minutes later the autos were even, racing along the valley toward
+the coveted riches. The excitement of the race was too keen to admit of
+the wasting of breath in useless taunts. A tense silence was preserved,
+broken only by the throbbing of the rival motors.
+
+"Have we any water aboard?" asked Bob, about ten minutes after the two
+machines got on even terms.
+
+"I guess there's plenty in the tanks," answered Ned.
+
+"I mean to drink," went on Chunky. "I'm as dry as a fish."
+
+"Now that you speak of it, I would like a cool cupful myself," admitted
+Ned. "Have we any, Jerry?"
+
+"Not a drop."
+
+The subject was not mentioned again for some time. But once the idea
+had been broached it seemed impossible for Bob or Ned to get rid of it.
+Their thirst grew amazingly under the hot sun, and soon all the others
+were thinking how delicious some cold water would be.
+
+"I've simply got to have a drink," said poor Bob at length. "I'll die if
+I don't get one."
+
+He certainly looked as if he needed it. The others, too, were suffering
+the torments of thirst, for they had drunk nothing since early morning.
+
+"Can't we stop and get some water?" asked Ned.
+
+"If we do we'll lose several minutes," said Nestor, "and seconds will
+count now. Try and stand it a little longer. Make believe you are
+shipwrecked and can't get a drink. Sometimes sailors go for days
+without a drink."
+
+"But they couldn't get it if they wanted to," spoke Bob, "and as for us,
+there's a spring right alongside of the road," and he pointed to one
+ahead.
+
+Jerry was about to turn up to it and stop, but Nestor urged him to keep
+the auto going.
+
+"We don't want to lose everything, when we're jest about succeedin', all
+fer a little water," he said. "Three hours more will see us at the mine.
+If we stop now they'll beat us."
+
+"I'll give my share in the mine for a good drink," wailed Bob.
+
+"So will I!" chimed in Ned.
+
+In truth, the boys were suffering severely. So were the men, but they
+were used to hardships, and the thought of the gold ahead made them
+indifferent to the wants of the body.
+
+"See, we're coming to a river," went on Ned, pointing to where a bridge
+could be seen spanning a stream. "We can get water there."
+
+"And lose the gold mine!" exclaimed Nestor, fiercely. "No, sir! We don't
+stop until we're on the ground. Then you can get all the water you want."
+
+He seemed so excited that the boys were somewhat afraid of him, though
+they knew it was all due to the strain of the moment. To add to their
+discomfiture, they could see the other gold seekers in their auto taking
+copious drinks from bottles of water.
+
+"My throat is all parched up!" cried Bob. "I must have water!"
+
+"So you shall!" shouted Jerry.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+GOLD!
+
+
+"Do you mean to stop the car and let them git ahead of us?" demanded
+Nestor.
+
+"I'm going to stop the car," replied Jerry, "but they're not going to
+get ahead of us."
+
+"How you goin' to prevent it?"
+
+"I'll show you. Wait until we get to the bridge."
+
+The two machines were close together and the bridge was now about an
+eighth of a mile ahead. Suddenly Jerry shifted the lever to throw the
+third gear into place, at the same time opening the throttle. The red
+auto fairly sprang forward, leaving the other behind.
+
+At first, Noddy, who was steering his machine, was too surprised at
+Jerry's move to know what to do. When he did attempt to speed up, the
+other car was several hundred feet in advance. Two minutes later Jerry
+had reached the bridge and brought his auto to a stop.
+
+"There!" he exclaimed. "I guess we can hold them here as long as we
+like. The other car can't beat us, can it?"
+
+"I should say not," answered Nestor. "You're a slick one, Jerry!"
+
+For the bridge was so narrow that there was but room on it for one auto
+at a time. With Noddy's car in the rear, it could not go ahead until
+Jerry was ready.
+
+"We'll all have a drink!" exclaimed Broswick. "I'm as dry as a
+powder-horn myself."
+
+There was a general rush to the stream, which proved to be a clear,
+cold, mountain brook, and never did liquid taste better than that to the
+thirsty adventurers. They had not half enough when Noddy's machine came
+puffing up, but was forced to stop.
+
+"Pull your machine out of there or I'll ram you!" he exclaimed.
+
+"Oh, I guess not!" said Nestor, slowly. "This is a public road."
+
+"I'll show you whether it is or not," went on the bully, in a blustering
+tone, reaching for the lever to send his car ahead. His intention was to
+push the other auto off the bridge.
+
+"Not so fast," spoke Nestor, slowly, carelessly drawing his revolver
+from the holster. "Those are very pretty tires of yours, but it's no fun
+ridin' on 'em when the wind is out. So go easy, Mr. Noddy Nixon!"
+
+"We'll fix you for this!" cried Dalsett.
+
+"Oh, it's you, is it?" asked Nestor, in seeming surprise. "Well, I
+wouldn't crow too soon if I was you. It might not be altogether healthy,
+you know."
+
+The other remained silent. The boys finished drinking, and, at
+Broswick's suggestion, filled several cans with water, and placed them
+in the auto.
+
+"Come, are you going to stay there all day?" growled Noddy.
+
+"As long as we please," answered Nestor. "We know what you're up to, but
+we'll beat you yet."
+
+"The mine belongs to whoever stakes it first," put in Dalsett.
+
+"I see you know the law right enough," spoke Nestor. "But I wouldn't
+advise you to get too well acquainted with it. There are some little
+matters in New Mexico the law might want you to explain," and he smiled
+at his former helper, whereat Dalsett turned pale and muttered beneath
+his breath.
+
+But, having satisfied their thirst, the adventurers had no longer any
+motive for blockading the bridge. They started off, Jerry getting the
+motor up to a good speed before throwing in the gear, so that the car
+moved off swiftly at the start.
+
+Like a flash, Noddy was after them. Once more the race was on. The sun
+reached the zenith and began to decline in the west.
+
+Nestor was greatly excited. He was on familiar ground now, and saw
+landmarks on every side. As the auto passed a dead sycamore tree he
+shouted:
+
+"Only two miles farther now! Then, hurrah for the gold!"
+
+The other machine clung doggedly to the Cresville auto. Jerry was going
+as fast as he dared, and Noddy was close behind. A few minutes more
+would tell the tale.
+
+"One mile farther!" shouted Nestor.
+
+The next instant there came a report like a revolver shot. Every one
+started, thinking they had been fired at.
+
+"They've busted a tire!" shouted Broswick. "I reckon that puts them out
+of the race!"
+
+Noddy was obliged to bring his machine to a sudden stop. There was a
+scene of confusion as the crippled machine was forced to give up the
+pursuit. Berry and Dalsett seemed to be urging Noddy to continue in
+spite of the accident, but, rash as the bully was, he knew better than
+to go on with a collapsed tire.
+
+Jerry never slackened the speed of his auto, and rushed on, intent on
+the goal that was now so near. Ten minutes later the road came to an
+abrupt end against a slope of the mountain.
+
+"Well?" asked Jerry, throwing out the gear and leaving the auto with the
+motor still running, panting like one who has run a long race. "What
+next? We can't go any farther."
+
+"We don't need to," replied Nestor.
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"We're at the mine. It's on top of that hill," and Nestor indicated a
+little knob that rose about two hundred feet away. "Come on, we'll take
+a look at it."
+
+Jerry shut off the power and, leaving Professor Snodgrass in charge of
+the machine, the others climbed up to the mouth of the shaft of the
+long-lost mine that Nestor had so luckily discovered.
+
+A rude ladder led down into the depths below. Lighting some candles he
+had with him, Nestor descended, telling the others to come, but to use
+caution, as the ladders were old and rotten.
+
+With hearts that beat high in hope, the boys went down into the mine.
+The first level was about fifty feet under the surface. Coming to a
+halt, Nestor lit several more tallow ends.
+
+"Look!" he exclaimed.
+
+The boys stared in wonder. Gold, gold, gold seemed to be on every side
+of them. It cropped out in the dirt and rocks; big yellow veins that
+glowed with a dull gleam in the flickering lights. The sides of the mine
+were traversed with the streaks of precious metal. Most of it was very
+pure, and it could be dug out with a knife.
+
+"It's the richest mine I ever saw or heard of," said Nestor. "There's
+enough gold in sight to make us all rich, even if no more develops as
+we dig farther down. It's a great strike!"
+
+"It certainly is," agreed Jerry. "But can we establish a claim to it?"
+
+"The mine will stand in our joint names before another day," replied
+Nestor. "I'll start for the Government office the first thing in the
+morning, after I've staked a claim for each of us."
+
+"Providin' Noddy Nixon an' his crowd don't make more trouble," spoke
+Broswick.
+
+"They're broke down," answered Nestor.
+
+"Nothin' to prevent 'em from walkin' here," went on the hunter.
+"Howsomever, if they come we'll be ready for 'em. Now let's git supper."
+
+Taking a last look for the day at the riches around them, the
+adventurers climbed to the surface. They went to where they had left
+the automobile, made a fire and were soon preparing a simple meal.
+Broswick's ready gun provided enough for supper and also insured a feast
+of rabbit and partridge for the next day.
+
+The adventurers were so filled with thoughts of their success at
+reaching the mine first that they sat around the camp-fire until almost
+midnight, going over the happenings that had befallen them on their
+journey. Then, the first watch having been assigned to Nestor, all the
+others sought their blankets, and stretched out on the ground to sleep.
+
+The hours of the night passed without incident. There were no sounds
+save, now and then, mournful hootings of the owls and the bark of foxes.
+Jerry had the last watch, from three until six o'clock.
+
+He was sleepy when Broswick aroused him to take his place, but soon was
+wide awake enough.
+
+"Anything happened?" he asked the hunter.
+
+"No; but keep your eyes open. We have to deal with a hard crowd,
+especially Dalsett. If you hear any one approaching, fire in the air
+first and then challenge."
+
+Jerry took up his vigil. To keep himself awake he walked back and forth
+out of range of the light from the camp-fire. Once or twice he thought
+he heard sounds as of some one approaching, and he nerved himself for a
+struggle.
+
+But each time it proved to be only timid foxes that, with startled eyes,
+came to see who had invaded their woods and glens.
+
+Just as dawn was about to herald itself by a pale light in the east,
+Jerry heard a sound as of some heavy body coming through the underbrush.
+He was on the alert in a moment. Peering forward, he saw the dim
+outlines of a man approaching between the trees. The next instant Jerry
+fired in the air, and called out:
+
+"Who goes there?"
+
+The reply was a volley of shots.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+BESIEGED AT THE MINE.
+
+
+In an instant every one at the gold camp was on his feet. Broswick
+reached for his ever-ready rifle and Nestor had his revolvers out in a
+jiffy.
+
+"What is it?" called the miner to Jerry.
+
+"I heard some one coming, and I fired," replied the boy.
+
+"Did you see any one?"
+
+"I thought I saw a man, but I'm not sure."
+
+"You're right! It was a man, and that man is on deck now!" replied a
+mocking voice, but no one was in sight.
+
+"That's Dalsett!" cried Nestor. "I know his voice. Come out where I can
+see you, Dalsett!" went on the miner. "But I s'pose you're afraid to
+show your sneakin' face!"
+
+"It's healthier where I am," said Dalsett, "but, just to show you that
+we have the advantage--how's that?"
+
+A shot followed his voice, and a twig was clipped from the tree above
+Nestor's head. Instinctively, the miner ducked.
+
+"We've got you surrounded," went on Dalsett. "You may have the mine, but
+we have you, and a heap of good the claim will do you when you can't
+file your papers!"
+
+In a rage, Nestor fired in the direction of the voice, aiming high, as
+he did not wish to seriously wound even an enemy when there seemed to be
+no need. A mocking laugh followed. At the same time there were several
+shots from different points surrounding the camp, showing that it was
+indeed encircled.
+
+"It looks as if they had us, don't it?" asked Broswick.
+
+"Not by a long shot!" replied Nestor, heartily. "I've only just begun to
+play this here game. Before I'm through I'll make Noddy Nixon and Tom
+Dalsett wish they'd never bothered me."
+
+"What shall we do?" inquired Jerry.
+
+"Get breakfast," answered Nestor, promptly. "We'll need food for what's
+ahead of us."
+
+A stealthy movement in the bushes attracted his attention.
+
+"So that's their plan, eh?" he murmured. "Hank, take your gun and go up
+to the mouth of the mine shaft. If any of that gang tries to approach,
+shoot to wound but not to kill. They were trying to sneak up to the mine
+and gain possession," explained Nestor, in reference to his directions
+to the hunter. Broswick hurried up the slope.
+
+Jerry and the other boys proceeded to get the morning meal. As for
+Professor Snodgrass, he was walking around, gathering specimens, as
+though danger was a thousand miles away. Nestor, with weapons ready,
+kept sharp watch.
+
+They ate breakfast by turns, keeping a lookout lest the enemy might
+attempt to rush the position. But this did not seem to be the plan of
+the besiegers. They were content to keep close watch so that those in
+possession of the mine could not leave.
+
+As an experiment, Nestor tried it. He walked a little way down the
+valley. He had not proceeded far before there was a spurt of dust at his
+feet and a voice cried:
+
+"Better go back, Jim. You'll be all right as long as you stay in bounds,
+but if you go out there'll be trouble; so I advise you to keep quiet."
+
+"Wait till I git hold of you, Tom Dalsett!" cried the miner, shaking his
+fist in the direction of his invisible foe.
+
+"Oh, I expect to be here some time, so I'll wait," was the reply, and
+Nestor could only turn back.
+
+Just before noon the miner called a council of war. He explained that it
+was very necessary for him, or some one, to get to a Government office
+and file a claim on the mine.
+
+"It's a case of first come, first served in this minin' business,"
+explained Nestor. "Those chaps may be on the way now to register their
+papers, an' if they are we'll lose the claim. I'll bet that's their
+plan, an' that's why they're keepin' us cooped up here!"
+
+"How far is it to the Government office?" asked Jerry.
+
+"A matter of thirty miles," replied Nestor. "It's about five miles
+beyond where we turned up into this valley. But what's the use talkin'?
+We can't git away while they're on guard with guns."
+
+"We all can't, but one of us might," suggested Jerry.
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"I mean that I will go and file the papers."
+
+"How will you manage it?"
+
+Jerry explained his plan. Nestor nodded in approval, and hurriedly told
+him how to comply with the necessary legal forms. The miner hastily
+filled out a paper, gave it to the boy, and remarked:
+
+"Now we'll try that trick of yours, Jerry."
+
+In accordance with the plan Jerry had proposed, every one but himself
+started toward the top of the hill where the mine shaft was located.
+Jerry stayed near the automobile. The others took no pains to move
+quietly, but laughed and talked.
+
+Reaching the top of the slope, at a word from Nestor, they made a rush
+down the other side, at the same time firing their revolvers wildly in
+the air.
+
+As Jerry had expected, the ruse worked. The force of besiegers,
+thinking an escape was being attempted, ran around the other side of the
+hill to intercept it. Led by Dalsett, Noddy and his crowd drew up in
+the underbrush at the opposite foot of the slope to trap the supposed
+fugitives.
+
+At that instant Jerry sprang to the auto. Like a flash he had the motor
+going, and a second later he had leaped into the seat and was off down
+the valley. A ringing cheer by his comrades, together with the chugging
+of the motor, told the enemy what had happened. They realized that they
+had been fooled, and had been drawn away on a false alarm.
+
+"Quick! After him, Noddy!" cried Dalsett. "Jump in your auto! You must
+overtake him before he reaches the Government office, for he's going
+there to file the claim. That's what we'd ought to have done instead of
+monkeying here."
+
+Noddy needed no second bidding. His auto stood ready a short distance
+down the valley. He ran to it, started the motor, and was after Jerry in
+a few minutes. It was another race for the possession of the gold mine.
+
+Returning to their camp, much pleased at the success of their stratagem,
+Nestor, the boys and Professor Snodgrass got dinner. Broswick was still
+on guard at the shaft, but Nestor relieved the hunter a little later,
+allowing him to eat and take some rest.
+
+As for the besiegers, they seemed to have settled down to dogged
+waiting, for they gave no sign, though an occasional movement in the
+underbrush showed they were still on guard.
+
+Meanwhile, Jerry and Noddy were racing on. Jerry had a good start and
+sent his car along at a fine speed. The road was rough, and several
+times he struck large stones that caused the auto to bounce unpleasantly.
+
+Now and then Jerry would glance back to see if his enemy was in sight.
+After a run of about two miles he caught a glimpse of Noddy's machine
+coming after him.
+
+"Now we'll see who has the best car, and who is the best driver,"
+reasoned Jerry, and his spirits rose at the prospect of the race.
+
+For several miles Jerry held his lead. Then he noticed that Noddy was
+gaining slightly. Jerry could feel that his motor was not running as
+smoothly as it should, and no wonder, for it had been through strenuous
+times. He used all his skill in operating the various valves, gears,
+levers, but, do the best he could, he saw Noddy slowly though surely
+creeping up on him.
+
+"He must not win!" exclaimed Jerry, fiercely, to himself. Then, though
+it was a dangerous thing to do, for the road was very rough, he opened
+the gasolene throttle still wider, and the car bounded forward at
+greater speed.
+
+This temporary advantage was soon lost, however, and Noddy came on
+relentlessly. For an hour the race continued. The autoists left the
+small valley leading to the mine and turned into the broad defile.
+
+"Five miles more!" thought Jerry, recalling Nestor's directions.
+
+The next instant, with a rush and rattle, Noddy's car came up alongside
+that of Jerry's. They were now on even terms.
+
+"I s'pose you thought you'd beat me!" sneered the bully.
+
+"The race isn't over yet," answered Jerry.
+
+But in truth it looked as if it was, as far as Jerry was concerned.
+Noddy gained inch by inch, until his car was a good length ahead. The
+bully looked back with a mocking smile.
+
+One mile was reeled off, and but four remained of the distance to the
+little town where the Government office was located. Another mile; then
+another. Noddy's car was now five hundred feet ahead, and Jerry was
+running his machine as fast as he dared, though not to the limit.
+
+There remained but another mile as the cars shot into a long, straight
+stretch. In the distance Jerry could see a small town. Noddy was an
+eighth of a mile in advance.
+
+"I'm going to lose!" exclaimed Jerry, and he felt his heart sink.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+WINNING THE CLAIM.
+
+
+There was but half a mile more. The two autos were now on the outskirts
+of the settlement, and men gathered in the single main street to watch
+the race.
+
+Suddenly Noddy's car skidded and he was forced to shut off the power.
+This allowed Jerry to gain a little. He quickly saw his chance.
+Resolving to risk everything, he turned on full speed and pressed down
+the accelerator pedal.
+
+His car lurched forward with such suddenness that the youth was almost
+pitched from his seat. But he caught up to Noddy. The latter saw the
+advantage that had been gained and tried a desperate measure.
+
+Turning his steering wheel he swerved his auto over toward Jerry's,
+intending to strike him a glancing blow and upset him.
+
+But Jerry was too quick for him. He got out of the way, though only just
+in time. Then he glanced up and saw, about one hundred feet in advance,
+a white building, with a sign reading:
+
+GOVERNMENT ASSAY OFFICE.
+
+He brought up his machine with a jerk by applying the emergency brake.
+Almost before it stopped he leaped out, but his coat caught on the
+steering wheel and he fell in the dusty road.
+
+At that instant Noddy dashed up in his machine. He was quick to see what
+had befallen Jerry, and like a flash was out of his car, and, with a
+proof of claim in his hand, he rushed for the door of the assay office.
+
+"No, you don't!" yelled Jerry, springing to his feet.
+
+He took after Noddy and caught him just as the bully was about to enter
+the office. But one thought flashed through Jerry's mind. He must beat
+Noddy.
+
+He drew back his fist and, with a powerful blow that caught the bully
+right on the chin, sent him sprawling away from the doorway and into the
+dusty street.
+
+"I want to file this claim," panted Jerry, an instant later, handing
+the astonished Government clerk the proof Nestor had made out. The boy
+had done the only thing possible under the circumstances to enable him
+to get into the office. He had knocked Noddy aside and gone in ahead of
+him, winning by the margin of a second.
+
+The commotion caused by the two automobiles racing into town, the
+conduct of the two boys, and Jerry's action had attracted quite a
+crowd about the assay office. People fairly filled the rough shack in
+which the agents of Uncle Sam did business, and the claim clerk was
+so startled by the suddenness of the whole transaction that he stood
+motionless.
+
+"Aren't you going to file and record that claim?" asked Jerry, looking
+out of the window and seeing Noddy limp to his feet.
+
+"I--I don't know--of course I am--that is----"
+
+"He isn't goin' to do anythin' until I have somethin' to say,"
+interrupted a rough voice. "I'm sheriff of this county, an' I'd have you
+automobilists know that you can't come here lickity split an' not pay
+the damage. I'll arrest you both for exceedin' the speed limits."
+
+"What is the legal limit?" asked Jerry, anxious only about getting his
+paper filed.
+
+"Seventy miles an hour."
+
+"My machine can't make over fifty if I was to run it at full speed on a
+beach track," replied Jerry, hotly.
+
+"Well--er--maybe I'm a leetle off on figgers," admitted the sheriff. "It
+may be seven miles, but you're both arrested--er--um--fer disturbin' the
+peace. There, I guess you can't git around that. I may be a leetle mite
+hazy on law, but I ain't on fact. Do you deny that you disturbed the
+peace?" and he turned to Jerry.
+
+"I admit I knocked him down," said the boy, nodding toward the bully,
+who was entering the room. "I'm willing to pay a fine for that if I may
+file this paper. How much do I owe you?"
+
+"We can't do business in that loose way," spoke the sheriff, with a
+great sense of his own importance. "This must go through a regular form.
+You'll both have to go before the judge. I'll arrest you both."
+
+"But can't I file this paper?" insisted Jerry. "You can arrest me just
+the same."
+
+"One thing at a time," went on the sheriff. "You come with me; let the
+judge hear the case, an' if he finds you not guilty you can come back
+here an' file fifty papers if you want to. But you can't now, an' I
+forbid this clerk to take any papers from anybody until I come back."
+
+Jerry fretted at the delay. It was easy to see that in this rough,
+western town the authority of the sheriff was paramount. At first Jerry
+thought it might be a trick put up to benefit Noddy, but when he saw the
+bully was not allowed to file his papers either, he became convinced
+that the sheriff thought he was acting within his legal rights.
+
+Followed by a big crowd, the officer led his two prisoners toward
+the rude shanty where the judge held court as often as it was
+necessary. Noddy was plainly in a great rage, but Jerry took it all as
+good-naturedly as he could.
+
+"You wait till Pud Stoneham and Tom Dalsett hear of this!" blustered
+Noddy to the sheriff. "They'll make trouble, for they told me to be sure
+and file that paper as soon as I could."
+
+"What names did you say?" asked the sheriff.
+
+Noddy repeated them.
+
+"I'd give a good bit to see Pud Stoneham just now," remarked the
+officer, in a peculiar voice. "But I guess he don't want to see me."
+
+"I'll tell you where you can find him," spoke Jerry, quickly, surmising
+how the land lay.
+
+"Where? Tell me, quick, boy! Are you tryin' to fool me?"
+
+In a few words Jerry told about the mine, and how he had left his
+friends besieged there by the gambler and his companions.
+
+"It's our mine, and I tried to file the claim before Noddy Nixon did,"
+finished Jerry.
+
+"And you'll do it yet," said the sheriff, heartily. "Here," he called to
+the crowd, which came to a halt, "this case is adjourned indefinitely."
+
+"Ain't there goin' to be a trial?" asked several, disappointed in what
+they thought would furnish excitement.
+
+"Not now," replied the officer. "This boy, Jerry Hopkins, is paroled
+in my custody. Noddy Nixon is paroled in the custody of Bill Lamson,
+an' I'll appoint you a special deputy for the occasion, Bill. You take
+charge of Noddy until sundown, when you kin let him go. An', mind, if
+he escapes I'll court-martial you, Bill."
+
+"He won't git away," said the new deputy, confidently.
+
+The crowd had already begun to disperse, finding there was to be nothing
+to interest them. Lamson went away with Noddy, who vainly protested
+against being detained.
+
+"Now take me to Pud Stoneham," said the sheriff to Jerry. "I've been
+lookin' for him for 'most a month. He's wanted for a dozen crimes. Well,
+well, this is luck!"
+
+"What about filing the claim?" asked Jerry, not losing sight of his
+important mission.
+
+"You kin attend to that right off," was the answer. "Then take me to the
+mine an' I'll attend to Pud Stoneham."
+
+Jerry lost no time in filing a formal proof of claim to the mine, and
+saw the record made in the Government books. Then, with a lighter heart
+than he had known for many a day, feeling that at least part of the hard
+work was over, he went to the auto, where the sheriff was waiting.
+
+"I'll take you out in the car," said Jerry.
+
+"I'd a heap sight rather have a mule," commented the officer, eyeing the
+machine with a suspicious glance, "but I s'pose this is quicker. Don't
+upset, now."
+
+"I won't," promised Jerry. "But, Mr. Sheriff, hadn't you better take
+some help along? Pud and Dalsett are well armed."
+
+"That's so. I'll swear in a couple of deputies," said the officer.
+"Here, you," he called to two men passing by, "come with me, I may need
+you. Hold up your right hands. You swear to do whatever I tell you to,
+all right. I owe you fifty cents apiece, but you'll have to git change.
+Never mind now, jump in the shebang. We're after a man."
+
+Then the sheriff paused to take a much-needed breath. The two men, who
+didn't seem surprised at being so suddenly called on to act, took their
+places in the machine and Jerry started off.
+
+He exulted in his success, for he knew that, no matter what happened
+now, the mine stood in the names of Nestor and the adventurers,
+including himself. All that now remained was to get the gold out.
+
+Jerry sent the machine along at a good clip. Mile after mile was covered
+and at last the auto turned up the little valley leading to the mine.
+As the machine neared the hill in which the shaft was sunk a sound of
+firing was heard.
+
+"They're fighting!" cried the boy, as he increased the speed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+THE FIGHT AT THE MINE.
+
+
+As the auto came near, the shots became more distinct. It seemed as if
+a small-sized battle was in progress. Jerry stopped the car about a
+thousand feet away from where the camp had been.
+
+"Take it easy until we see where we're at," advised the sheriff.
+"There's too many bullets flyin' around for comfort."
+
+He got out of the machine and began creeping along on the ground on
+hands and knees. His deputies followed his example, and Jerry thought it
+well to do likewise.
+
+It was soon evident that an attack was being made on the hill, where
+the forces of Nestor seemed to have entrenched themselves. Stoneham,
+Dalsett, Berry and Pender were drawing nearer under cover of the
+underbrush and were firing as they advanced. Nestor and his crowd were
+replying with shot after shot, though most of the bullets were high in
+the air.
+
+"If I could only get a line on where they are," muttered the sheriff,
+"I'd be all right, but I can't see a thing in these bushes."
+
+All at once the firing from the top of the hill ceased.
+
+"I guess they're out of ammunition," said Jerry. "They didn't have very
+much when I came away."
+
+"Then it's time we did somethin'," remarked the sheriff. "There, I see
+'em now. Come on, boys!"
+
+The two deputies followed him on the run, and Jerry kept as close as he
+could.
+
+Suddenly the sheriff came to a halt. He motioned with his hand for the
+others to keep quiet. Then the officer began creeping at a slow pace. He
+halted once more and waved to the others to approach. They did so with
+all the caution possible.
+
+"We've got 'em!" exclaimed the sheriff. "Pud Stoneham and the rest of
+'em are down in a little hollow just below us. They are gettin' ready to
+make a rush, I think."
+
+Peering over the edge of a little bluff on which the sheriff's party
+stood, Jerry looked down and saw the gambler, Bill Berry and Jack
+Pender, each with a revolver, crouching down and peering forward. They
+were within a few hundred feet of the shaft, and Jerry could dimly
+observe Nestor and his friends grouped about the mine.
+
+They seemed to be making a last stand. The truth of the matter was that,
+as Jerry had surmised, they were out of ammunition and could no longer
+reply to the fusillade that Stoneham and his crowd kept up. For a time
+there was a lull in the firing.
+
+Then the shots began again, coming from Stoneham, Berry and Pender. But
+they did not seem to be aiming to kill or even wound those guarding the
+mine. Desperate as the gambler was, and great as was his wish to get
+the gold claim, he would not resort to extreme measures. So he and the
+others were firing over the heads of those they were attacking. They
+hoped to scare them away.
+
+If they could do this, and rush in, securing possession of the claim,
+they would, under the mining laws, provided that Noddy had filed the
+claim, be masters of the situation. But something was about to happen.
+
+The sheriff was watching Stoneham like a cat. The gambler and his
+friends were unaware how close they were to danger, and continued to
+fire above the heads of the party at the shaft.
+
+From their point of vantage the sheriff, his deputies and Jerry watched
+what was going on below them. They saw Nestor, Broswick and the others
+waver, for the firing was hot, and they did not know it was a harmless
+one.
+
+"Come on!" yelled Stoneham, suddenly. "We've got 'em! Come on, an' take
+the mine!"
+
+The gambler leaped to his feet, flourishing his revolver. Pender, Berry
+and Dalsett prepared to follow him.
+
+"No, you don't!" cried the sheriff.
+
+The officer leaped forward, over the bluff, and shot downward. Full and
+true he fell, right on the back of Stoneham, bearing him to the earth.
+
+"I say! What's this? Oh, let me up!" yelled the gambler.
+
+"Not until I've fixed you so's you can't do any damage!" exclaimed the
+officer, drawing out a pair of handcuffs and fastening them on Stoneham.
+
+The gambler struggled hard for a few seconds. Then, finding it was of no
+avail, he lay quietly at the sheriff's feet.
+
+"Where'd you come from?" he asked the officer.
+
+"Oh, I took a little run up here in one of them new-fangled gasolene
+gigs," replied the sheriff, with a grin. "I heard you were up here an' I
+felt I couldn't get along without havin' a little conversation with you."
+
+"Um!" grunted Stoneham.
+
+Dalsett disappeared into the bushes at the instant the sheriff had
+jumped on the gambler's back, and was soon lost to sight.
+
+"Never mind him," said the officer, when he saw that capture was not
+possible. "I didn't want him, anyhow. It was Pud I was after, an' I got
+him."
+
+"What'll we do with this lad?" asked one of the deputies who had grabbed
+Pender.
+
+"Pl-pl-please don't ki-kill me!" cried the boy, a coward, now that his
+side had lost.
+
+"Kill you!" exclaimed the sheriff. "The worst that'll happen to you will
+be a good spankin'. That's what we do to babies out here!"
+
+Pender showed no inclination to escape, nor did Bill Berry, who stood
+sullenly to one side.
+
+"Get up!" the sheriff commanded Stoneham, and the gambler struggled to
+his feet. His air of bravado was gone and he hung his head. "I'll take
+you back to town in a little while," the officer announced.
+
+There was a crackling in the bushes and, cautiously parting them, Nestor
+stepped into view.
+
+"What's happened?" he asked Jerry.
+
+"It's all right," replied the boy. "I filed the claim, I beat Noddy, and
+this is the sheriff, who has arrested Mr. Stoneham."
+
+"Good for you!" cried the miner. "We've been havin' a pretty lively time
+since you went away, an' you got back just in time. So the papers are
+filed, eh? Well, that gives us the mine now, an' we're all rich!"
+
+"I'd rather have Mr. Stoneham here than a gold mine," remarked the
+sheriff.
+
+"Is he so valuable?" asked Nestor.
+
+"He is to me," was the answer. "There's a reward of five thousand
+dollars for his capture for counterfeitin' money, an' besides that
+he's wanted on half a dozen charges. When I heard he was here, I jest
+hustled, I tell you."
+
+It was getting dusk now, and, after a little thought, the sheriff
+decided not to take his prisoner back to town that night.
+
+"If you don't mind, I'll camp out here with you," the officer said to
+Nestor, and the miner extended a hearty invitation. Soon supper was
+prepared and partaken of sitting around the camp-fire.
+
+Stoneham's hands were unshackled long enough to enable him to eat, but
+the sheriff guarded him closely. He was not going to have his captive
+escape if he could help it. Pender and Berry ate in dogged silence.
+
+After supper, when the men had lighted their pipes, Nestor told the
+sheriff the story of the trip to the gold mine. The official was much
+interested.
+
+"It's a good thing you have the claim to your mine filed," he said.
+"I understand there's a great rush of diggers this way. They were at
+Eagleville yesterday, a town about twenty miles from here, and I expect
+they'll be stragglin' in here to-morrow. Whenever there's news of a gold
+strike the miners are on the trail like a hound after a fox."
+
+The moon rose over the trees and made the glow of the camp-fire seem
+like a tallow candle beside an electric light. The forest was flooded
+with the radiance and it was almost as bright as day.
+
+"I could almost go out and gather some specimens," remarked Professor
+Snodgrass, who had said little since the exciting events of the
+afternoon.
+
+"What do you want most?" asked the sheriff.
+
+"I'd like to get--look out, there! Don't move for the life of you! Wait
+until I get my net!" cried the professor, suddenly, staring at something
+close to the officer.
+
+"What is it, a rattlesnake?" asked the sheriff, somewhat alarmed at the
+professor's excitement.
+
+"Don't move! Don't move!" was all the naturalist replied.
+
+"Well, if it's a snake you can bet your boots I won't stir until you've
+got it," answered the sheriff. "I seen a man bit by one once and he
+didn't last half an hour. But say, my friend, don't be any longer than
+you can help. It's sort of a strain on my nerves, you know."
+
+"Softly! Easy!" spoke the professor.
+
+He had his net now and was tiptoeing up to where the officer sat, close
+beside Stoneham.
+
+"There!" cried the professor, slapping the meshes down on the ground.
+"I've got him!"
+
+"Have you got the rattlesnake?" asked Jerry.
+
+"Rattlesnake?" inquired the naturalist, gathering something carefully
+in the folds of the net. "Who said anything about a snake? I've just
+captured a white lizard, one of the rarest that exists. It's worth one
+thousand dollars."
+
+"Well," exclaimed the sheriff, "it nearly scared me to that amount, the
+way you acted. I thought sure I was goin' to be hit by a snake."
+
+After the excitement, unintentionally caused by the professor, had
+quieted down, and he had put his lizard away with his other specimens,
+it was voted time to turn in. Blankets were brought from the automobile
+to serve as coverings, and the fire was replenished.
+
+In order to be sure his prisoner would not escape, the sheriff tied
+Stoneham to a big tree. As an additional precaution the officer passed
+one end of the rawhide thong about his own arm, so that the slightest
+movement on the gambler's part would be noted.
+
+Then Nestor, who agreed to take the first watch, began pacing up and
+down in front of the camp, while the others fell asleep.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX.
+
+AN ESCAPE--CONCLUSION.
+
+
+At midnight Nestor awoke Broswick, who was to take the next watch.
+
+"All quiet?" asked the hunter.
+
+"As a churchyard," replied the miner.
+
+"How about Berry and Pender?"
+
+"They haven't moved."
+
+"All right; turn in."
+
+Nestor was soon snoring, and Broswick began his vigil. The moon began to
+move over toward the west, and the only sounds heard were the hoots of
+owls or the barking of foxes.
+
+Suddenly the hunter paused in his walk about the camp. His trained
+ear told him somebody or something was approaching. He could hear the
+breaking of twigs and the rattle of stones as they were stepped on.
+
+"That's a human being," decided the hunter. "No animal would be as
+clumsy as that in making an approach."
+
+He waited, with his rifle ready.
+
+"If it's some one coming to rescue Stoneham they'll get a warm
+reception," he whispered to himself.
+
+The noise came nearer. Then the bushes off to the left parted
+cautiously, and Broswick heard a soft whisper:
+
+"Hey, Bill! Hey, Jack! Where are you?"
+
+"It's that Noddy Nixon chap," Broswick muttered. "He must have come back
+in his automobile after the deputy sheriff released him at sundown. Now
+I wonder what I'd better do?"
+
+"Hey, Bill!" Noddy called, in a little louder whisper, "can you sneak
+away? I have the machine ready."
+
+This time a movement near where Bill Berry and Pender were lying told
+that they had heard the summons. Broswick silently drew back into
+the shadows and waited to see what would happen. He did not think it
+necessary to arouse the others yet.
+
+Berry rose to his feet and peered about him. Jack followed. They were
+trying to locate Noddy's whereabouts.
+
+"Here I am!" whispered Noddy. "Right by the oak tree."
+
+As quietly as they could, Pender and Berry began sneaking off to one
+side, avoiding the light cast by the camp-fire.
+
+"Shall I let 'em go or stop 'em?" debated Broswick with himself. "Guess
+I'll let 'em go. We don't want 'em, for they're more trouble than
+they're worth. But I'll give 'em a good scare."
+
+He raised his gun and fired two shots in the air, over the heads of the
+escaping man and boy. Their frightened yells told how startled they were.
+
+In an instant the camp was in confusion. Every one awoke, Nestor
+standing ready with a revolver in either hand.
+
+"What's the matter?" he cried.
+
+"Only Noddy coming back for his two friends," replied Broswick.
+
+"Have they escaped?"
+
+The hunter raised his hand to indicate silence. A crashing of the
+underbrush told in which way the fugitives were heading.
+
+"There they go," said Broswick.
+
+The sheriff had quickly assured himself that Stoneham was still securely
+bound.
+
+"Shall we take after Noddy and Pender?" asked Broswick.
+
+"What's the use?" asked Nestor. "If we had them arrested it would only
+make trouble for us. Let 'em go. I got some of my gold back from Pender."
+
+"Yes, let 'em go," assented Jerry.
+
+"Hark!" exclaimed Ned.
+
+All listened. The faint chugging of an automobile was heard, gradually
+dying away in the distance.
+
+"I guess that's the end of 'em," remarked Nestor.
+
+Once more quiet settled down on the camp, and there were no other
+disturbances that night. The shining of the sun through the trees awoke
+the campers, and soon coffee was made and a simple breakfast ready.
+
+"Now if one of you will run down to town in the automobile, with me and
+my friend Stoneham here," said the sheriff, "I'll be obliged to you."
+
+Jerry agreed to make the trip, and Nestor said he would go along, as he
+wanted to do some business at the Government Assay Office. The mine was
+left in charge of Broswick, Professor Snodgrass, Ned and Bob.
+
+"Don't let anybody jump the claim," cautioned the miner with a laugh, as
+he rode off, Jerry steering the automobile down the valley.
+
+"There'll be trouble if they try it," said the hunter, looking at his
+gun.
+
+No accidents occurred during the automobile trip. Town was safely
+reached, and the sheriff lodged his prisoner in jail. Nestor transacted
+his business with the Government agent, and then Jerry headed the
+machine back for the camp. There they found everything in good shape.
+
+"Now that our troubles are about over, an' we're in possession of our
+mine, it won't be a bad idea to dig out a few nuggets for luck," said
+Nestor.
+
+"Can we have one?" asked Bob.
+
+"Why, sure, Chunky," replied the miner. "The claim's part yours, jest as
+it is mine. We're goin' to share an' share alike in this deal. I'd never
+have got to this mine if it hadn't been for you boys. Have a nugget?
+Well, I guess yes."
+
+They went to the top of the hill, and Nestor and Jerry descended the
+shaft. This second trip more than confirmed the first view of the
+richness of the mine. The rocky sides of the shaft were fairly studded
+with small nuggets. Nestor dug out some with his knife, and Jerry did
+likewise.
+
+"There's about one hundred dollars," remarked the miner after half an
+hour's work, showing a handful of dull, golden pebbles. Jerry had about
+the same amount.
+
+"Now we've got to git ready to work this claim," said Nestor. "I'll
+attend to all that, seein' as how I'm familiar with the business. But,
+first, we'll go up an' show the others what we have."
+
+As they neared the top of the shaft they heard quite a commotion on the
+surface. The voices of men in dispute could be heard.
+
+"I wonder what's the trouble now?" Nestor said.
+
+Coming out of the shaft he found the summit of the hill surrounded by
+fifty or more roughly dressed men, all bearing mining tools on their
+backs. They stood in a circle while Broswick, with cocked rifle, was
+holding them at bay.
+
+"What's the matter?" asked Nestor.
+
+"They allowed they was goin' to jump this claim," said the hunter.
+
+"Excuse me, pardner," spoke one of the crowd, who seemed to be a sort of
+leader, addressing his remarks to Nestor. "I take it you're in charge
+here?"
+
+"That's what," replied the miner.
+
+"Waal, we ain't goin' to jump nobody's claim. We're a bunch of miners,
+an' we've come all the way from Spread Eagle Valley to this region,
+hearin' as how there was good claims here. Are we right?"
+
+"You be," replied Nestor, "an' you're welcome. There's the stakes of our
+claim," and he indicated them.
+
+"All filed reg'lar an' 'cordin' to law, I s'pose?" went on the spokesman.
+
+"Right," answered Nestor. "You can locate anywhere you like outside of
+my claim."
+
+"That's all we wanted to know," went on the other. "Come on, boys!" he
+called to his companions. "It's all right!"
+
+The whole valley was soon a scene of great activity, with miners staking
+claims on every side. They were eager with the desire for gold.
+
+Within a week the whole region fairly swarmed with the gold seekers,
+for the section was rich with the precious metal. But no claim was as
+valuable as that of the lost mine which Nestor and the boys had found.
+
+Arrangements were made for working the claim, machinery was ordered,
+and soon pay-dirt was being taken out in large quantities. A more
+comfortable log cabin was erected in place of the rude shack that served
+as a temporary shelter, and the boys began to enjoy life in the new
+diggings.
+
+One of the first things they had done when they were sure of the
+possession of the mine was to write back home and tell their parents of
+the good luck.
+
+Jerry suggested that in the missives each one should ask permission to
+remain at the gold mine for some time longer, and perhaps make a further
+trip before returning to Cresville.
+
+"I wonder if we'll get any letters by this mail?" asked Ned one evening,
+when, after the day's work was done, they all sat about the camp-fire.
+
+"We'll soon know," said Jerry. "Here comes Nestor back from town, and it
+looks as if he had something in his hand."
+
+The miner approached, riding Broswick's horse.
+
+"Here's the postman!" he cried, waving some papers in the air. "Letters
+for each of ye!"
+
+Three anxious boys opened three envelopes and soon were busy reading
+the missives. Then came three simultaneous whoops of delight.
+
+"I can stay!" yelled Bob.
+
+"Me, too!" exclaimed Jerry.
+
+"And me!" came from Ned.
+
+"I don't blame your folks for lettin' ye stay," put in Nestor. "You're
+makin' money here every day out of this mine."
+
+The parents of the boys had wisely concluded that it would be a good
+experience for their sons to develop the mine further, since they seemed
+to be in good hands under Nestor's guidance, and able to take care of
+themselves.
+
+"We'll have no end of good times," said Bob, trying to turn a handspring
+on the grass, but tumbling down in the effort.
+
+"I'd feel better if I was sure we had seen the last of Noddy and Pender,
+as well as Bill Berry and that Dalsett chap," spoke Jerry.
+
+"Oh, they'll never bother us again," came from Ned. "They're running
+like scared rabbits. We'll never see them again."
+
+But Ned was wrong. They did meet Noddy and his three companions once
+more, and under strange circumstances, as will be related in the next
+volume of this series, to be entitled "The Motor Boys in Mexico; or, The
+Secret of the Buried City."
+
+"Let's go to bed," suggested Jerry, as the camp-fire died out. And they
+went to their bunks in the log cabin as the moon rose over the trees and
+cast a silver gleam over the machinery at the shaft of the gold mine.
+
+The Motor Boys' trip overland had panned out very well, indeed.
+
+
+THE END.
+
+
+
+
+_The Motor Boys Series_
+
+_By Clarence Young_
+
+=Handsomely illustrated. Bound in cloth, stamped in colors. Price per
+volume, 60 cents.=
+
+
+  THE MOTOR BOYS
+  _Or, Chums Through Thick and Thin_
+
+In this volume is related how the three boys got together and planned to
+obtain a touring car and make a trip lasting through the summer.
+
+
+  THE MOTOR BOYS OVERLAND
+  _Or, A Long Trip for Fun and Fortune_
+
+With the money won at the great motorcycle race the three boys purchase
+their touring car and commence their travels.
+
+
+  THE MOTOR BOYS IN MEXICO
+  _Or, The Secret of the Buried City_
+
+From our own country the scene is shifted to Mexico, where the motor
+boys journey in quest of a city said to have been buried centuries ago
+by an earthquake.
+
+
+  THE MOTOR BOYS ACROSS THE PLAINS
+  _Or, The Hermit of Lost Lake_
+
+Unraveling the mystery surrounding an old hermit and a poor boy.
+
+
+  THE MOTOR BOYS AFLOAT
+  _Or, The Stirring Cruise of the Dartaway_
+
+In this volume the boys take to a motorboat, and have many adventures.
+
+
+  THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE ATLANTIC
+  _Or, The Mystery of the Lighthouse_
+
+How the lads foiled the bad men who wanted to wreck a steamer by means
+of false lights is dramatically related.
+
+
+  THE MOTOR BOYS IN STRANGE WATERS
+  _Or, Lost in a Floating Forest_
+
+Telling of many adventures in the mysterious Everglades of Florida.
+
+
+  THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE PACIFIC
+  _Or, The Young Derelict Hunters_
+
+The derelict was of great value, and the hunt for it proved full of
+perils.
+
+
+_CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK_
+
+
+
+
+_The Jack Ranger Series_
+
+_By Clarence Young_
+
+_Author of the Motor Boys Series_
+
+=Cloth. Illustrated, $1.00 per volume=
+
+
+  JACK RANGER'S SCHOOLDAYS
+  _Or, The Rivals of Washington Hall_
+
+=Cloth, beautifully decorated. Illustrated, $1.00=
+
+[Illustration]
+
+You will love Jack Ranger--you simply can't help it. He is so bright
+and cheery, and so real and lifelike. A typical boarding-school tale,
+without a dull line in it.
+
+
+  JACK RANGER'S SCHOOL VICTORIES
+  _Or, Track, Gridiron and Diamond_
+
+In this tale Jack gets back to Washington Hall and goes in for all sorts
+of school games. There are numerous contests on the athletic field, and
+also a great baseball game and a football game, all dear to a boy's
+heart. The rivalry is bitter at times, and enemies try to put Jack "in a
+hole" more than once.
+
+
+  JACK RANGER'S WESTERN TRIP
+  _Or, From Boarding School to Ranch and Range_
+
+This volume takes the hero and several of his chums to the great West.
+Jack is anxious to clear up the mystery surrounding his father's
+disappearance. At the ranch and on the range adventures of the strenuous
+sort befall him.
+
+
+  JACK RANGER'S OCEAN CRUISE
+  _Or, The Wreck of the Polly Ann_
+
+Here is a tale of the bounding sea, with many stirring adventures. How
+the ship was wrecked, and Jack was cast away, is told in a style all
+boys and girls will find exceedingly interesting. There is plenty of fun
+as well as excitement.
+
+
+_CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK_
+
+
+
+
+_The Boy Hunters Series_
+
+_By Captain Ralph Bonehill_
+
+=Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume, 60 cents=
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+  FOUR BOY HUNTERS
+  _Or, The Outing of the Gun Club_
+
+A fine, breezy story of the woods and waters, of adventures in search of
+game, and of great times around the campfire, told in Captain Bonehill's
+best style. In the book are given full directions for camping out.
+
+
+  GUNS AND SNOWSHOES
+  _Or, The Winter Outing of the Young Hunters_
+
+In this volume the young hunters leave home for a winter outing on the
+shores of a small lake. They hunt and trap to their hearts' content, and
+have adventures in plenty, all calculated to make boys "sit up and take
+notice." A good healthy book; one with the odor of the pine forests and
+the glare of the welcome campfire in every chapter.
+
+
+  YOUNG HUNTERS OF THE LAKE
+  _Or, Out with Rod and Gun_
+
+Another tale of woods and waters, with some strong hunting scenes and a
+good deal of mystery. The three volumes make a splendid outdoor series.
+
+
+_CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK_
+
+
+
+
+_Boys of Business Series_
+
+_By Allen Chapman_
+
+=Illustrated, 12mo. Cloth, 60 cents per volume=
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+  THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT
+  _Or, Bart Stirling's Road to Success_
+
+Bart's father was the express agent in a country town. When an explosion
+of fireworks rendered him unfit for work, the boy took it upon himself
+to run the express office. The tale gives a good idea of the express
+business in general.
+
+
+  TWO BOY PUBLISHERS
+  _Or, From Typecase to Editor's Chair_
+
+This tale will appeal strongly to all lads who wish to know how a
+newspaper is printed and published. The two boy publishers work their
+way up, step by step, from a tiny printing office to the ownership of a
+town paper.
+
+
+  MAIL ORDER FRANK
+  _Or, A Smart Boy and His Chances_
+
+Here we have a story covering an absolutely new field--that of the
+mail-order business. How Frank started in a small way and gradually
+worked his way up to a business figure of considerable importance is
+told in a fascinating manner.
+
+
+  A BUSINESS BOY
+  _Or, Winning Success_
+
+This relates the ups and downs of a young storekeeper. He has some keen
+rivals, but "wins out" in more ways than one. All youths who wish to go
+into business will want this volume.
+
+
+_CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK_
+
+
+
+
+      *      *      *      *      *      *
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's note:
+
+ --Punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected.
+
+ --Archaic and variable spellings have been preserved.
+
+ --Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved.
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTOR BOYS OVERLAND***
+
+
+******* This file should be named 42748-0.txt or 42748-0.zip *******
+
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