“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.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.