University of Virginia Library

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.