University of Virginia Library

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 lock.

"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,