University of Virginia Library

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.