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[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!