WRECKED.
When Jerry recovered consciousness he found himself sitting on the
ground, while Ned and Nestor were bathing his head with water that
Professor Snodgrass was bringing up in his hat.
"Where am I? What happened?" asked Jerry.
"You're still on the map," said the miner, "and as for what happened,
it was what often happens out here. Part of the mountain parted company
from the main hill, that's all."
"Is the auto smashed?" asked Jerry.
"It appears to be damaged some," replied the miner, and Jerry felt his
heart sink. "But never mind that. It's lucky we're not all killed. You
were struck on the head by a stone and knocked unconscious. The rest of
us were just spilled out when the machine turned over. But how do you
feel?"
"I'm all right, only a little weak," replied the boy. He stood up, and,
aside from a little dizziness, he found himself in good shape. His head
ached from the blow and was cut slightly, but he was too anxious about
the machine to mind his hurts.
With legs that trembled somewhat, he made his way to where the auto had
overturned from the force of the landslide. The machine presented a
sorry sight. The baggage was spilled out and things were scattered all
about. There was a break in the water tank and the fluid had run out.
The steering-post was also bent, and one chain was broken. What other
damage was done could not be seen until some of the dirt was removed.
"I wish Broswick would come along with his spade," said Nestor. "We need
him."
"There he comes now," spoke up Ned, pointing back on the road they had
come. At the top of a gentle slope a figure on horseback could be made
out. The man waved his hand. It was the hunter, and in a short time he
came up to the wreck.
"Waal," he remarked, "looks like ye had trouble."
"We did," replied Nestor, and he told of the landslide. "But," he went
on, "I reckon these boys know how to git us out of it. I'll stake
my last dollar on these boys," and he smiled in a way that made the
down-hearted lads feel better.
Broswick's spade did good service, and soon the machine was cleared of
the dirt sufficiently to allow of its being righted. Then Jerry made a
more careful examination. As he went around on the right side of it he
uttered a despairing cry.
"What's the matter?" asked Ned.
"The battery box is gone!" exclaimed Jerry.
"It was carried away in the landslide, and we haven't another cell.
We're stranded, sure enough."
He pointed to where, on the right step, a small, square box had rested.
In this box were the dry batteries that supplied the spark.
Without the vital spark the auto could not advance a foot, and, as Jerry
had said, the last of the spare batteries had been used and no new ones
procured. The adventurers were certainly in dire straits.
"Maybe we can find the batteries somewhere in the dirt," suggested
Nestor.
Acting on this idea, the boys and men made a careful search among the
rocks and gravel that covered the road. They found the battery box, but
it was splintered to pieces and not a single cell could be located. They
went over every inch of the debris with no better result.
"Well, I reckon we're booked for a stay at this summer resort," said
Nestor, with forced cheerfulness.
"It will be a good chance for me to get some specimens," said the
naturalist, as if nothing mattered so long as he got some bugs or
snakes.
"I reckon you'll have all the time you want," put in the hunter. "But
speakin' of specimens reminds me that I'm hungry. I think I'll take my
gun an' see if I can't pot somethin' for dinner."
"We've got to eat if we can't travel," observed Nestor. "Supposin', Bob,
you an' Ned make a fire, while Jerry tinkers over the auto. Perhaps he
can make it go, after all. We've had good luck so far, all but this."
Jerry shook his head. He knew that without the batteries the machine
could not be operated. It was like trying to run an engine without a
fire under the boiler.
However, he set to work to repair what damage he could. With a small
soldering outfit he mended the hole in the water tank, stopping the
leak. Then, with an extra link, of which several were carried, the
broken chain was mended.
By this time Broswick came back with some partridges and rabbits and
a meal, though it lacked many extras, was soon in preparation. After
eating, Jerry went back to the machine. He took out the steering-post,
and, with the help of Nestor, straightened it. Then some other small
repairs were made, and, though the auto looked rather battered and
battle-scarred, the paint being scratched in many places, it was still
serviceable. All that was lacking was the battery box.
Jerry even filled the water tank from a nearby spring, and then, not
being able to do anything more, sat down on a stone and contemplated the
useless auto, with sad eyes.
"No use cryin' over spilt milk," said Nestor, with rude philosophy.
"What can't be cured must be endured. It's a long lane that has no
turns, an' the longest way 'round is the shortest way home."
"Git a hoss! Git a hoss!" exclaimed Broswick, suddenly.
"What's the matter with you?" asked Nestor. "Gone crazy or are you
gittin' your second childhood?"
"Git a hoss!" repeated the hunter, capering about like a schoolboy.
"What ails you?" demanded Nestor.
"Ain't that what the kids cry when they see a busted auto?" asked the
hunter. "Seems to me I've read that in the funny papers. Am I right?"
"You be," said Nestor. "But what's the use of rubbin' our misfortune
in?" he grumbled.
"I wasn't."
"Then what made you yell 'Git a horse'?"
"'Cause that jest's what you're goin' to do!"
"Say, did you sleep in the moonlight last night, 'cause you must have,
an' gone looney!" exclaimed Nestor. "You----" and then he stopped
suddenly, as he caught the hunter's idea. "Well, I'll be ding-busted!"
he finished, weakly.
"That's jest what you're goin' to do," went on the miner. "My Kate is
as strong a hoss as you'd want. We're goin' downhill most of the way,
anyhow, an' it'll be easy for Kate to pull the machine an' us in it.
There's a town about fifty miles ahead, an' maybe you can git some of
them batter-cakes there."
"Batter-cakes?" repeated Ned.
"Yes. Ain't them what you want?"
"Batteries--dry electric batteries," said Jerry, with a smile.
"Waal, that's what I meant, only I spelled it wrong. They keep minin'
supplies in this town, and they'll be sure to have batteries. Kate can
pull us that far if we go slow."
Broswick's suggestion was voted a good one. The spirits of all were
raised, and soon the hunter and Nestor busied themselves making a rude
sort of rope harness for the horse.
The animal did not seem to mind pulling the auto, and, after everything
had been collected, and some of the game the hunter had shot was packed
to be taken along for supper at the next stopping place, the start was
made.
It was slow traveling, compared to the former speed, but it was
sure. The slight down-grade helped the animal dragging the heavy
machine, which otherwise would have proved too much for one horse. The
adventurers rode in the car, and Ned steered.
It was decided there would be no night traveling now, for they wanted to
spare the horse as much as possible, and there was too much danger with
the uncertain method of locomotion. So, when it grew dusk, camp was made
and a fire built. Supper over, the travelers discussed the events of the
day until, one by one, they fell asleep, after posting Ned as guard.
The boy took up his position in the shadow of a big tree where he could
watch the auto and observe any one approaching within the circle of
firelight. He was sleepy, but he fought off the drowsiness. Again and
again his head would nod and he would just catch himself falling off
into a doze.
"Come, this will never do," he said, shaking himself wide awake. "I must
get a drink of water. Maybe that will make me feel more lively."
He walked over to where a pail of the liquid had been placed and took a
long draught. As he was walking back to his place he started as he saw a
bright shaft of light glaring through the trees about half a mile off to
the left.
"That looked like a searchlight," whispered the boy. The next instant
the unmistakable chug-chug of an automobile could be heard.