GOLD!
"Do you mean to stop the car and let them git ahead of us?" demanded
Nestor.
"I'm going to stop the car," replied Jerry, "but they're not going to
get ahead of us."
"How you goin' to prevent it?"
"I'll show you. Wait until we get to the bridge."
The two machines were close together and the bridge was now about an
eighth of a mile ahead. Suddenly Jerry shifted the lever to throw the
third gear into place, at the same time opening the throttle. The red
auto fairly sprang forward, leaving the other behind.
At first, Noddy, who was steering his machine, was too surprised at
Jerry's move to know what to do. When he did attempt to speed up, the
other car was several hundred feet in advance. Two minutes later Jerry
had reached the bridge and brought his auto to a stop.
"There!" he exclaimed. "I guess we can hold them here as long as we
like. The other car can't beat us, can it?"
"I should say not," answered Nestor. "You're a slick one, Jerry!"
For the bridge was so narrow that there was but room on it for one auto
at a time. With Noddy's car in the rear, it could not go ahead until
Jerry was ready.
"We'll all have a drink!" exclaimed Broswick. "I'm as dry as a
powder-horn myself."
There was a general rush to the stream, which proved to be a clear,
cold, mountain brook, and never did liquid taste better than that to the
thirsty adventurers. They had not half enough when Noddy's machine came
puffing up, but was forced to stop.
"Pull your machine out of there or I'll ram you!" he exclaimed.
"Oh, I guess not!" said Nestor, slowly. "This is a public road."
"I'll show you whether it is or not," went on the bully, in a blustering
tone, reaching for the lever to send his car ahead. His intention was to
push the other auto off the bridge.
"Not so fast," spoke Nestor, slowly, carelessly drawing his revolver
from the holster. "Those are very pretty tires of yours, but it's no fun
ridin' on 'em when the wind is out. So go easy, Mr. Noddy Nixon!"
"We'll fix you for this!" cried Dalsett.
"Oh, it's you, is it?" asked Nestor, in seeming surprise. "Well, I
wouldn't crow too soon if I was you. It might not be altogether healthy,
you know."
The other remained silent. The boys finished drinking, and, at
Broswick's suggestion, filled several cans with water, and placed them
in the auto.
"Come, are you going to stay there all day?" growled Noddy.
"As long as we please," answered Nestor. "We know what you're up to, but
we'll beat you yet."
"The mine belongs to whoever stakes it first," put in Dalsett.
"I see you know the law right enough," spoke Nestor. "But I wouldn't
advise you to get too well acquainted with it. There are some little
matters in New Mexico the law might want you to explain," and he smiled
at his former helper, whereat Dalsett turned pale and muttered beneath
his breath.
But, having satisfied their thirst, the adventurers had no longer any
motive for blockading the bridge. They started off, Jerry getting the
motor up to a good speed before throwing in the gear, so that the car
moved off swiftly at the start.
Like a flash, Noddy was after them. Once more the race was on. The sun
reached the zenith and began to decline in the west.
Nestor was greatly excited. He was on familiar ground now, and saw
landmarks on every side. As the auto passed a dead sycamore tree he
shouted:
"Only two miles farther now! Then, hurrah for the gold!"
The other machine clung doggedly to the Cresville auto. Jerry was going
as fast as he dared, and Noddy was close behind. A few minutes more
would tell the tale.
"One mile farther!" shouted Nestor.
The next instant there came a report like a revolver shot. Every one
started, thinking they had been fired at.
"They've busted a tire!" shouted Broswick. "I reckon that puts them out
of the race!"
Noddy was obliged to bring his machine to a sudden stop. There was a
scene of confusion as the crippled machine was forced to give up the
pursuit. Berry and Dalsett seemed to be urging Noddy to continue in
spite of the accident, but, rash as the bully was, he knew better than
to go on with a collapsed tire.
Jerry never slackened the speed of his auto, and rushed on, intent on
the goal that was now so near. Ten minutes later the road came to an
abrupt end against a slope of the mountain.
"Well?" asked Jerry, throwing out the gear and leaving the auto with the
motor still running, panting like one who has run a long race. "What
next? We can't go any farther."
"We don't need to," replied Nestor.
"Why not?"
"We're at the mine. It's on top of that hill," and Nestor indicated a
little knob that rose about two hundred feet away. "Come on, we'll take
a look at it."
Jerry shut off the power and, leaving Professor Snodgrass in charge of
the machine, the others climbed up to the mouth of the shaft of the
long-lost mine that Nestor had so luckily discovered.
A rude ladder led down into the depths below. Lighting some candles he
had with him, Nestor descended, telling the others to come, but to use
caution, as the ladders were old and rotten.
With hearts that beat high in hope, the boys went down into the mine.
The first level was about fifty feet under the surface. Coming to a
halt, Nestor lit several more tallow ends.
"Look!" he exclaimed.
The boys stared in wonder. Gold, gold, gold seemed to be on every side
of them. It cropped out in the dirt and rocks; big yellow veins that
glowed with a dull gleam in the flickering lights. The sides of the mine
were traversed with the streaks of precious metal. Most of it was very
pure, and it could be dug out with a knife.
"It's the richest mine I ever saw or heard of," said Nestor. "There's
enough gold in sight to make us all rich, even if no more develops as
we dig farther down. It's a great strike!"
"It certainly is," agreed Jerry. "But can we establish a claim to it?"
"The mine will stand in our joint names before another day," replied
Nestor. "I'll start for the Government office the first thing in the
morning, after I've staked a claim for each of us."
"Providin' Noddy Nixon an' his crowd don't make more trouble," spoke
Broswick.
"They're broke down," answered Nestor.
"Nothin' to prevent 'em from walkin' here," went on the hunter.
"Howsomever, if they come we'll be ready for 'em. Now let's git supper."
Taking a last look for the day at the riches around them, the
adventurers climbed to the surface. They went to where they had left
the automobile, made a fire and were soon preparing a simple meal.
Broswick's ready gun provided enough for supper and also insured a feast
of rabbit and partridge for the next day.
The adventurers were so filled with thoughts of their success at
reaching the mine first that they sat around the camp-fire until almost
midnight, going over the happenings that had befallen them on their
journey. Then, the first watch having been assigned to Nestor, all the
others sought their blankets, and stretched out on the ground to sleep.
The hours of the night passed without incident. There were no sounds
save, now and then, mournful hootings of the owls and the bark of foxes.
Jerry had the last watch, from three until six o'clock.
He was sleepy when Broswick aroused him to take his place, but soon was
wide awake enough.
"Anything happened?" he asked the hunter.
"No; but keep your eyes open. We have to deal with a hard crowd,
especially Dalsett. If you hear any one approaching, fire in the air
first and then challenge."
Jerry took up his vigil. To keep himself awake he walked back and forth
out of range of the light from the camp-fire. Once or twice he thought
he heard sounds as of some one approaching, and he nerved himself for a
struggle.
But each time it proved to be only timid foxes that, with startled eyes,
came to see who had invaded their woods and glens.
Just as dawn was about to herald itself by a pale light in the east,
Jerry heard a sound as of some heavy body coming through the underbrush.
He was on the alert in a moment. Peering forward, he saw the dim
outlines of a man approaching between the trees. The next instant Jerry
fired in the air, and called out:
"Who goes there?"
The reply was a volley of shots.