THE INDIAN AND THE AUTO
For a few moments the scientist who hoped he had discovered the fabled
power to transmute metals stared at the result of his latest trial. He
appeared lost in thought. Then he seemed to recollect that there were
strangers present.
"I am sorry my experiment did not succeed," he said in a more quiet
voice than he had yet used. "I hoped to show you what I can do. Well, I
must try again. I think I know where I made the error. I had too much
soda in the powder. I will use less next time."
"We are sorry to interrupt your experiments," put in the professor, "but
we are travelers, and our object in stopping here was to find out if you
could take us in for the night."
"Gladly," replied the old man. "There is a barn in the rear, but it
has not been occupied in years; not since I came here. You are welcome
to use that. Some of you can spend the night in the rear room. As for
me I shall not go to bed. I must start at once and make up some fresh
powders."
"I think perhaps we had all better sleep in the barn," said the
professor. "Then we will not disturb you at your labors."
The truth of it was Mr. Snodgrass saw that the aged man was not
altogether right in his head, and he preferred not to be too near in
case the fellow should suddenly become violent.
"Just as you like, just as you like," was the reply to the professor's
decision, and the chemist seemed to be dreaming over some problem he was
trying to solve.
"May we cook some of our food on your stove?" asked Jerry.
"Why certainly. I beg your pardon for not mentioning supper," spoke the
man, "but you see I am so used to getting a bite whenever I need it,
so as not to interrupt my work, that I forgot there is such a thing
as hospitality. Make yourselves at home, and, if you find anything in
the cupboards help yourselves. Meanwhile please excuse me if I do not
join you. I must go out and gather some roots and herbs I need in my
experiments."
He left the cabin, and, after bringing in some provisions from the
auto, having first ascertained that there were few in the cabin, the
travelers proceeded to make a meal.
"Do you suppose he can be the hermit of Lost Lake?" asked Bob.
"Well, he's certainly a hermit," spoke the professor, "but I don't
believe there's a lake of any kind about here. Certainly if he was the
hermit of the lake he would not be away off here. No, I am inclined to
think we shall never see the lost lake or the hermit either."
"Do you think it will be safe to stay here all night?" inquired Chunky.
"I think so," was the professor's reply. "You see we will be out in
another building, and we can fasten the door. If he tries to get in,
which I am sure he will not, he will make noise enough to awaken us."
"We could mount guard," suggested Ned.
"It will not be necessary," Mr. Snodgrass said.
Nor did the travelers find it so. After their meal, having left a good
supply of victuals for the old man in case he came back, they retired to
the rear building where they slept soundly.
After breakfast, which the old man did not spend more than five minutes
over, the travelers prepared to resume their trip.
"You had better stay one more night," urged the owner of the cabin.
"I feel sure that I shall be successful to-night. I have discovered a
new root. See, I call it gold threads," and he held up some bulbs that
had been dug from the ground. Clinging to them were small yellow fibres
or roots. "I found them last night, down in the hollow by the mineral
spring," the man went on. "I am sure they are just what I need. Please
stay; won't you?"
But the professor told him, as gently as possible, that they must keep
on. So, after bidding the gold-seeker good bye, and wishing him success,
the boys and Mr. Snodgrass proceeded, the auto puffing along at a good
rate.
The weather continued fine and the air was bracing and cool, for they
were well up among the foothills now. During the morning the road led up
a gentle slope, but at noon they camped on a sort of ridge that marked
the divide. On the other side was a vast plain, bounded at the further
side by tall mountains.
It was well along in the afternoon, when having descended to the plain,
the travelers found themselves bowling along a fine road, on either side
of which were rolling fields. Mile after mile was covered, everyone
enjoying the trip very much. The professor, however, was beginning to
show signs of uneasiness. He fidgeted about in his seat, and seemed
unable to remain quiet.
"What's the matter?" asked Bob at length.
"To tell you the truth," said the scientist, "I want to get out and get
some specimens, but I did not like to ask you, for I do not want to
delay the party."
They all voted that the professor should be given a chance to get as
many specimens as he wanted. Accordingly Jerry brought the car to a
stop, and the boys and the scientist got out.
As the engine had not been running as smoothly as was desirable Jerry
did not shut off the power, merely throwing out the gear clutches. He
said he wanted to have the cylinders warm up, and so the engine was left
going, though the car itself stood still.
The professor was soon busy gathering insects of various kinds from the
tall grass, and even crawling on his hands and knees over the ground.
The boys walked some distance off, to stretch their legs, for they were
a little tired of sitting still so long.
Suddenly Bob, who happened to glance back toward the auto, uttered a cry.
"Look!" he shouted. "Some one is stealing our car and going off in it!"
The others looked. The sight that met their eyes was enough to astonish
any one. Climbing into the automobile was a big Indian, attired in gay
colored blankets, a rifle slung across his back, while near him stood a
Pinto pony, clean-cut and wiry.
While they watched they saw the red man seat himself comfortably at the
steering wheel, reach forward to throw the gear clutch in place, and
then the car moved off, taking the Indian with it.
"Here! Come back!"
"Stop that auto!"
"Get out of that!"
These were some of the things the boys yelled at the bold thief. But
all of no avail. The Indian threw in the second gear, and the auto went
faster than before.
"Come on! We must catch him!" cried Jerry, and he began to run in the
direction the auto was fast disappearing in, down the road.
"We can never catch him," called Bob.
"Yes we can! He can't know anything about running an auto!" panted
Jerry. "He'll put on the brake or pull the wrong lever next, and the
machine will stop!"
"That is unless he blows it up first or smashes it," said Bob.
"What's the matter?" asked Mr. Snodgrass, appearing at this juncture.
Bob was the only one left to tell him, as Jerry and Ned were running
down the road at top speed. But it seemed that their race would be
useless, for the auto was now running on third gear. And, strangest of
all, the Indian seemed to know how to operate it. He kept a straight
course, and the puffing of the exhaust told Jerry that the engine was
running to perfection, with a good supply of gasolene, and the spark
coming regularly.
[Illustration: THE INDIAN SEEMED TO KNOW HOW TO OPERATE IT.]
"Who--ever--heard--of--an--Indian running--an--auto," panted Ned.
"Running--away--with--one--you--mean," said Jerry, his breathing labored.
Further and further away from the pursuing boys the auto went. It seemed
hopeless to keep after it, but neither Jerry nor Ned would give up.
They realized what it meant to lose their machine, though they could
not understand how an Indian, in all his wild regalia, would think of
getting into an auto.
Suddenly there sounded down the road the patter of hoof beats.
"Maybe that's more Indians," said Jerry turning around and slowing up in
his running.
"No," he added, "it's Bob on the Indian's pony. I wonder you or I
didn't think of that."
"He couldn't catch up with the auto if he had two ponies," growled Ned.
"The only chance is that the gasolene may give out, or the sparker
refuse to work, or that he may run into a sand bank," lamented Jerry.
"And there don't seem to be much chance of either taking place right
off," put in Ned. "Hark! What's that?"
From down the road sounded the _Toot! Toot!_ of the auto horn.
"It sounds as if he was coming back," said Jerry. Just then Bob caught
up to them on the pony.