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diff --git a/43917.txt b/43917.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 156a825..0000000 --- a/43917.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6795 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's The Motor Rangers Through the Sierras, by Marvin West - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Motor Rangers Through the Sierras - -Author: Marvin West - -Release Date: October 9, 2013 [EBook #43917] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOTOR RANGERS THROUGH SIERRAS *** - - - - -Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Emmy and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - -[Illustration: Straight and true it sped to its mark. The lion had -already crouched for a spring when Nat's missile was discharged. - - --Page 18.] - - - - -THE MOTOR RANGERS THROUGH THE SIERRAS - - - BY - - MARVIN WEST - AUTHOR OF "THE MOTOR RANGERS' LOST MINE," ETC. - - - NEW YORK - HURST & COMPANY - PUBLISHERS - - - - - Copyright, 1911, - BY - HURST & COMPANY - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - I. INTO THE SIERRAS 5 - II. BETWEEN TWO FIRES 17 - III. IN A RUNAWAY AUTO 31 - IV. MOTOR RANGERS TO THE RESCUE 43 - V. AN APPOINTMENT ON THE TRAIL 55 - VI. SOME RASCALS GET A SCARE 66 - VII. A PHOTOGRAPHER IN TROUBLE 77 - VIII. LOST IN A PETRIFIED FOREST 87 - IX. THE MIDNIGHT ALARM 99 - X. ALONG THE TRAIL 110 - XI. TREED! TWO HUNDRED FEET UP 125 - XII. NAT'S LUCKY ESCAPE 135 - XIII. THE VOLLEY IN THE CANYON 147 - XIV. A "LOONITACKER" HORSE 159 - XV. THE MOTOR RANGERS' PERIL 170 - XVI. THE HORNS OF A DILEMMA 181 - XVII. IN COLONEL MORELLO'S FORTRESS 191 - XVIII. A RIDE FOR LIFE 201 - XIX. OUTWITTING HIS ENEMIES 211 - XX. HERR MULLER GETS A CHILLY BATH 220 - XXI. THE FIRE IN THE FOREST 232 - XXII. A DASH THROUGH THE FLAMES 242 - XXIII. THE HUT IN THE MOUNTAINS 258 - XXIV. FACING THEIR FOES 272 - XXV. THROUGH THE FLUME 285 - - - - -The Motor Rangers Through the Sierras - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -INTO THE SIERRAS. - - -"Say Nat, I thought that this was to be a pleasure trip?" - -Joe Hartley, the perspiration beading his round, good-natured -countenance, pushed back his sombrero and looked up whimsically from -the punctured tire over which he was laboring. - -"Well, isn't half the pleasure of running an auto finding out how many -things you don't know about it?" laughingly rejoined Nat Trevor, the -eldest and most experienced of the young Motor Rangers, as they had -come to be called. - -"V-v-v-variety is the s-s-spice----" sputtered our old friend William, -otherwise Ding-dong Bell. - -"Oh, whistle it, Ding-dong," interjected Joe impatiently. - -"_Phwit!_" musically chirruped the stuttering lad. "Variety is the -spice of life," he concluded, his hesitating manner of speech leaving -him, as usual, following the puckering of his lips and the resultant -music. - -"That's no reason why we should be peppered with troubles," grumbled -Joe, giving the "jack" a vicious twist and raising the rear axle still -higher. "Here it is, only three days since we left Santa Barbara and -I'm certain that I've fixed at least four punctures already." - -"Well, you'll be a model of punctuality when----" grinned Nat -aggravatingly, but Joe had sprung from his crouching posture and made -for him threateningly. - -"Nat Trevor, if you dare to pun, I'll--I'll--bust your spark plug." - -"Meaning my head, I suppose," taunted Nat from a safe distance, namely, -a rock at the side of the dusty road. "'Lay on, Macduff.'" - -"Oh, I've more important things to go," concluded Joe, with as much -dignity as he could muster, turning once more to his tools. - -While he is struggling with the puncture let us look about a little and -see where the Motor Rangers, whom we left in Lower California, are now -located. As readers of "The Motor Rangers' Lost Mine" know, the three -bright lads with a companion, oddly named Sandrock Smith, had visited -the sun-smitten peninsula to investigate some mysterious thefts of -lumber from a dye-wood property belonging to Mr. Pomery, "The Lumber -King," Nat's employer. While in that country, which they only reached -after a series of exciting and sometimes dangerous incidents, they -stumbled across a gold mine in which Nat's father had, years before, -been heavily interested. - -Readers of that volume will also recall that Hale Bradford, the Eastern -millionaire, and his unscrupulous associates had made a lot of trouble -for Nat and his companions after the discovery. The exciting escape -of Nat in a motor boat across the waters of the Gulf of California -will also be called to mind, as well as the story of how matters -were finally adjusted and Nat became, if not a millionaire, at least -a very well-to-do young man. The gift of the auto in which they were -now touring was likewise explained. The splendid vehicle, with its -numerous contrivances for comfortable touring, had been the present of -Mr. Pomery to the lads, as a token of his esteem and gratitude for the -conclusion to which they had brought the dishonest dealings of Diego -Velasco, a Mexican employed by Mr. Pomery. - -On their return to California proper, the lads had spent a brief time -with their parents, and Nat had seen his mother ensconced in a pretty -house on the outskirts of Santa Barbara. It had been a great delight to -the lady to leave the tiny cottage in which straitened circumstances -following the death of Nat's father, had compelled them to live. Joe -Hartley, we know, was the son of a department store keeper of Santa -Barbara, and Ding-dong Bell was the only child of a well-to-do widow. -So much for our introductions. - -Inactivity had soon palled on the active minds of the Motor Rangers, -and they had, with the consent of their parents, planned another trip. -This time, however, it was to be for pleasure. As Nat had said, "We had -enough adventures in Lower California to last us a lifetime." But of -what lay ahead of them not one of the boys dreamed, when, three days -before, they had started from Santa Barbara for a tour of the Sierras. -Nat was desirous of showing that it was feasible to hunt and fish and -tour the mountains in an automobile just as well as on horseback. The -car, therefore, carried rifles and shot guns as well as fishing rods -and paraphernalia for camping. We shall not give an inventory of it -now. Suffice it to say that it was completely outfitted, and as the -details of the car itself have been told in the previous volume we -shall content ourselves with introducing each as occasion arises. - -The particular puncture which Joe was repairing when this volume opens, -occurred just as the lads were bowling over a rather rough road into -Antelope Valley, a narrow, wind-swept canyon between two steep ranges -of mountains. The valley is in the heart of the Sierras, and though -too insignificant to be noted on any but the largest maps, forms a -portion of the range well known to mountaineers. It is a few miles from -the Tehachapi Pass, at which, geographers are agreed, the true Sierra -Nevadas begin. - -"Say, fellows," exclaimed Nat suddenly, looking about him at the -sky which from being slightly overcast had now become black and -threatening, "we're going to have a storm of some sort. If you're ready -there, Joe, we'll be jogging along. We ought to be under shelter when -it hits." - -"Yes," agreed Joe, wiping his brow with the back of his hand, "it will -go whooping through this narrow valley like the mischief." - -As he spoke he lowered the "jack," and put the finishing touches on -his repair. The auto carried plenty of extra tires, but naturally the -boys wished to be sparing of their new ones while the others offered an -opportunity for a patch. - -As the first heavy rain drops fell, sending up little spurts of dust -from the dry road and the dusty chaparral bordering it, Nat started -the motor, and the car was soon whizzing forward at a good speed. -Thanks to its finely-tempered springs and the shock absorbers with -which it was equipped, the roughness of the road had little effect on -the comfort of the riders. - -"This is going to be a hummer," shouted Joe suddenly, "we'd better get -up the shelter hood." - -Nat agreed, and soon the contrivance referred to, which was like a low -"top" of waterproof khaki, was stretched on its collapsible frames. It -fitted all round the auto, enclosing it like a snug waterproof tent. In -front was a window of mica through which the driver could see the road. -The erection of the shelter took but a few seconds and presently the -car was once more chugging forward. - -But as the storm increased in violence, the wind rose, till it fairly -screamed through the narrow funnel of the rocky-walled valley. Through -his window Nat could see trees being bent as if they were buggy whips. - -"If this gets much worse we'll have to find cover," he thought, "or -else lose our shelter hood." - -He glanced apprehensively at the steel supports of the shelter, which -were bending and bowing under the stress put upon them. As Nat had -remarked to himself, they would not stand much more pressure. - -"Say, the rain is coming in here," began Joe suddenly, as a tiny -trickle began to pour into the tonneau. It came through a crack in the -khaki top which had been wrenched apart by the violence of the wind. - -"It's g-g-g-gone d-d-d-own the bab-b-b-back of my n-n-n-neck," -sputtered Ding-dong Bell protestingly. - -"Never mind, Ding-dong," comforted Joe, "maybe it will wash your parts -of speech out straight." - -"I'm going to head for that cave yonder," exclaimed Nat, after running -a few more minutes. - -He had spied a dark opening in the rocks to his right, while the others -had been talking, and had guessed that it was the mouth of a cave of -some sort. And so it proved. - -The auto was turned off the road, or rather track, and after bumping -over rocks and brush rolled into the shelter of the cavern. It seemed -quite an abrupt change from the warring of the elements outside to the -darkness and quiet of the chamber in the rocks, and the Motor Rangers -lost no time in lowering the hood and looking about to find out in what -sort of a place they had landed. - -So far as they could see, after they had all climbed out of the car, -the cave was a large one. It ran back and its limits were lost in -darkness. The mouth, however, was quite a big opening, being more than -twenty feet across at the base. It narrowed into a sharp-topped arch at -the summit, from which greenery hung down. - -"Let's see where we are," remarked Nat, taking off his heavy driving -gloves and throwing them upon the driver's seat. - -"You'd have to be a cat to do that," laughed Joe Hartley, gazing back -into the dense blackness of the cavern. - -"That's soon fixed," added Nat, and removing one of the lights of the -car from its socket he pressed a little button. A sharp click resulted, -and a flood of brilliant white radiance poured from the lamp. It was an -improved carbide contrivance, the illuminant which made the gas being -carried in its socket. - -The boy turned its rays backward into the cave, flooding the rough, -rocky walls, stained here and there with patches of dampness and moss, -with a blaze of light. - -"Say," cried Joe suddenly, as the rays fell far back into the cave but -still did not seem to reach its terminus, "what is that back there?" - -As he spoke he seized Nat's sleeve in a nervous, alarmed way. - -"What?" demanded Nat, holding the light high above his head in his -effort to pierce the uttermost shadows. - -"Why that--don't you see it?" cried Joe. - -"I do now," exclaimed Nat in a startled voice, "it's----" - -"T-t-t-two g-g-glaring eyes!" fizzed Ding-dong Bell. - -As he spoke, from behind the boys, came a low, menacing growl. They -faced about abruptly to see what this new source of alarm might be. - -As they all turned in the direction from which the growl had -proceeded--namely the mouth of the cave--a cry of dismay was forced -from the lips of the three lads. Stealthily approaching them, with -cat-like caution, was a low, long-bodied animal of a tawny color. Its -black-tipped tail was lashing the ground angrily, and its two immense -eyes were glaring with a green light, in the gloom of the cave. - -"A mountain lion!" cried Nat, recognizing their treacherous foe in an -instant. - -"And its mate's back there in the cave," called Joe, still more -alarmedly. - -"G-g-g-g-get the g-g-g-guns!" sputtered Ding-dong. - -This was far more easy to recommend than to accomplish, however. The -lads, never dreaming that they would want their weapons, had left them -in the automobile. The car, as will be recalled, had been left near the -mouth of the cave. The mountain lion advancing toward them had already -passed the auto and was now between them and the place in which their -weapons were reposing. - -The mountain lion, or cougar, ordinarily not dangerous unless it gets -its foe at an absolute disadvantage, becomes, during the mating season, -a vindictive, savage brute, if separated from its mate. That this was -now the case was evident. There was no room to doubt that the two green -eyes glaring from the remote blackness of the cave were the optics of -another "lion." - -The young Motor Rangers were fairly trapped. Without weapons or any -means of protecting themselves but their bare hands, they were in -imminent peril of a nasty conclusion to their sudden encounter. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -BETWEEN TWO FIRES. - - -Snarling in very much the manner of an angry cat, the lion, which had -appeared at the mouth of the cave, began to come forward more rapidly. -At the same instant, as if by mutual consent, his mate started to -advance from the rear of the cave. It was evident that if they did not -wish to be seriously injured, perhaps killed, the Motor Rangers would -have to act, and act quickly. - -But what were they to do? Nat it was who solved the question. The floor -of the cave was littered with boulders of various sizes, ranging from -stones of a pound or so in weight, up to huge rocks beyond a boy's -power to lift. - -Stooping down swiftly Nat selected a stone a little larger than a -baseball, and then throwing himself into a pitching posture, awaited -the oncoming cougar, approaching from the cave mouth. - -The boy had been the best pitcher the Santa Barbara Academy had ever -produced, and his companions saw in a flash that he meant to exercise -his skill now in a way of which he had little dreamed when on the -diamond. His hand described an evolution in the air, far too quick to -be followed by the eye. The next instant the stone left his grasp, and -swished through the atmosphere. - -Straight and true it sped to its mark. - -And it struck home none too quick. The lion had already crouched for a -spring on the defenseless lads, who stood between himself and his mate, -when Nat's missile was discharged. - -Crack! - -The sharp noise of the stone's impact with the skull of the crouching -feline sounded like a rifle shot. - -"Bull's-eye!" yelled Joe excitedly. - -And bull's-eye it was. The rock had a sharp edge which Nat, in his -haste, had not noticed. As it struck the lion's head it did so with the -keen surface foremost. Like a knife it drove its way into the skull -and the lion, with a howl of pain and fury, turned, stumbled forward a -few paces, and then rolled over. - -Before the others could stop him, Ding-dong Bell, entirely forgetting -the other lion, dashed forward to examine the fallen monster. The -result of his action was that his career came very near being -terminated then and there. The cougar had only been stunned, and as the -stuttering boy gave one of its ears a tug, it leaped erect once more -and struck a blow at him with its chisel-like claws that would have -torn him badly had they struck. - -But Ding-dong, though deliberate in his speech, was quick in action. He -leaped backward like an acrobat, as he saw the mighty muscles tauten -for action, and so escaped being felled by the blow. He could feel it -"swish" past his nose, however, and entirely too close to be pleasant. - -In the meantime, Nat, realizing that his best move would be to get to -their arms, had made a flying leap for the auto and seized an automatic -rifle of heavy calibre. As Ding-dong leaped back he aimed and fired, -but in the darkness he missed, and with a mighty bound the wounded -cougar leaped out of the cave and dashed off through the storm into the -brush on the hillside above. - -"One!" exclaimed Nat, like Monte Cristo in the play. - -The others gave a low laugh. They could afford not to worry so much -now. True, there was one of the cougars still back in the cave, but -with their rifles in their hands the lads had little to fear. - -"I felt for a minute, though, like I did that time the Mexican devil -sprang on me near the gulf village," said Nat, recalling one of his -most perilous moments in Lower California. - -But there was little time for conversation. Nat had hardly uttered -his last remark before the cougar at the rear of the cave began to -give signs that it too was meditating an attack. There are few animals -that will not fight desperately when cornered, even a rat making a -formidable foe sometimes under such conditions, and cornered the -cougar unquestionably was. - -"She's coming," warned Joe in a low voice, as a rumbling growl -resounded above the roar of the storm outside. - -"L-l-let her c-c-come," sputtered Ding-dong defiantly. - -"Better climb into the car, boys," said Nat in a whispered tone, "we -can get better aim from an elevation." - -Accordingly they clambered into the tonneau of the motor vehicle, and -kneeling on the seat awaited the onslaught which they knew must come in -a few seconds. - -"I've half a mind to let her go, if we can without putting ourselves in -danger," said Nat, "it doesn't seem fair somehow to shoot down a poor -brute in cold blood." - -"But that poor brute would attack you without hesitation if you lay -injured on a trail," Joe reminded him; "these cougars, too, kill -hundreds of sheep and young calves, just for the sheer love of -killing, for half of what they kill they never touch." - -"That's right," agreed Nat, "still fair play is a jewel, and----" - -Further words were taken out of his mouth by something that occurred -just at that instant, and settled the fate of the cougar then and there. - -Ding-dong Bell, whose unlucky day it seemed to be, had, in his -excitement, been leaning far over the back of the tonneau, peering -into the darkness at the rear of the cave. He was trying to detect the -shadowy outlines of the cougar. A few seconds before Joe Hartley had -said:-- - -"Look out, Ding-dong, or you'll go overboard." - -The stuttering youth's reply had been a scornful snicker. But now, -however, he craned his neck just a bit too far. His upper quarters -over-balanced his stumpy legs and body, and with a howl that rivalled -the cougar's, he toppled clean over the edge of the tonneau. - -The floor of the cave sloped steeply toward the rear, and when -Ding-dong struck it he did not stop. Instead, the momentum lent him -by his fall appeared to propel him forward down the sloping floor. -He yelled for help as he felt himself rapidly and involuntarily being -borne toward the hidden cougar. - -By some mysterious combination of misfortune, too, the carbide in the -lamp, which had not been renewed since they left Santa Barbara, gave -out with a flicker and a fizz at this moment. The cave was plunged -into almost total darkness. Nat's heart came into his throat as he -realized that if the cougar was not killed within the next few seconds, -Ding-dong's life might pay the forfeit. - -"Good gracious!" shouted Joe above poor Ding-dong's cries, "how are we -going to see to shoot?" - -"Aim at the eyes," grated out Nat earnestly, "it's our only chance." - -As he spoke there came an angry snarl and a hissing snort. It mingled -with a shout of alarm from Ding-dong, who had now stopped rolling, but -was not yet on his feet. The she-cougar had seen his peril and had -taken the opportunity to bring down at least one of her enemies. - -Straight up, as if impelled by a powerful steel spring, she shot. But -even as she was in mid-spring two rifles cracked, and with a convulsive -struggle the great tawny body fell with a thud to the floor of the -cave, clawing and scratching and uttering piercing roars and cries. - -"Put her out of her misery," said Nat, as Ding-dong, having regained -his feet, darted at the top of his speed for the mouth of the cave. - -Once more the rifles blazed away at the two green points of fire which -marked the wounded cougar's eyes. This time dead silence followed -the reports, which reverberated deafeningly in the confines of the -cave. There was no doubt but that the animal was dead. But where was -Ding-dong? - -His companion Motor Rangers looked anxiously about them, but could see -nothing of him. In the excitement they had not noticed him dart by. -Presently, however, a slight noise near the cave month attracted their -attention. There was Ding-dong out in the rain, and drenched to the -skin, peering into the cave. - -"C-a-can I c-c-c-come in?" he asked hesitatingly. - -"Yes, and hurry up, too," ordered Nat in as stern a voice as he could -command. "Your first duty," he went on, "will be to dig down in the -clothes chest and put on dry things. Then you will refill the lamps -with carbide, which you ought to have done two days ago, and after that -you may patch up the tear the wind made in our shelter hood." - -"And--phwit--after that?" inquired Ding-dong with so serious an aspect -that they had to laugh. - -"I'll think up something to keep you out of mischief," said Nat finally. - -While Ding-dong set about his tasks after investing himself in dry -clothes, the others skinned the cougar and kindled a fire with some -driftwood that lay about the cave. Hot coffee was then brewed, and -some of the stores opened. After imbibing several cups of the steaming -mixture, and eating numerous slices of bread and butter, the Motor -Rangers felt better. - -By this time, too, the storm had almost passed over, only a slight -drizzle remaining to tell of the visit of the mountain tempest. An -investigation of the cave failed to show any trace of a regular den in -it, and the boys came to the conclusion, which was probably correct, -that the cougars had merely taken to it for shelter from the storm. -However that was, all three of them felt that they had had a mighty -narrow escape. Ding-dong inwardly resolved that from that time on -he would take care to have the lamps packed with carbide, for Nat's -relation of how nearly the sudden cessation of the light had cost him -his life gave the stuttering youth many qualms. - -"I guess the storm is about over," said Joe, looking out of the cave -while holding a tin cup of coffee in his hand. - -"I see enough blue sky to m-m-m-make a pair of pants for every -s-s-s-s-sailor in the navy," remarked Ding-dong, who had joined him. - -"That's a sure sign of clearer weather," said Nat, "come on, boys, -pack up the cups and get the car ready and we'll go ahead." - -"Where are we going to stop to-night?" asked Joe. "I guess we can't be -many miles from Lariat, can we?" - -"I'll see," rejoined Nat, diving into his breast pocket and pulling out -a map stoutly mounted on tough linen to prevent tearing. He pored over -it for a moment. - -"The map puts Lariat about fifteen miles from here," he said. - -"What sort of a p-p-p-lace is it?" Ding-dong wished to know. - -"A small post-office station," rejoined Nat. "I don't imagine that -there is even a hotel there." - -Ding-dong, who didn't object to the luxuries of life, sighed. Somehow, -he had been looking forward to stopping at a hotel that night. He said -nothing, however, well knowing how his complaints would be received. - -The auto was soon moving out of the cave in which they had had so -exciting an encounter. Nat was at the wheel and his two companions in -the tonneau. The faces of all were as beaming as the weather had now -turned out. These boys dearly loved the sensation of taking to the road -and proceeding on into the unknown and adventurous. - -The rough strip separating the road, as we must in courtesy call it, -from the steep rock-face in which the cave lay, was speedily traversed -and the auto's nose headed north. For some time they bowled along at -a slow speed, the track growing rapidly rougher and rougher, till it -seemed that nothing on wheels could get over it. - -"What's the m-m-m-matter?" asked Ding-dong suddenly of Joe Hartley, who -for a bumpy mile or two had sat with his head cocked on one side as if -listening intently for something. - -"I'm listening for a puncture," grinned Joe, resuming his posture of -attention. - -As the road grew rougher the walls of the valley began to close in. -They grew more lofty as the pass grew narrower, till only a thin strip -of blue sky showed at the summit. The rugged slopes were clothed with -a sparse growth of pine timber and chaparral. Immense faces of rock -cropped out among these. The whole scene had a wild and savage aspect. - -Suddenly they reached a spot where the road took an abrupt dip -downward. From the summit the descent looked as steep as the wall of -a house. Fortunately, they carried an emergency brake, so that the -steepness of the declivity did not alarm them. Without hesitating -Nat allowed the car to roll over the summit and begin the drop. The -exhilaration of the rapid motion made him delay applying his emergency -just as soon as he should have, and the car had been running at -considerable speed when there came a sudden shout from Joe:-- - -"Look, Nat! Look!" - -The boy, who had been adjusting his spark lever, looked up suddenly. -They were just rounding a curve, beyond which the road pitched down -more steeply than ever. - -At the bottom of the long hill stood an obstacle. Nat at a glance -made it out as a stage coach of the old-fashioned "thorough-brace -type." It was stationary, however, and its passengers stood about it -in scattered groups, while, so far as Nat could see, no horses were -attached to it. - -"Better go slow. There seems to be something the matter down there at -the bottom of the grade," the boy remarked. - -At the same instant his hand sought the emergency brake lever and he -pushed it forward. - -There was a loud crack as he did so, and an alarmed look flashed across -his face as the lever suddenly felt "loose" in his hand. The car seemed -to give an abrupt leap forward and plunge on more swiftly than ever. - -Below him Nat could see the scattered figures pointing upward -excitedly. He waved and yelled to warn them that he had no control -over the car which was tearing forward with the speed of the wind. The -ordinary brake had no effect on it under the speed it had now gathered. -Lurching and plunging like a ship at sea, it rushed onward. - -Directly in its path, immovable as a rock, was the stage coach. All -three of the Motor Rangers' bronzed, sunburned faces blanched as they -rushed onward to what seemed inevitable disaster. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -IN A RUNAWAY AUTO. - - -"Can't you stop her?" gasped Joe, clutching the forward portion of the -tonneau and gripping it so tight that his knuckles went white. - -Nat shook his head. He felt that he had done what he could to slow down -the car. There was nothing left now but to face the end as resolutely -as possible. As long as they lived the Motor Rangers never forgot that -wild ride down the mountainside in a runaway car. - -The speed can be described by no other word than terrific. The -handkerchiefs all three of the boys wore about their necks to keep off -sunstroke and dust streaked out behind as stiff as if cut out of tin. -Their hair was blown back flat on their heads by the speed, and every -now and then the car would strike a rock, which at the speed it was -going would throw it high into the air. At such moments the auto would -come back to the trail with a crash that threatened to dislocate every -spring in its composition. - -But Nat, his eyes glued to the path in front of him, clung to the -wheel, gripping it till the varnish stuck to his palms. He knew that -the slightest mistake on his part might precipitate the seemingly -certain disaster. Suddenly, however, his heart gave a glad bound. - -He saw before him one loophole of escape from a catastrophe. The stage -was halted against the rocky wall on the right-hand side of the trail. -So far over toward the rocky wall was it, in fact, that its hubs almost -scraped it. This left a narrow space between its left-hand wheels and -the other wall of the pass. - -True, it looked so narrow that it hardly seemed possible that the auto -could dash through, but it was the only chance that presented itself, -and Nat was quick to take advantage of it. As they saw what the boy -intended to do the onlookers about the stage broke into a cheer, which -was quickly checked as they held their breath in anticipation. It was -one chance in a thousand that Nat was taking. Would he win out? - -Closer thundered the auto while the alarmed stage passengers crowded -to the far side of the pass. Nat, his eyes glued on the narrow space -between the stage and the wall of rock, bent low over the wheel. His -heart underwent a terrible sinking sensation as it grew closer and he -saw how narrow the space was. But he didn't give up on that account. On -the contrary, the extremely narrow margin of hope acted as a tonic on -his nerves. - -As a naval gunner aims his big projectiles so Nat aimed the thundering -runaway automobile for the narrow opening between the stage and the -cliff. - -Almost before he realized it he was there. - -There was a quick flash of a brightly painted vehicle and white, -anxious human faces as he shot by the stage and its dismounted -passengers. - -An ominous scraping sound was audible for an instant as the hubs of the -stage and the auto's tonneau came in contact. To the left, Nat felt -the scrub growing in the cracks of the rock brush his face, and then, -amidst a shout of joy from behind, the auto emerged beyond the stage, -unharmed save for a few scratches. - -As Nat brought it to a standstill on the level, the travellers came -running up at top speed. All were anxious to shake the hand of the -daring boy who had turned seeming disaster into safety by his grit and -cool-headedness. - -"Pod'ner, you jammed that thar gas brigantine through that lilly hole -like you wos makin' a poket at bill-yards," admiringly cried a tall -man in a long linen duster and sombrero, about whose throat was a red -handkerchief. He grasped Nat's hand and wrung it as if he would have -shaken it off. - -"My name's Cal Gifford. I'm the driver of the Lariat-to-Hombre stage," -he announced, "and any of you kids kin ride free with me any time -you've a mind to." - -"Thank you," said Nat, still a bit trembly from his nervous strain, "I -really believe that if you only had horses we'd accept your invitation -and tow the auto behind." - -As he spoke he started to scramble out of the car, the others following -his example. The Motor Rangers were anxious to see what had gone wrong -with their ordinarily trustworthy vehicle. - -"Oh, he's quite young," simpered an elderly lady in a big veil, who was -accompanied by her daughter, a girl of about twenty. An old man with -fierce white whiskers stood beside them. They were evidently tourists. -So, too, was a short, stout, blonde little man as rotund as a cider -keg, who stepped up to the boys as they prepared to examine their car. - -"Holt, plez!" he said in an authoritative voice. "I vish to take zee -phitograft." - -Nat looked somewhat astonished at so curt an order, but the other two -Motor Rangers merely grinned. - -"Better let him, pod'ner," suggested Cal Gifford. "He took them road -agents a while back. Caught 'em in the act of sneaking the express -box." - -"Chess!" sputtered the little German. "I gedt find pigdures of all of -dem. Dey vossn't looking andt I--click!" - -As he spoke he rapidly produced a camera, and before the boys knew -what was happening he had pressed a little lever, and behold they were -"taken." But, in fact, their minds had been busy with something else. -This something was what the stage driver had referred to. - -"Road agents?" asked Nat. "You've been held up, then?" - -"Yep, pod'ner, that's what it amounts to," drawled Cal nonchalantly, as -if it were the most ordinary thing in the world. - -"The varmints stepped out frum behind that thar rock and we didn't hev -time ter say 'Knife' afore we found ourselves lookin' inter the muzzles -of as complete a collection of rifles as you ever saw." - -"Un dey tooked avay der horses by der oudtside," put in the German -tourist. "Oh, I schall have me fine tales to tell ven I get me pack by -der Faderland." - -"The Dutchman's right," said Cal. "The onnery skunks unhitched our -plugs and scampered 'em off up the trail. I reckon they're in their -barn at Lariat by this time." - -"Oh, dear, and we'll have to walk," cried the young lady, bursting into -tears. - -"And I haf vot you call it, a oatmeal?--py my pig toe," protested the -German. - -"I guess you mean a corn, Dutchy," laughed Cal. - -"Vell, I knowed it vos some kindt of cereal," was the reply. - -"Seems a shame to see that purty critter cry, don't it?" said Cal, -nodding his head sidewise toward the weeping young lady. - -"This is an outrage! An outrage, I say!" her white-whiskered father -began shouting. "Why were those highwaymen not shot down? Why didn't -somebody act?" - -"Well, pod'ner, you acted up fer sure," grinned Cal. "Am I mistaken or -did I hear you say you'd give 'em five thousand dollars for your life?" - -"Bah!" shouted the white-whiskered man. "It was your duty sure to -protect us. You should have fired at them." - -"I'd hev bin a hull lot uv use to yer then, except fer funeral poposes, -wouldn't I?" inquired Cal calmly. - -"Bah! sir, bah!" sputtered the angry old gentleman. - -"Good thing ther h'aint no mounting lions 'round," drawled Cal. "They -might think we wuz an outfit of sheepmen by all the bah-bahing we be -doin'." - -"But how is my daughter to get to Lariat, sir?" begged the elderly -lady. "She hurt her foot in getting off the stage." - -"Well, ma'am," said Cal, "supposing yer man yonder takes a try at -carryin' her instead of wasting wind a-bahing?" - -"Voss iss diss bah? Maybe I get a picture of him?" asked the German, -bustling up excitedly with his camera all ready for business. - -"Oh, sir, my husband was excited. He didn't know what he was saying," -exclaimed the elderly lady clasping her hands. - -"There, ma'am, don't take on. I was only a-having my bit of fun," said -Cal. "Maybe when these boys get their gasoline catamarang fixed up -they'll give us a ride." - -"But they cannot take all of us, sir," cried the lady, beginning to -weep afresh. - -"There, there, ma'am, never mind ther irrigation--I mean 'Weep not them -tears,'" comforted Cal. "Anyhow, you and your daughter can get a ride." - -"But my husband--my poor husband, sir." - -Cal turned with a grin at a sudden noise behind them. The -white-whiskered man had now turned his wrath on the unfortunate German. - -"Out of my sight, you impudent Teuton," he was shouting. "Don't -aggravate me, sir, or I'll have your blood. I'm a peaceable tourist, -sir, but I have fought and bled in my time." - -"Must hev bin bit by a mosquito and chased it," commented Cal to -himself as the lady hastened to console her raging better half, and the -little Dutchman skipped nimbly out of harm's way. - -"What yo' bin a-doing to ther ole bell-wether, Dutchy?" inquired Cal. - -"I ask him if he blease tell me vere I can get a picture of dot Bah, -und he get madt right avay quvick," explained the Teuton. - -While all this had been going on among the tourists and Cal, the -other passengers, mainly mountaineers, had stood in a group aside -talking among themselves. In the meanwhile, the Motor Rangers had been -examining the damage to their car. They found that the connecting -rod working the band of the emergency brake had snapped, and that a -blacksmith would be needed to weld it. Cal, who had strolled up in time -to hear this decision, informed them that there was a blacksmith at -Lariat. - -"And a good 'un, too," he volunteered. - -The stage driver then made a request for a ride on behalf of the young -lady and her parents. - -"Me and the Dutchman and the rest kin hoof it," he remarked. "It ain't -above five mile, and down grade, too." - -"A steep grade?" asked Nat, with some appearance of interest as Joe -finished unbolting the loose ends of the broken rod. - -"No, jest gentle. It runs on 'bout this way all down into Lariat." - -"Well, then," said Nat, with a smile, "I'll save you all the trouble of -walking." - -"How's that, pod'ner? We kain't all pile in the hold of that benzine -buggy." - -"No; but I can give you a tow." - -"What, hitch my stage on ahind your oleomargerinerous gas cart?" - -"That's it." - -"By the big peak of Mount Whitney, that's an idee!" exclaimed the -delighted stage driver, capering about and snapping his fingers like a -big child. "Wait a jiffy, I'll explain it all to Bah-bah and the rest." - -This was soon done, and the Motor Rangers in the interval attached a -rope to the rear axle of the car and in turn made it fast to the front -of the stage. The pole of the latter vehicle was then led over the -tonneau of the auto and Joe and Ding-dong deputed to steer. From the -driver's box of the stage Cal worked the brake. - -An experimental run of a few yards was made, and on the gentle grade -the plan was found to work perfectly, the auto towing the heavy stage -without difficulty. - -"Now, then, all aboard the stagemotebubble!" shouted Cal, and a few -minutes later all the passengers, delighted with the novelty of the -experience, had piled on board. All delighted, that is, except the -white-whiskered man. - -"All aboard that's a-goin' ter get thar!" bellowed Cal, fixing him with -a baleful eye. - -"Bah! Bah!" sputtered the white-whiskered one indignantly, nevertheless -skipping nimbly on beside his wife and daughter. - -But there came a fresh delay. - -"Holt on, blease! Vait! I vish a photegrift to take him!" - -"Ef yer don't hurry up Dutchy," shouted Cal, "you'll hev a picter of -yerself a-walking inter Lariat." - -But the photo was taken without delay, and amid a cheer from her -overjoyed passengers, the stage, which moved by such novel means, -rumbled onward on its way to Lariat. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -MOTOR RANGERS TO THE RESCUE. - - -"That came pretty near being like the time we collided with the hay -wagon in Lower California," commented Joe, as the auto got under way, -with her cumbersome tow rattling along behind. - -"Yes, only this time we didn't hit," laughed Nat, who had quite -recovered from the strain of those terrible moments when it seemed that -they must go crashing into the stage. - -"A m-m-m-miss is as g-g-g-good as a m-m-m-mile any day," said -Ding-dong, as his contribution to the conversation. - -As Cal Gifford had said, the road was a gentle gradient between steep -mountain ranges. Consequently, the towing of the coach was an easy -matter. The two boys in the tonneau steered it by giving the pole a -push or a tug as occasion required--much as they would have handled -the tiller of a boat. When the stage showed signs of coming ahead too -fast Cal shoved the foot brake forward, at once checking the impetus. - -Quite a small crowd turned out to witness the strange scene as the two -vehicles rolled into Lariat. The place was a typical western mountain -station. There was a small post-office, two or three rough houses -and a hotel. In the heydey of gold mining, Lariat had been quite a -flourishing place, but the hand of decay was upon it at the present -time. The hotel, however, was, as Ding-dong noticed, apparently open -for business. At least several loungers arose from their chairs on -the porch, and came forward with exclamations of surprise, as the two -conveyances lumbered into town. - -Nat shut off power in front of the post-office and at the same time -Cal applied and locked the brakes, bringing the stage likewise -to a standstill. The postmaster, a long, lanky Westerner, with a -much-patched pair of trousers tucked into boot tops, was already out in -front of his little domain. - -"Ther horses be back in ther barn," he volunteered, as Cal looked at -him questioningly. "They come galloping in here like a blue streak an -hour ago." - -"Yep, bin held up again," Cal volunteered as the crowd gathered about -the stage, "and ef it hadn't been for these bubble boys here we -wouldn't hev got inter town yit." - -"Take everything, Cal?" asked the postmaster. - -"Yep; stock, lock and barrel, as the feller says. Left us our -vallibles, though. I reckon they would have taken them if it hadn't bin -for the noise this here gasolene giglet made as it come over ther hill. -Thet scared 'em, and they galloped off, takin' ther plugs with 'em." - -"Consarn 'em! I reckon they're some of Col. Merced Morello's gang. -They've bin active hereabouts lately. Jes heard afore you come in thet -they'd raided a ranch up north an' tuk two hundred head of stock." - -"Outrageous! Outrageous!" exclaimed the white-whiskered man, who had -been listening with an angry, red countenance, "why does not some one -capture them?" - -"Well, sir," rejoined the postmaster, "if you kin tell us whar ter find -'em we'll furnish ther men to smoke 'em out. But up to date no one -ain't bin able ter git a glimpse of 'em. They jes' swoop down and then -vanish ag'in." - -"They've got some hidin' place off in the mountins," opined Cal; "but -you can bet that the old colonel's foxy enough ter keep it close, -wherever it is." - -"Betcher life," said one or two in the crowd who had heard. - -While this had been going on the Motor Rangers had been hard at work -unhitching their car from the stage. In this operation they had been -considerably bothered by the crowd which, never having seen an auto -before, elbowed right up and indulged in comment and investigation. -Ding-dong caught one bewhiskered old fellow in the very act of -abstracting a spark plug. The boy promptly switched on the current and -the investigator, with a wild yell, hopped backward into the crowd, -wringing his hand. - -"The critter bit me," he explained to the crowd. Such was his -explanation of the sharp electric shock he had received. - -The proprietor of the hotel now hastened up, and began urging the -passengers on the stage to stay the night in his hotel. Another stage -went on from Lariat, and after a run of sixty miles struck the railroad -in the valley. This stage was to start in half an hour. After a hasty -meal the white-whiskered man and his family, and several of the other -passengers, decided to continue their journey. The boys, however, after -a consultation, came to the determination to spend the night at Lariat. - -Their first care had been to hunt up the blacksmith Cal had referred -to, and to give into his hands the connecting rod. He promised to have -it welded as good as new by morning. This arranged, the boys sauntered -back to the hotel just in time to watch the other stage pull out. On a -rear seat sat the white-whiskered man. He was still boiling, despite -the fact that the robbers had not harmed him or his family in any way. -In fact, he occasionally simmered over. - -The last the boys saw of him he had gotten hold of a fat, good-natured -little man, who looked like a drummer, and they could hear frequent -exclamations of "Bah!" coming back toward them, like the explosions of -a rapid-fire gun. A moment later the stage vanished behind a rocky turn -in the road. - -Soon after the boys were called in to supper. Among the company at the -meal was a tall man with a black mustache drooping down each side of -his mouth in typical Western fashion. - -"He looks like the pictures of Alkali Ike," remarked Joe in an -undertone as they concluded the meal and arose, leaving the -black-mustached man and the others still eating. - -Outside they found it was a beautiful night. The storm of the afternoon -had laid the dust, and the moon was rising brilliantly in the clear and -sharp atmosphere peculiar to the high regions of the Sierras. In the -silvery radiance every rock and bush was outlined sharply. The road -lay between black curtains of mountainside, like a stretch of white -ribbon. - -"Let's go for a stroll," suggested Nat, as they stood about on the -veranda wondering what they could do with themselves till bedtime. - -The other two were nothing loath, and so, without bothering to say a -word to any one, the lads sauntered off down the road. The balmy scent -of pines and the mountain laurel hung heavily in the air. Nat inhaled -it delightedly. - -"I tell you, fellows, this is living," he exclaimed. - -"You bet," agreed Joe heartily. - -"T-t-t-that p-p-pie was f-f-fine," said the unpoetical Ding-dong, -smacking his lips at the recollection of the dessert. - -"There you go," said Nat in mock disgust, "always harping on eating." - -"T-th-that's b-b-better-phwit--than eating on harpoons, isn't it?" -asked Ding-dong, with a look of injured innocence. - -"I said harping on eating. Not harpoons on eating," retorted Nat. - -"Oh," said Ding-dong. "Well, don't wail about it." - -"Say, if you make any more puns I'll chuck you down into that canyon," -threatened Joe, pointing downward into a black abyss which, at the -portion of the road they had now reached, yawned to one side of the -thoroughfare. - -"You make me chuckle," grunted the incorrigible Ding-dong, avoiding the -threatened fate, however, by clambering and hiding behind a madrone -tree. - -"Tell you what I'll do," cried Nat suddenly. - -"Well, what?" demanded Joe, as Nat stopped short. - -"I'll run you fellows a race to the bottom of the hill." - -"You're on," cried Ding-dong from his retreat, and emerging immediately -thereafter, "don't bust your emergency brake though, or we'll have more -trouble." - -He peered ahead down the moonlit canyon, and noted that the road was -quite steep for a distance of about a quarter of a mile. - -The boys were all good runners and experts, in fact, at all branches -of athletics. Their blood fairly tingled as Nat lined them up and they -stood awaiting the word "go." - -At last it came. - -Like arrows from so many bows the three boys shot forward, Ding-dong -in the lead. How his stubby legs did move! Like pistons in their speed -and activity. There was no question about it, Ding-dong could run. Five -feet or so behind him came Joe and at his rear was Nat, who, knowing -that he was ordinarily a faster runner than either, had handicapped -himself a bit. - -He speedily overhauled the others, however, although Ding-dong gave him -a stiff tussle. Reaching the finishing line, Nat looked back up the -moonlit road. Ding-dong and Joe were speeding toward him neck and neck. - -"Go it, Ding-dong!" yelled Nat, "come on, Joe." - -In a cloud of dust and small rocks the two contestants rushed on. -Suddenly one of Ding-dong's feet caught in a rock, and at the impetus -he had attained, the sudden shock caused him to soar upward into the -air, as if he were about to essay a flight through space. - -Extending his arms spread-eagle fashion, the fleshy, stuttering youth -floundered above the ground for a brief second, and then, as Joe dashed -across the line he came down with a resounding crash. Flat on his face -he fell in the middle of the dusty road. - -"Pick him up," exclaimed Nat as he saw the catastrophe. - -Joe, who had by this time checked his speed, headed about after Nat, -and started for the recumbent Ding-dong. As they neared his side, -however, the lad jumped up with a grin on his rotund features. - -"Fooled you, didn't I?" he chuckled. - -"Goo--d gracious. I thought you had fractured every bone in your body," -exclaimed Nat. - -"Can't hurt me; I'm made of cast-iron," snickered Ding-dong. - -"I always knew that applied to your head," said Joe, determined to -tease the boy a bit in revenge for the fright he had given them, "but I -never realized before that the complaint had spread all over you." - -"I'd have won the race anyhow if I hadn't taken that tumble," retorted -Ding-dong, and as this seemed to be no more than the truth the others -had nothing to say in rejoinder. - -"I guess we had better be getting back to the hotel," said Nat, "we -want to get an early start to-morrow, so a good night's sleep will be -in order." - -But the words were hardly out of his mouth before he stopped short. - -The boy had heard voices, apparently coming from the air above them. -He soon realized, however, that in reality the speakers were on the -mountain-side above them. In fact, he now saw that a trail cut into -the road above the point at which they stood. In their dash down the -hill they had not noticed it. The other lads, who had also heard the -voices, needed no comment to remain quiet. - -While they stood listening a figure appeared on the trail, walking -rapidly down it. As the newcomer drew closer the boys recognized -the features and tall, ungainly outline of the man with the black -mustache--"Alkali Ike." He came forward as if with a definite purpose -in mind. Evidently, he was not, like the boys, out for a moonlight -stroll. - -As he approached he stopped and listened intently. Then he gave a low, -peculiar whistle. It was like the call of a night bird. - -Instantly, from the hill-side above them they heard the signal--for -such it seemed--replied to. - -At the same instant whoever was on the hillside above began to advance -downward. The boys, crouching back in a patch of shadow behind a -chaparral clump, could hear the slipping and sliding of their horses' -hoofs as they came down the rocky pathway. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -AN APPOINTMENT ON THE TRAIL. - - -"Something's up," whispered Joe, as if this fact was not perfectly -obvious. - -"Hush," warned Nat, "that fellow who just came down the trail is the -chap we noticed at supper." - -"Alkali Ike?" - -"Yes. That's what you called him." - -"He must have a date here." - -"Looks that way. If I don't miss my guess he's here to meet whoever is -coming on horseback down that trail." - -"Are you going to stay right here?" - -"We might as well. I've got an idea somehow that these chaps are up to -some mischief. It doesn't look just right for them to be meeting way -off here." - -"That's right," agreed Joe, "but supposing they are desperate -characters. They may make trouble for us." - -"I guess not," rejoined Nat, "we're well hidden in the shadow here. -There's not a chance of their seeing us." - -"Well I hope not." - -But the arrival of the horsemen on the trail put a stop to further -conversation right then. There were two of them, both, so far as the -boys could see, big, heavy men, mounted on active little ponies. Their -long tapaderos, or leather stirrup coverings, almost touched the ground -as they rode. - -"Hello, Al," exclaimed one of them, as the black mustached man came -forward to meet them. - -"Hello, boys," was the rejoinder in an easy tone as if the speaker had -no fear of being overheard, "well, you pulled it off I see." - -"Yes, and we'd have got more than the express box too if it hadn't been -for the allfiredest noise you ever heard at the top of the trail all of -a sudden. It came just as we was about ter go through ther pockets of -the passengers. Sounded like a boiler factory or suthin'. I tell you we -lit out in a hurry." - -The speaker was one of the pony riders. As he spoke Nat gave Joe a -nudge and the other replied with a look of understanding. The men who -stood talking not a score of paces from them had taken part in the -stage-robbery. - -The man on foot seemed immensely amused at the mention of the "terrible -noise" his companions said they had been alarmed by. - -"Why, that was an automobubble," he laughed. - -"A bubble!" exclaimed one of the others, "what in the name of the -snow-covered e-tarnal hills is one of them coal oil buckboards doin' in -this neck of ther woods?" - -"Why, three kids are running it on a pleasure trip. The Motor Rangers, -or some such fool name, they call theirselves. They hitched the bubble -on ter ther stage and towed her inter town as nice as you please." - -"Did you say they called theirselves the Motor Rangers?" asked the -other mounted man who up to this time had not spoken. - -"That's right, why?" - -"One of 'em a fat, foolish lookin' kid what can't talk straight?" asked -the other instead of replying. - -Nat nudged Ding-dong and chuckled, in imminent danger of exposing their -hiding place. It tickled him immensely to hear that youth described in -such an unflattering manner. - -"Why yep. There is a sort of chumpish kid with 'em. For the matter of -that all three of 'em are stuck up, psalm singin' sort of kids. Don't -drink nor smoke nor nuthin'." - -"True for you. We're not so foolish," breathed Nat to Joe. - -"Why are you so anxious about 'em, Dayton?" asked the other rider who -had remained silent while his comrade was making the recorded inquiries. - -"Cos I know 'em and I've got some old scores to even up with them," -was the rejoinder. "Do you remember what I told you about some kids -fooling us all down in Lower California?" - -"Yep. What of it?" - -"Well, this is the same bunch. I'm sure of it." - -"The dickens you say. Do they travel with much money about them?" - -It was the black-mustached man who was interested now. - -"I don't know about that. But their bubble is worth about $5,000 and -one of them has a gold mine in Lower Cal. Then, too, they always carry -a fine stock of rifles and other truck." - -"They'd be worth plucking then?" - -"I guess so. At any rate I'd like to get even with them even if we -didn't get a thing out of it. Ed. Dayton doesn't forgive or forget in a -hurry." - -Small wonder that the boys leaned forward with their ears fairly aching -to catch every word. Nat knew now why the outline of one of the riders -had seemed familiar to him. The man was evidently none other than Ed. -Dayton, the rascal who had acted as the millionaire Hale Bradford's -lieutenant in Lower California. - -Nat, it will be recalled, was captured on the peninsula and an attempt -made to force him to give up papers showing his right to the mine, -which the gang Hale Bradford had gathered about him was working. I can -tell you, Nat was mighty glad that he and his companions happened to be -there in the shadow; for, thought he to himself:-- - -"Forewarned is forearmed, Mr. Ed. Dayton." - -But the men were resuming their talk. - -"Tell you what you fellows do," said the black-mustached man. "Just lie -off here in the brush for an hour or so and I'll go back to the hotel -and look around. Then I'll come back and tell you if the coast's clear. -They've got their auto out in some sort of a shed and if we could run -it we could swipe the whole thing. Can you run an auto, Ed.? Seems to -me I've heard you talk about them." - -"Can a dog bark?" inquired the other, who if the memory of my readers -goes back that far, they will recall had at one time been a chauffeur -for Mr. Pomery. - -"Very well then, that's settled. At all events it might be a good thing -to smash up the car if we can't do anything else with it." - -"That's right Al.," agreed Ed. Dayton's companion, "we don't want any -nosy kids around in the mountains. They might discover too much." - -"That's so, too. Well, you leave it to me, Al. Jeffries, and I'll -bet you that after to-night they'll all be glad to go home to their -mammies." - -But right here something happened which might, but for good fortune, -have caused a different ending to this story. - -Ding-dong Bell, among other peculiarities, possessed a pair of very -delicate nostrils, and the slightest irritation thereof caused him to -sneeze violently. Now at the time of the year of which we are writing -the California mountains are covered with a growth, called in some -localities tar weed. This plant gives off an irritating dust when it -is shaken or otherwise disturbed, and the hoofs of the two riders' -ponies had kicked up a lot of this pungent powder. Just as the rascals -concluded their plans a vagrant puff of wind carried some of it in -Ding-dong's direction. - -Realizing what serious consequences it might have, the lad struggled -with all his might against his immediate inclination to sneeze, but try -as he would he could not keep the ultimate explosion back. - -"A-ch-oo-oo-oo-oo!" - -It sounded as loud as the report of a cannon, in the silent canyon, and -quite as startling. - -"What in thunder was that?" exclaimed Ed. Dayton wheeling his pony -round. - -He, of course, saw nothing, and regarded his companions in a puzzled -way. - -Al. Jeffries was tugging his black mustache and looking about him -likewise for some explanation. But he could not find it. In the -meantime, the boys, in an agony of apprehension, scarcely dared to -breathe. They crouched like rabbits behind their shelter awaiting what -seemed inevitable discovery. - -"Must have been a bird," grunted Ed. Dayton's companion. - -"Funny sort of bird," was the rejoinder. - -"That's right. I am a funny sort of bird," thought Ding-dong with an -inward chuckle. - -"Sounded to me more like somebody sneezin'," commented Ed. Dayton who -was still suspicious. - -"It'll be a bad day for them if there was," supplemented Al. Jeffries -grimly. - -"Tell you what we do, boys," came a sudden suggestion from Ed.'s -companion, which sent a chill to the hearts of the boys; "let's scatter -about here and look around a bit." - -"That's a good idea," was the alarming rejoinder. - -Nat was just revolving in his mind whether it would be the better -expedient to run, and trust to hiding in the rocks and chaparral, or to -leap up and try to scare the others' ponies, and then escape. But just -then Al. Jeffries spoke: - -"No use wastin' time on that now, boys," he said, "it's gettin' late. -You do as I say, and then in a while we'll all take a little spin in -that grown up taxi cab of the Motor Rangers." - -To the intense relief of the boys the others agreed. Soon after this -the trio of rascals separated. Ed. Dayton and his companions rode back -up the trail while Al. Jeffries started off for the hotel. - -As soon as their footsteps grew faint Nat galvanized into action. - -"We've got a lot to do in a very short time," he announced excitedly. -"Come on, Joe! Shake a foot! We've got to beat Mr. Al. back to the -hotel." - -"How?" inquired Joe amazedly, but not doubting in his own mind that Nat -had already thought the matter out thoroughly. - -"We'll skirt along the mountain-side above him. If we are careful he -won't hear us." - -"That is, if Ding-dong can muffle that nasal gatling gun of his," -grunted Joe. "Say, young fellow, the next time you want to sneeze when -we're in such a tight place, just oblige us by rolling over the edge of -the canyon, will you?" - -"I c-c-c-o-o-ouldn't help it," sputtered Ding-dong sorrowfully. - -"Couldn't," exclaimed the indignant Joe, "you didn't even try." - -"I did too. But I couldn't remember whether the book said that you -could stop sneezing by pulling the lobe of your ear or rubbing the -bridge of your nose." - -"So you did both?" - -"Y-y-y-yes; why?" - -"Well, they were both wrong. You should have wiggled your right big toe -while you balanced a blade of grass on your chin." - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -SOME RASCALS GET A SCARE. - - -Everybody in the hotel at Lariat had long retired to bed, when three -youthful forms stole toward the stable which had been turned into a -temporary garage for the Motor Rangers' big car. From their bed-room -window, the boys had, a few moments before, watched Al. Jeffries stride -off down the trail to meet his cronies for the second time and inform -them that the time was ripe to put up their attempted trick on the lads. - -The doughty Al., on his return to the hotel after the conference at -which the lads were eavesdroppers, had found nothing to excite his -suspicion. The boys were all seated on the porch and apparently had not -moved since he had last seen them. Al. had even sat around with them a -while, trying to pump them, but of course, after what they knew of him, -they did not give him much information. Nat had formed an idea that -the man was a sort of agent for the gang of the famous Morello. That -is, he hung about towns and picked up any information he could about -shipments of specie from the mines, or of wealthy travellers who might -be going through. In this surmise we may say that Nat was correct. - -But to return to the three lads whom we left at the beginning of the -chapter stealthily slipping across the moonlit space between the hotel -and the stable. All three had changed their boots for soft moccasins, -in which they made next to no noise at all as they moved. Each lad, -moreover, carried under his arm a small bundle. Their clothing -consisted of trousers and shirts. Their broad-brimmed sombreros had -been doffed with their coats. The Motor Rangers were, so to speak, -stripped for action. And it was to be action of a lively kind as the -event was to show. - -On their arrival at the stable the boys slipped into an empty stall -alongside their car, and undoing their bundles, hastily donned what was -in them. Then Nat uncorked a bottle, while a strong odor filled the -air. It was a pungent sort of reek, and from the bottle could be seen a -faint greenish light glowing. - -Their preparations completed, the Motor Rangers crouched behind the -wooden wall of the stall, awaiting the next move on the program. - -"And for heaven's sake sit on that sneeze!" Joe admonished Ding-dong. - -Before very long the boys could hear cautious footsteps approaching the -barn, and the sound of low whispering. - -"The auto's right in here," they caught, in Jeffries' voice. "Say, what -a laugh we'll have on those kids in the morning." - -"They laugh best who laugh last," thought Nat to himself, clutching -more tightly a small gleaming thing he had in his hand. - -"This is pie to me," they could hear Dayton whispering, in a cautious -undertone, "I told those kids I'd get even on them for driving me out -of Lower California, and here's where I do it." - -Nat gritted his teeth as he listened. - -"You're going to get something that you don't expect," he muttered -softly to himself. - -The next instant the barn door framed three figures. Behind them were -two ponies. The feet of the little animals were swathed in sacks so -that they made no noise at all. - -"Pretty foxy," whispered Joe, "they've padded the ponies' hoofs." - -"Hush!" ordered Nat, "don't say a word or make a move till I give the -signal." - -"There's the car," whispered Jeffries, as they drew closer and the -shadow of the place enclosed them, blotting out their outlines. - -"Seems a shame to run it over a cliff, don't it?" put in Dayton's -fellow pony rider. - -"That's the only thing to do with it," said Dayton abruptly, "I want to -give those kids a lesson they won't forget." - -"So, you rascals," thought Nat, "you were going to run the car over a -cliff were you? Oh, how I'd like to get my hands on you for just five -minutes." - -"Go on, Dayton. Climb into the thing and start her up," said Jeffries. - -"Hope them kids don't wake up," put in Dayton's companion. - -"They're off as sound as tops," Al. assured him, "I listened at their -door after I came out, and they were snoring away like so many buck -saws." - -With the ease born of familiarity with motor vehicles, Dayton climbed -into the driver's seat and bent over the steering wheel. - -Presently there came a sharp click! - -"Now!" whispered Nat. - -As he gave the word, from behind the wooden partition upreared three -terrifying objects. Their faces glared greenly and their white forms -seemed to be shrouded in graveyard clothes. - -In unison they uttered a dismal cry. - -"Be-ware! Oh be-ware of the car of the Motor Ranger boys!" - -"Wow!" yelled Dayton's companion. - -As he gave the alarmed cry he fairly reeled back against the opposite -stall and fell with a crash. At the same instant, an old claybank mule -tethered in there awoke, and resenting the man's sudden intrusion, let -fly with his hind hoofs. This shot the ruffian's form full tilt into -that of Al. Jeffries, who was making at top speed for the door, and the -two fell, in a rolling, cursing, struggling, clawing heap on the stable -floor. - -"Lemme up!" yelled Al. Jeffries, in mortal terror of the grim sheeted -forms behind him. - -"Lemme go!" shouted Dayton's companion, roaring half in fear and half -in pain at the reminiscences of the mule's hoofs he carried. - -But the startling apparitions, while at their first appearance they had -made Dayton recoil, only fooled him for an instant. Springing erect -from his first shock of amazement and alarm he gave an angry shout. - -"Get up there you fools." - -"Oh the ghosts! The ghosts with the green faces," bawled Al. Jeffries. - -"Ghosts!" roared Dayton angrily, "they're no ghosts. Get up and knock -their heads off." - -Suiting the action to the word he leaped from the car and charged -furiously at Nat. The boy's fist shot out and landed with a crash on -the point of his jaw, but although Dayton reeled under the force of the -blow he recovered instantly and charged furiously again on the sheeted -form. - -In the meantime, Al. Jeffries and the other man had rolled apart and -perceived the state of affairs. The noise of the impact of Nat's fist -showed conclusively that it was no ghostly hand that had struck the -blow, and the fact rallied their fleeting courage. As furiously as had -Dayton, they charged upon the boys. The rip and tear of sheets, and the -sound of blows given and received, mingled with the angry exclamations -of the men and the quick, panting breath of the boys. - -Suddenly, Nat levelled the little bright glinting thing he had clutched -in his hand as they crouched behind the wooden partition. He pressed a -trigger on its underside and a hissing sound followed. - -"Sfiz-z-z-z-z-z!" - -At the same instant the air became surcharged with a pungent odor. It -seemed to fill the atmosphere and made nostrils and eyes smart. - -"Ammonia!" shouted Al. Jeffries, staggering backward and dabbing -desperately at his face where the full force of Nat's charge had -expended itself. As upon the other occasion, when the ammonia pistols -had been used, the rout of the enemy was complete. With muffled -imprecations and exclamations of pain, the three reeled, half blinded, -out of the barn. - -At the same instant the boys heard windows thrown up and the sharp -report of a revolver. - -"Fire! Thieves! Murder!" came from one window, in the landlord's voice, -following the discharge of the pistol. - -"Get to the ponies," roared Dayton, "we'll have the whole hornets' nest -about our ears in a minute." - -The others needed no urging. Grabbing Al. Jeffries by the arm, Dayton's -companion, who was only partially blinded, made for his little steed. -But Dayton, who had hardly received any of the aromatic discharge, -suddenly whipped about and snatched a revolver from his side. Before -the boys could dodge the man fired at them. - -Nat felt the bullets fan the air by his ear, but fortunately, the man -fired so quickly and the excitement and confusion was such, that in the -moonlight he missed his aim. - -"I'll make you smart for this some day!" he yelled, as fearful of -lingering any longer he swung himself into his saddle. He drove home -the spurs and with a squeal and a bound the little animal carried him -out of the region of the hotel. - -As for Dayton's companion he was already a good distance off with Al. -Jeffries clinging behind him on his saddle. - -Joe had made for the auto and seized a rifle from the rack in the -tonneau as Dayton galloped off, but Nat sharply told him to put it down. - -"We have scared the rascals off, and that's enough," he said. - -In a few minutes the Motor Rangers were surrounded by everybody in the -hotel, including Cal and the postmaster. They were warmly congratulated -on their success by all hands, and much laughter greeted their -account of the amusing panic into which the rascals had been thrown -by the sudden appearance of the glowing-faced ghosts, followed by the -discharge of the "mule battery." - -"How did yer git the green glowing paint?" asked Cal interestedly. - -"Why, we took the liberty of soaking two or three bundles of California -matches in the tooth glass," explained Nat, "and then we had a fine -article of phosphorus paint." - -"Wall if you ain't the beatingest," was the landlord's admiring -contribution. - -In the midst of the explanations, congratulations and angry -denunciation of Al. Jeffries and his companions, a sudden piping voice -was heard. - -"Yust von moment blease. Vait! Nod a mofe!--Ah goot, I haf you!" - -It was the little German, whom, the boys had discovered, was named -Hans Von Schiller Muller. He had sprung out of bed in the midst of the -excitement and instantly decided it would make a good subject for his -camera. He presented a queer figure as he stood there, in pajamas -several sizes too small for him and striped with vivid pink and green. -The shrinkage had been the work of a Chinese laundryman in the San -Joaquin Valley. - -"Say," exclaimed Joe, "you don't expect to get a picture out of that do -you?" - -"Chess. Sure. Vy nodt?" - -"Well, because in the first place you had no light," said Joe. - -"Ach! Donnerblitzen, miserable vot I am. I shouldn't have got id a -flash-light, aind't it. Hold on! Vait a minute. I get him." - -"Better defer it till to-morrow," said Nat, who like the rest, was -beginning to shiver in the keen air of the mountains, "it's too cold to -wait for all your preparations." - -And so, when Herr Muller returned to the fatherland there was one -picture he did not have, and that was a portrait of the Motor Rangers -as they appeared immediately after routing three notorious members of -Col. Morello's band of outlaws. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -A PHOTOGRAPHER IN TROUBLE. - - -The boys were not up as early the next morning as they had anticipated. -In the first place, it was somewhat dull and overcast, and in the -second they were naturally tired after their exciting adventures of the -preceding day and night. The first person to hail them as they left -the dining room where they had partaken of a hearty breakfast was Cal -Gifford. The stage driver drew them aside and informed them in an irate -voice that on account of the stage having been held up the day before, -he had been notified by telegraph early that morning that his services -would be no longer required by the Lariat Stage Company. - -"What are you going to do?" asked Nat, after he had extended his -sympathies to the indignant Cal. - -"Wall, I've got a little mine up north of here that I think I'll go and -take a look at," said Cal. - -"How far north?" asked Nat interestedly. - -"Oh, 'bout two hundred miles. I'm all packed ready ter go, but I cain't -git a horse." - -He indicated a battered roll of blankets and a canteen lying on the -porch. Surmounting this pile of his possessions was an old rifle--that -is, in pattern and design, but its woodwork gleamed, its barrel was -scrupulously polished, and its mechanism well oiled. Like most good -woodsmen and mountaineers, Cal kept good care of his weapons, knowing -that sometimes a man's life may depend on his rifle or revolver. - -"Can't get a horse?" echoed Nat. "Why, I should think there would be no -trouble about that." - -"Wall, thar wouldn't hev bin, but thet little Dutchman bought a nag -this mornin' and started off ter take picters on his lonesome." - -"I guess you mean he hired one, don't you?" asked Joe. - -"No siree. That Teutonic sport paid hard cash fer ther plug. He tole -the landlord that he means ter make a trip all through the Sierras -hereabout, making a fine collection of pictures." - -"He must be crazy, starting off alone in an unknown country," exclaimed -Nat. - -"Thet's jes' what they all tole him, but there ain't no use arguin' -with er mule or a Dutchman when their mind's set. He started off about -an hour ago with a roll of blankets, a frying pan and his picture box." - -"He stands a chance of getting captured by Col. Morello's band," -exclaimed Joe. - -"It's likely," agreed Cal, "but what I was a goin' ter tell yer wuz -that ther plug he bought was ther last one they had here. An' so now -I'm stuck I guess, till they git some more up from ther valley." - -"Tell you what you do," said Nat after a brief consultation with his -chums, "why not take a ride with us as far as your way lies, and then -proceed any way you like?" - -"What, ride with you kids in thet gasolene tug boat?" - -"Yes, we'd be glad to have you. You know the roads and the people up -through here, and could help us a whole lot." - -"Say, that's mighty white of yer," said Cal, a broad smile spreading -over his face, "if I wouldn't be in ther way now----" - -"We'll be very glad to have you," Nat assured him, while Joe and -Ding-dong nodded their heads in affirmation, "are you ready to start?" - -Cal nodded sidewise at his pile of baggage. - -"Thar's my outfit," he said. - -"All right. Then I'll pay our bill and we'll start right away." - -And so it was arranged. Ten minutes later the Motor Rangers in their -big touring car rolled majestically out of the town of Lariat, while -Cal in the tonneau waved his sombrero to admiring friends. - -"This is ther first time I ever rode a benzine broncho," he declared as -the car gathered way and was soon lost to the view of the citizens of -Lariat in a cloud of dust. - -The road lay through the same canyon in which they had so fortunately -overheard the conversation of Al. Jeffries and his cronies the night -before. It was a sparkling morning, with every object standing out -clear and intense in the brilliant light of the high Sierras. A crisp -chill lay in the air which made the blood tingle and the eyes shine. -As they rolled on with the engine singing its cheering song Cal, too, -burst into music: - - "Riding along on my gasolene bronc; - Instead of a whinny it goes 'Honk! Honk!' - If we don't bust up we'll be in luck, - You'd be blowed sky-high by a benzine buck!" - -About noon they emerged from the narrow canyon into a wide valley, the -broad, level floor of which was covered with green bunch grass. Through -its centre flowed a clear stream, fed by the snow summits they could -see in the distance. Cattle could be seen feeding at the far end of -it and it was evidently used as a pasture by some mountain rancher. -As they drew closer to a clump of large redwood trees at one end of -the valley Nat gave a sudden exclamation of surprise, and stood up in -the tonneau. Joe, who was at the wheel, sighted the scene which had -attracted the others' attention at the same instant. - -A group of cattlemen could be seen under one of the larger trees, with -a figure in their midst. They were clustered about the central object, -and appeared to be handling him pretty roughly. - -Nat snatched up the glasses from their pocket in the tonneau and -levelled them on the scene. He put them down again with an exclamation -of excitement. - -"They're going to lynch that fellow," he announced. - -"What!" roared Cal, "lend me them peep glass things, young chap." - -Joe stopped the car, while Cal took a long look. He confirmed Nat's -opinion. - -"They've got the rope over a limb of that tree already," he said. - -"How are we to help him?" cried Nat, whose first and natural thought -had been to go to the unfortunate's assistance. - -"What do you want ter help him fer," grunted Cal, "like as not he's -some sort of a horse thief or suthin'. You bet those fellers wouldn't -be going ter string him up onless he had bin doin' suthin' he hadn't -orter." - -Nat was not so sure about this. From what he knew of the West its -impulsive citizens occasionally executed a man first and inquired into -the justice of it afterward. - -"Steer for those trees, Joe," he ordered sharply. - -Joe, without a word, obeyed, while Cal shrugged his shoulders. - -"May be runnin' inter trouble," he grunted. - -"If you're scared you can get out," said Nat more sharply than was his -wont. - -Cal looked angry for a moment, but then his expression changed. - -"Yer all right, boy," he said heartily, "and if ther's trouble I'm with -you every time." - -"Thanks," rejoined Nat simply, "that's the opinion I'd formed of you, -Cal." - -The car had now left the road and was rolling over the pasture which -was by no means as smooth as it had appeared from the mountain road. -However, they made good progress and as their shouts and cries had -attracted the attention of the group of punchers under the trees, they -at least had achieved the delay of the execution. They could now see -every detail of the scene, without the aid of the field glasses. But -the visage of the intended victim was hidden from them by the circle -of wild-looking figures about him. As the Motor Rangers drew closer a -big, raw-boned cattle puncher, with a pair of hairy "chaps" on his legs -and an immense revolver in his hand, rode toward them. As his figure -separated itself from the group Cal gave a low growl. - -"Here comes trouble," he grumbled, closing his hand over the well-worn -butt of his pistol. - -"Howdy, strangers," drawled the newcomer, as he drew within earshot. - -"Howdy," nodded the boys, not however, checking the auto. - -"Hold on thar," cried the cowpuncher raising a big, gauntleted hand, -"don't come no further, strangers. Thar's ther road back yonder." - -He backed up his hint by exhibiting his revolver rather ostentatiously. -But Nat's eyelids never quivered as he looked the other full in the -face and asked in a tone that sounded like one of mild, tenderfoot -inquiry:-- - -"What are you doing there, mister--branding calves?" - -"No we ain't, young feller," rejoined the cowpuncher, "Now if -you're wise you'll take that fer an answer and get out of here -pronto--quick--savee!" - -"I don't see any reason why we can't drive through here," said Nat, -cunningly stringing out the talk so that the car could creep quite -close to the group of would-be lynchers. - -"You don't see no reason?" - -"No." - -"Wall, stranger--thar's six reasons here and they all come out at once." - -As he spoke the cowpuncher tapped the shiny barrel of his revolver with -a meaning gesture. Nat saw that he could not go much further with -safety. - -"Now you git!" snarled the cowboy. "You've had fair warning. Vamoose!" - -As he spoke the group about the tree parted for a minute as the -cowpunchers composing it gazed curiously at the auto, which was nearing -them. As they separated, the figure of the victim became visible. The -boys greeted the sight with a shout of amazement which was echoed by -Cal. - -"Boys, it's Herr Muller!" shouted Nat. - -"Wall ther blamed Dutchman!" gasped Cal, "has he bin stealin' horses?" - -"Yep," rejoined the puncher briefly, "he hev. An' we're goin' ter -string him up. Now you git out." - -"All right," spoke Nat suddenly, with a flashing light of excitement -blazing in his eyes. - -"We'll get, but it will be--THIS WAY!" - -As he spoke he leaped into the driver's seat, pushing Joe to one side. - -The next instant the car was leaping forward with a roar and a bound, -headed full at the band of amazed and thunderstruck cowpunchers. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -LOST IN A PETRIFIED FOREST. - - -Before the lynching party regained its senses Nat had rushed the car -up alongside Herr Muller. Before that blonde pompadoured son of the -fatherland knew what had occurred, Joe's strong arms, aided by Cal's -biceps, jerked him off his feet and into the tonneau. But the long -lariat which was already about his neck trailed behind, and the first -of the punchers that realized what was happening darted forward and -seized it as the car sped forward. - -"P-ouf-o-o-o-f!" choked the unfortunate German, as the noose tightened. -The cowpuncher who had hold of the other end of the rope dug his heels -into the ground and braced himself. Herr Muller would have been jerked -clean out of the tonneau by his unlucky neck had it not been for -Ding-dong Bell, who, with a swift sweep downward of his knife blade -severed the rope. - -As the strain was abruptly relieved the cowpuncher who had hold of the -other end went toppling backward in a heap. But at the same instant the -rest came to their senses, and headed by the man who had threatened -Nat, they clambered on their ponies and swept forward, uttering wild -yells. - -If this had been all, the occupants of the auto could have afforded -to disregard them, but, apparently realizing the hopelessness of -attempting to overtake the fleeing car they unlimbered their revolvers -and began a fusillade. - -Bullets whistled all about the Motor Rangers and their companions, but -luckily nobody was hit. Nat's chief fear though, and his apprehension -was shared by the rest, was that one of the bullets might puncture a -tire. - -"If it ever does--good night!" thought Nat as the angry, vengeful yells -of the cheated punchers came to his ears. - -But to his joy they now sounded more faintly. The pursuit was dropping -behind. Right ahead was the feeding herd. In a few minutes the car -would be safe from further attack,--when suddenly there came an ominous -sound. - -"Pop!" - -At the same moment the car gave a lurch. - -"Just what I thought," commented Nat, in a despairing voice, "they've -winged a tire." - -"Shall we have to stop?" asked Cal rather apprehensively, although a -grim look about the corners of his mouth betokened the fact that he was -ready to fight. - -"Den maype I gedt idt a pigdure, aind idt?" asked Herr Muller, with -what was almost the first free breath he had drawn since Master Bell -slashed the rope. - -"Good Lord!" groaned Cal in comical despair, "my little man, if those -fellows ever get us you'll be able to take a picture of your own -funeral." - -"How would dot be bossible?" inquired Herr Muller innocently, "if I -voss a deader I couldn't take my own pigdure, aind't idt?" - -But before any of them could make a reply, indignant or otherwise, a -sudden occurrence ahead of them caused their attention to be diverted -into a fresh channel. The cattle, terrified at the oncoming auto, had -stopped grazing and were regarding it curiously. Suddenly, one of them -gave an alarmed bellow. It appeared to be a signal for flight, for like -one animal, the herd turned, and with terrified bellowings, rushed -madly off into the pine forests on the eastern side of the valley. - -This was a fortunate happening for the boys, for the cowpunchers were -now compelled finally to give up their chase of the automobile and head -off after the stampeded cattle. - -"I reckon we'd better not come this way again; it wouldn't be -healthy-like," grinned Cal, hearing their shouts and yells grow faint -in the distance as they charged off among the trees. - -"There's one thing," said Nat as he brought the crippled auto to a halt -a short distance off, "they won't worry us for some time." - -"No. Among them pine stumps it'll take 'em a week to round up their -stock." - -And now all hands turned to Herr Muller and eagerly demanded his -story. It was soon told. He had arrived in the valley a short time -before they had, and, charmed by its picturesque wildness, had begun -enthusiastically taking pictures. In doing so, he had dismounted, and -wandered some distance from his horse. When he turned his attention to -it again, it had disappeared. However, although at first he thought -he had lost the animal he soon found it grazing off among a clump -of willows by the creek. He had mounted it and was riding off when -suddenly the cowpunchers appeared, and as soon as their eyes fell on -the horse accused the German of stealing it. - -"I dell dem dot dey is mistakes making, but der use voss iss?" he went -on. "Dey say dot dey pinch me anyhow." - -"Lynch you, you mean, don't you?" inquired Nat. - -"Vell dey pinch me too, dond dey?" asked Herr Muller indignantly. -"Howefer, I egsplain by dem dot dey make misdage and den a leedle bull -boy----" - -"Cowboy," corrected Cal with a grin. - -"Ach, how I can tell idt you my story if you are interrupt all der -time," protested the German. "Well as I voss saying, der bull-boy tells -me, 'loafer vot you iss you dake idt my bony vile I voss go hunting -John rabbits. Yust for dot vee hang you py der neck.'" - -"What did you say?" asked Nat, who began to think that the -absent-minded German might actually have taken a wrong horse by -accident. - -"I say, 'Dot is my horse. I know him lige I know it mein brudder.' But -dey say dot I iss horse bustler----" - -"Rustler," muttered Cal. - -"And dot I most be strunged oop. So I dake idt der picdures und gif dem -my address in Chermany und den I prepare for der endt." - -"Weren't you scared?" demanded Cal incredulously, for the German had -related this startling narrative without turning a hair; in fact, -he spoke about it as he might have talked about a tea party he had -attended. - -"Ach himmel, ches I voss scaredt all right. Pudt der voss no use in -saying noddings, voss dere?" - -"No I guess if you put it that way there wasn't," laughed Nat, "but you -saved your camera I see." - -He looked at the black box hanging round the German's neck by a strap. - -"Yah," grinned Herr Muller, "I say I von't pee hanged if dey don'dt led -itdt be mit der camera my neck py." - -"No wonder they say, 'Heaven help the Irish, the Dutch can look after -themselves,'" muttered Cal to himself as the entire party got out of -the machine and a new tire was unbuckled from the spare tire rack. - -The operation of replacing it was a troublesome one, and occupied some -time. - -So long did it take, in fact, that it was almost sundown by the time -the shoe had been finally bolted above the inner tube, and they were -ready to start once more. Just as they were about to be off Cal gave an -exclamation and pointed ahead. Looking up in the direction he indicated -the others saw coming toward them a saddled horse. But no rider -bestrode it, and the reins were entangled in its forefeet. It whinnied -as it saw them and came up close to the auto. - -"Great Scott!" exclaimed Cal, as he saw it, "those cowpunchers had you -right after all, Mr. Dutchman; this here is the plug you bought." - -"Yah! yah! I know him now!" exclaimed Herr Muller enthusiastically. -"See dere is my plankets diedt on py der saddle." - -"So they are," exclaimed Nat, "at least I suppose they're yours. Then -you actually were a horse thief and didn't know it. I suppose that when -your horse wandered off that cowpuncher came along on his pony and left -it while he went hunting jack rabbits. Then you, all absorbed in your -picture taking, mistook his horse for yours." - -"I guess dots der vay idt voss, chust a mistage," agreed Herr Muller -with great equanimity. - -"Say, pod'ner," said Cal, who had just led up the beast and restored it -to its rightful owner, "you're glad you're livin', ain't you?" - -The German's blue eyes opened widely as he stared at his questioner. - -"Sure I iss gladt I'm lifing. Vot for--vy you ask me?" - -"Wall, don't make any more mistakes like that," admonished Cal with -grave emphasis, "folks out here is touchy about them." - -As Herr Muller was going in the same direction as themselves he -accepted a seat in the tonneau and his angular steed was hitched on -behind as over the rough ground the car could not go any faster than -a horse could trot. For some time they bumped along the floor of the -valley and at last emerged at its upper end into a rocky-walled canyon, -not unlike the one through which they had gained the depression in the -hills. But to their uneasiness they could discover no road, or even a -trail. However, the bottom of the canyon was fairly smooth and so Nat -decided, after a consultation with Cal, to keep going north. A glance -at the compass had shown them that the canyon ultimately cut through -the range in that direction. - -"We'll strike a trail or a hut or suthin' afore long," Cal assured -them. - -"I hope we strike some place to make camp," grumbled Joe, "I'm hungry." - -This speech made them remember that in their excitement they had -neglected to eat any lunch. - -"Never mind, Joe," said Nat, "we'll soon come across a spring or a -place that isn't all strewn with rocks, and we'll camp there even if -there isn't a road." - -"No, there's no use going ahead in the dark," agreed Cal, looking about -him. - -It was now quite dark, and the depth of the canyon they were traversing -made the blackness appear doubly dense. But Nat, by gazing upward at -the sky, managed to keep the auto on a fairly straight course, although -every now and then a terrific bump announced that they had struck a big -boulder. - -"Wish that moon would hurry up and rise; then we could see something," -remarked Cal, as they crept along. The others agreed with him, but they -would not have the welcome illumination till some time later. They were -still in the canyon, however, when a dim, silvery lustre began to -creep over the eastern sky. Gradually the light fell upon the western -wall of the gorge and soon the surroundings were flooded with radiance. - -But it was a weird and startling scene that the light fell upon. Each -occupant of the car uttered an involuntary cry of amazement as he -gazed about him. On every side were towering trunks of what, at first -glance, seemed trees, but which, presently, were seen to be as barren -of vegetation as marble columns. Stumps of these naked, leafless forms -littered the ground in every direction. In the darkness seemingly, they -had penetrated quite a distance into this labyrinth, for all about them -now were the bare, black trunks. Some of them reached to an immense -height, and others were short and stumpy. All shared the peculiarity of -possessing no branches or leaves, however. - -"Where on earth are we?" asked Joe, gazing about him at the desolate -scene. - -"I can't make out," rejoined Nat in a troubled tone, "it's sort of -uncanny isn't it?" - -The others agreed. - -"Ugh; it remindts me of a grafeyardt," shivered the German, as he -looked about him at the bare stumps rising black and ghostlike in the -pale moonlight. - -Suddenly Cal, who had been gazing about him, shouted an explanation of -the mystery. - -"Boys, we're in a petrified forest!" he exclaimed. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -THE MIDNIGHT ALARM. - - -The boys would have been glad to explore the petrified forest that -night had it been practicable. They had read of the mysterious stone -relics of ancient woods, which exist in the remote Sierras, but they -had never dreamed they would stumble upon one so opportunely. However, -even had they been less tired, it would have been out of the question -to examine the strange place more thoroughly that night. - -As there did not seem to be any limit to the place so far as they could -see, the boys decided to camp where they were for the night. The auto -was stopped and the horse unhitched and turned loose at the end of a -lariat to graze, his rope being made fast round one of the more slender -stone trunks. - -"Feels like hitching him to the pillar of the City Hall at home," -laughed Joe, as he formed a double half hitch and left the horse to -his own devices, first, however, having watered the animal at a small -spring which flowed from the foot of a large rock at one side of the -mysterious stone valley. - -In the meantime, Cal had built a fire of sage brush roots, for there -was no wood about, every bit of it having turned to stone long ages -before. The pile, on being ignited, blazed up cheerfully, illuminating -the sterile, lonely spot with a merry red blaze. The spider was taken -out of the utensil locker, and soon bacon was hissing in it and canned -tomatoes and corn bubbling in adjacent saucepans. A big pot of coffee -also sent up a savory aroma. Altogether, with canned fruit for dessert, -the Motor Rangers and their friends made a meal which quite atoned for -the loss of their lunch. Even Ding-dong admitted that he was satisfied -by the time Cal drew out a short and exceedingly black pipe. The -former stage driver rammed this full of tobacco and then leisurely -proceeded to light it. After a few puffs he looked up at the group -around him. They were lolling about on waterproof blankets spread out -on the rock-strewn ground, a portion of which they had cleared. In -the background stood the dark outlines of the auto, and beyond, the -mysterious shadows of the petrified forest, the bequest to the present -of the long departed stone age. - -"I've bin a thinkin'," began Cal, as if he were delivering his mind of -something he had been inwardly cogitating for some time, "I've bin a -thinkin' that while we are in this part of the country we ought to keep -a good look out at night." - -"You think that Morello's band may give us more trouble?" asked Nat. - -"I don't jes' think so," rejoined Cal earnestly, "I'm purty jes' nat'ly -sure of it. They ain't the sort of fellers ter fergit or furgive." - -"I guess you're right," agreed Nat, "that man Dayton alone is capable -of making lots of trouble for us. We'll do as you say and set a watch -to-night." - -"I vind und set my votch every night," declared Herr Muller, proudly -drawing out of his pocket an immense timepiece resembling a bulbous -silver vegetable. - -"This is a different kind of watch that we're talking about," laughed -Nat. - -It was ultimately arranged, after some more discussion, that Joe and -Nat should watch for the first part of the night and Ding-dong and Cal -Gifford should come on duty at one o'clock in the morning. It seemed -to young Bell that he hadn't been asleep more than five minutes when -he was roughly shaken by Nat and told to tumble out of the tonneau as -it was time to go on watch. Already Cal, who like an old mountaineer -preferred to sleep by the fire, was up and stirring. It took a long -time, though, to rout Ding-dong out of his snug bed. The air at that -altitude is keen and sharp, and being turned out of his warm nest was -anything but pleasant to the lad. - -"L-l-l-let the D-d-d-d-dutchman do it," he begged, snuggling down in -his blankets. - -"No," said Nat firmly, "it's your turn on duty. Come on now, roll out -or we'll pull you out." - -Finally, with grumbling protestations, the stuttering youth was hauled -forth, and, while Nat and Joe turned in, he and Cal went on duty, or -"sentry go," as they say in the army. - -"Now then," said Cal crisply, as the shivering Ding-dong lingered by -the fire with his rifle in his chilled hands, "you go off there to the -right and patrol a hundred feet or more. I'll do the same to the left. -We'll meet at the fire every few minutes and get warm." - -"A-a-all r-r-r-right," agreed Ding-dong, who stood in some awe of the -stage driver. Consequently, without further demur, he strode off on -his post. Having reached the end of it he marched back to the fire and -warmed himself a second. Then he paced off again. This kept up for -about an hour when suddenly Cal, who was at the turning point of his -beat, heard a startling sound off to the right among the tomb-like -forms of the stone trees. - -Bang! - -It was followed by two other shots. - -Bang! Bang! - -The reports rang sharply, amid the silence of the desolate place, and -sent an alarmed chill even to Cal's stout heart. He bounded back toward -the fire just in time to meet Ding-dong, who came rushing in with a -scared white face, from the opposite direction. At the same time Nat -and Joe awakened, and hastily slipping on some clothes, seized their -rifles and prepared for trouble. - -"What's the matter?" demanded Cal, in sharp, crisp tones, of the -frightened sentinel. - -"Indians!" was the gasped-out reply, "the p-p-p-place is f-f-f-full of -them." - -"Indians!" exclaimed Cal, hastily kicking out the bright fire and -leaving it a dull heap of scattered embers, "are you sure?" - -"S-s-s-sure. I s-s-s-saw their f-f-f-fif-feathers." - -"That's queer," exclaimed Cal, "I never heard of any Indians being in -this section before. But come on, boys, it's clear the lad here has -seen something and we'd better get ready for trouble." - -An improvised fort was instantly formed, by the boys crouching in -various points of vantage in the automobile with their rifles -menacingly pointed outward. Herr Muller snored on serenely, and they -allowed him to slumber. - -They must have remained in tense poses without moving a muscle for half -an hour or more before any one dared to speak. Then Nat whispered, - -"Queer we don't see or hear anything." - -"They may be creeping up stealthily," rejoined Cal, "don't take your -eye off your surroundings a minute." - -For some time more the lads watched with increasing vigilance. At -length even Cal grew impatient. - -"There's something funny about this," he declared, and then turning on -Ding-dong he demanded: - -"Are you sure you saw something?" - -"D-d-d-didn't I s-s-s-s-shoot at it?" indignantly responded the boy. - -"I know, but you actually saw something move?" persisted Nat. - -"Of c-c-c-course I did. You didn't think I was go-go-going to -s-s-s-shoot at a put-put-petrified tree, did you?" - -"We'll wait a while longer and then if nothing shows up I'm going to -investigate," declared Cal. - -"I'm with you," agreed Nat. - -As nothing occurred for a long time the Motor Rangers finally climbed -out of the car, and with their rifles held ready for instant action, -crept off in the direction from which Ding-dong's fusillade had -proceeded. Every now and then they paused to listen, hardly breathing -for fear of interrupting the silence. But not a sound could they -hear. However, Ding-dong stuck stoutly to his story that he had seen -something move and had fired at it, whereupon it had vanished. - -"Maybe it was Morello's gang trying to give us a scare," suggested Nat. - -"Ef they'd ever got as close to us as this they'd hev given us worse -than a scare," confidently declared Cal. - -By this time they had proceeded quite some distance, and Cal stopped -Ding-dong with a question. - -"Whereabouts were you when you fired?" - -"I-I do-do-do-do-don't know," stuttered the lad. - -"You don't know?" indignantly echoed Nat, "you're a fine woodsman." - -"Y-y-y-y-yes I do t-t-t-too," Ding-dong hastened to amend, "I was -here--right here." - -He ascended a small knoll covered with grass, at the foot of one of the -stone trees. - -"Which direction did you fire in?" was Nat's next question. - -"Off t-t-t-that w-w-w-w-w-way," spoke Ding-dong. "Wow, there he is now!" - -The boy gave a yell and started to run, and the others were -considerably startled. - -From the little eminence on which they stood they could see, projecting -from behind one of the pillars, something that certainly did look like -two feathers sticking in an Indian's head dress. As they gazed the -feathers moved. - -"Shoot quick!" cried Joe, jerking his rifle up to his shoulder, but Cal -yanked it down with a quick pull. - -"Hold on, youngster. Not so fast," he exclaimed, "let's look into this -thing first." - -Holding his rifle all ready to fire at the least alarm, the former -stage driver crept cautiously forward. Close at his elbow came Nat, -with his weapon held in similar readiness. - -"There is something there--see!" exclaimed Nat in an awed tone. - -"Yes," almost shouted the guide, "and it's that Dutchman's old plug!" - -The next instant his words were verified. The midnight marauder at whom -Ding-dong had fired was nothing more dangerous than the horse of Herr -Muller. It had broken loose in the night and was browsing about when -the amateur sentry had come upon it. In the moonlight, and when seen -projecting from behind a pillar, its ears, which were unusually long, -did look something like the head dress of an Indian. - -"Wow!" yelled Nat, "this is one on you, Ding-dong!" - -"Yes, here's your Indian!" shouted Joe, doubling up with laughter. - -"Whoa, Indian," soothed Cal, walking up to the peaceful animal, "let's -see if he hit you." - -But the merriment of the lads was increased when an examination of the -horse failed to show a scratch or mark upon it. - -"That's another on you, Ding-dong," laughed Nat, "you're a fine -sentinel. Why, you can't even hit a horse." - -"Well, let the Dutchman try and see if he can do any better," rejoined -Ding-dong with wounded dignity. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -ALONG THE TRAIL. - - -"Voss iss dot aboudt mein horse?" - -The group examining that noble animal turned abruptly, to find the -quadruped's owner in their midst. Herr Muller still wore his famous -abbreviated pajama suit, over which he had thrown a big khaki overcoat -of military cut belonging to Nat. Below this his bare legs stuck out -like the drum sticks of a newly plucked chicken. His yellow hair was -rumpled and stood up as if it had been electrified. Not one of the boys -could help laughing at the odd apparition. - -"Well, pod'ner," rejoined Cal, taking up the horse's broken hitching -rope and leading it back to its original resting place, "you're purty -lucky ter hev a horse left at all. This yar Ding-dong Bell almost 'put -him in the well' fer fair. He drilled about ten bullets more or less -around the critter's noble carcass." - -"But couldn't hit him with one of them," laughed Nat, to Ding-dong's -intense disgust. The stuttering lad strode majestically off to the -auto, and turned in, nor could they induce him to go on watch again -that night. - -The morning dawned as fair and bright and crisp as mornings in the -Sierras generally do. The sky was cloudless and appeared to be borne -aloft like a blue canopy, by the steep walls of the canyon enclosing -the petrified forest. The boys, on awakening, found Cal already up and -about, and the fragrance of his sage brush fire scenting the clear air. - -"'Mornin' boys," sang out the ex-stage driver as the tousled heads -projected from the auto and gazed sleepily about, "I tell yer this is -ther kind of er day that makes life worth livin'." - -"You bet," agreed Nat, heading a procession to the little spring at the -foot of one of the giant petrified trees. - -"It's c-c-c-c-cold," protested Ding-dong, but before he could utter -further expostulations his legs were suddenly tripped from under him -and he sprawled head first into the chilly, clear water. Joe Hartley -was feeling good, and of course poor Ding-dong had to suffer. By the -time the latter had recovered his feet and wiped some of the water out -of his eyes, the others had washed and were off for the camp fire. With -an inward resolve to avenge himself at some future time, Ding-dong soon -joined them. - -If the petrified forest had been a queer-looking place by night, viewed -by daylight it was nothing short of astonishing. - -"It's a vegetable cemetery," said Cal, looking about him. "Each of -these stone trees is a monument, to my way of thinking." - -"Ach, you are a fullosopher," applauded Herr Muller, who had just risen -and was gingerly climbing out of the tonneau. - -"And you're full o' prunes," grunted Cal to himself, vigorously slicing -bacon, while Nat fixed the oatmeal, and Joe Hartley got some canned -fruit ready. - -Presently breakfast was announced, and a merry, laughing party -gathered about the camp fire to despatch it. - -"I'll bet we're the first boys that ever ate breakfast in a petrified -forest," commented Joe. - -"I reckin' you're right," agreed Cal, "it makes me feel like an -ossified man." - -"Dot's a feller whose headt is turned to bone?" asked Herr Muller. - -"Must be Ding-dong," grinned Joe, which promptly brought on a renewal -of hostilities. - -"I've read that the petrification is caused by particles of iron -pyrites, or lime, taking the place of the water in the wood," put in -Nat. - -"Maybe so," agreed Cal, "but I've seen a feller petrified by too much -forty rod liquor." - -"I wonder what shook so many of the stony stumps down," inquired Joe, -gazing about him with interest. - -"Airthquakes, I guess," suggested Cal, "they get 'em through here once -in a while and when they come they're terrors." - -"We have them in Santa Barbara, too," said Nat, "they're nasty things -all right." - -"Come f-f-f-f-from the e-e-e-earth getting a t-t-t-t-tummy ache," -sagely announced Ding-dong Bell. - -While the boys got the car ready and filled the circulating water tank -with fresh water from the spring, Herr Muller and Cal washed the tin -dishes, and presently all was ready for a start. Herr Muller decided -that he would ride his horse this morning and so the move was made, -with that noble steed loping along behind the auto at the best pace his -bony frame was capable of producing. Luckily for him, the going was -very hard among the fallen stumps of the petrified trees, and the tall, -column-like, standing trunks, and the car could not do much more than -crawl. - -All were in jubilant spirits. The bracing air and the joyous sensation -of taking the road in the early dawn invigorated them. - -"I tell you," said Cal, "there's nothing like an early start in the -open air. I've done it a thousand times or more I guess, but it always -makes me feel good." - -"Dot iss righd," put in Herr Muller, "vunce at Heidelberg I gets me -oop by sunrise to fighd idt a doodle. I felt goot but bresently I gedt -poked it py der nose mit mein friendt's sword. Den I nodt feel so -goodt." - -While the others were still laughing at the whimsical German's -experience he suddenly broke into yodling: - - "Hi lee! Hi lo! - Hi lee! Hi lay! - Riding along by der fine summer's day; - Hi lee! Hi lo! - Hi lee! Hi lay! - Riding along on my----" - -"Ear!" burst out Joe, as the German's horse caught its foot in a gopher -hole, and stumbled so violently that it almost pitched the caroler over -its head. - -"That's ther first song I ever heard about a Chink," commented Cal, -when Herr Muller had recovered his equilibrium. - -"Voss is dot Chink?" asked Herr Muller, showing his usual keen interest -in any new word. - -"Gee whiz, but you Germans are benighted folks. Why, a Chink's a -Chinaman, of course." - -"Budt," protested the German spurring his horse alongside the auto and -speaking in a puzzled tone, "budt I voss not singing aboudt a Chinaman." - -"Wall, I'll leave it to anyone if Hi Lee and Hi Lo ain't Chink names," -exclaimed Cal. - -Whatever reply Herr Muller might have found to this indisputable -assertion is lost forever to the world. For at that moment Nat, who was -at the wheel, looked up to see a strange figure coming toward them, -making its way rapidly in and out among the column-like, petrified -trunks. His exclamation called the attention of the others to it and -they regarded the oncoming figure with as much astonishment as did he. - -It was the form of a very tall and lanky man on a very short and fat -donkey, that was approaching them. The rider's legs projected till they -touched the ground on each side like long piston rods and moved almost -as rapidly as he advanced. What with the burro's galloping and the -man's rapid footwork, they raised quite a cloud of dust. - -"Say, is that fellow moving the burro, or is the burro moving him?" -inquired Joe, with perfectly natural curiosity. - -Faster and faster moved the man's legs over the ground, as he came -nearer to the auto. - -"I should think he'd walk and let the burro ride," laughed Nat. - -As he spoke the boy checked the auto and it came to a standstill. The -tall rider could now be seen to be an aged man with a long, white -beard, and a brown, sunburned face, framed oddly by his snowy whiskers. -He glanced at the boys with a pair of keen eyes as he drew alongside, -and stopped his long-eared steed with a loud: - -"Whoa!" - -"Howdy," said Cal. - -"Howdy," rejoined the stranger, "whar you from?" - -"South," said Cal. - -"Whar yer goin'?" - -"North," was the rejoinder. - -"Say, stranger, you ain't much on the conversation, be yer?" - -"Never am when I don't know who I be talking to," retorted Cal. The -boys expected to see the other get angry, but instead he broke into a -laugh. - -"You're a Westerner all right," he said. "I thought everybody knew me. -I'm Jeb Scantling, the sheep herder from Alamos. I'm looking fer some -grass country." - -"Bin havin' trouble with the cattlemen?" inquired Cal. - -"Some," was the non-committal rejoinder. - -"Wall, then you'd better not go through that way," enjoined Cal, -"there's a bunch of cattle right through the forest thar." - -"Thar is?" was the somewhat alarmed rejoinder, "then I reckon it's no -place fer me." - -"No, you'd better try back in the mountains some place," advised Cal. - -"I will. So long." - -The old man abruptly wheeled his burro, and working his legs in the -same eccentric manner as before soon vanished the way he had come. - -"That's a queer character," commented Nat, as the old man disappeared -and the party, which had watched his curious actions in spellbound -astonishment, started on once more. - -"Yes," agreed Cal, "and he's had enough to make him queer, too. A -sheepman has a tough time of it. The cattlemen don't want 'em around -the hills 'cos they say the sheep eat off the feed so close thar ain't -none left fer the cattle. And sometimes the sheepmen start fires to -burn off the brush, and mebbe burn out a whole county. Then every once -in a while a bunch of cattlemen will raid a sheep outfit and clean it -out." - -"Kill the sheep?" asked Joe. - -"Yep, and the sheepmen, too, if they so much as open their mouths to -holler. I tell you a sheepman has his troubles." - -"Was this fellow just a herder, or did he own a flock?" inquired Nat. - -"I've heard that he owns his bunch," rejoined Cal. "He's had lots of -trouble with cattlemen. No wonder he scuttled off when I tole him thar -was a bunch of punchers behind." - -"I'm sorry he went so quickly," said Nat, "I wanted to ask him some -questions about the petrified forest." - -"Well, we're about out of it now," said Cal, looking around. - -Only a few solitary specimens of the strange, gaunt stone trees now -remained dotting the floor of the canyon like lonely monuments. -Presently they left the last even of these behind them, and before long -emerged on a rough road which climbed the mountain side at a steep -elevation. - -"No chance of your brake bustin' agin, is ther?" inquired Cal, rather -apprehensively. - -"No, it's as strong as it well can be now," Nat assured him. - -"Glad of that. If it gave out on this grade we'd go backward to our -funerals." - -"Guess that's right," agreed Joe, gazing back out of the tonneau at the -steep pitch behind them. - -Despite the steepness of the grade and the rough character of the road, -or rather trail, the powerful auto climbed steadily upward, the rattle -of her exhausts sounding like a gatling gun in action. - -Before long they reached the summit and the boys burst into a shout -of admiration at the scene spread out below them. From the elevation -they had attained they could see, rising and falling beneath them, like -billows at sea, the slopes and summits of miles of Sierra country. Here -and there were forests of dense greenery, alternated with bare, scarred -mountain sides dotted with bare trunks, among which disastrous forest -fires had swept. It was a grand scene, impressive in its magnitude and -sense of solitary isolation. Far beyond the peaks below them could be -seen snow-capped summits, marking the loftiest points of the range. -Here and there deep dark wooded canyons cut among the hills reaching -down to unknown depths. - -"Looks like a good country for grizzlies or deer," commented Cal. - -"Grizzlies!" exclaimed Joe, "are there many of them back here?" - -"Looks like there might be," rejoined Cal, "this is the land of big -bears, big deer, little matches, and big trees, and by the same token -there's a clump of the last right ahead of us." - -Sure enough not a hundred yards from where they had halted, there stood -a little group of the biggest trees the lads had ever set eyes on. -The loftiest towered fully two hundred feet above the ground, while a -roadway could have been cut through its trunk--as is actually the case -with another famous specimen of the Sequoia Gigantea. - -The foliage was dark green and had a tufted appearance, while the -trunks were a rich, reddish brown. The group of vegetable mammoths was -as impressive a sight as the lads had ever gazed upon. - -"Them is about the oldest livin' things in ther world," said Cal gazing -upward, "when Noah was building his ark them trees was 'most as big as -they are now." - -"I tole you vot I do," suddenly announced Herr Muller, "I take it a -photogrift from der top of one of dem trees aindt it?" - -"How can you climb them?" asked Nat. - -"Dot iss easiness," rejoined the German, "here, hold Bismark--dot iss -vot I call der horse--und I gedt out mein climbing irons." - -Diving into his blanket-roll he produced a pair of iron contrivances, -shaped somewhat like the climbing appliances which linemen on telegraph -systems use to scale the smooth poles. These were heavier, and with -longer and sharper steel points on them, however. Rapidly Herr Muller, -by means of stout straps, buckled them on, explaining that he had used -them to take pictures from treetops within the Black Forest. - -A few seconds later he selected the tallest of the trees and began -rapidly to ascend it. The climbing irons and the facility they lent him -in ascending the bare trunk delighted the boys, who determined to have -some made for themselves at the first opportunity. - -"He kin climb like a Dutch squirrel," exclaimed Cal admiringly, as with -a wave of his hand the figure of the little German grew smaller, and -finally vanished in the mass of dark, sombre green which clothed the -summit of the great red-wood. - -"He ought to get a dandy picture from way up there," said Joe. - -"Yes," agreed Nat, "he----" - -The boy stopped suddenly short. From the summit of the lofty tree there -had come a sharp, piercing cry of terror. - -"Help! help! Quvick or I fall down!" - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -TREED!--TWO HUNDRED FEET UP. - - -Mingling with the alarming yells of the German came a strange spitting, -snarling sound. - -Filled with apprehensions, the boys and Cal rushed for the foot of the -immense tree and gazed upward into the lofty gloom of its leafy summit. -They uttered a cry of alarm as they did so. In fact the spectacle their -eyes encountered was calculated to cause the heart of the most hardened -woodsman to beat faster. - -Astride of a branch, with his shoe soles dangling two hundred feet -above the ground, was Herr Muller, while between him and the trunk of -the tree was crouched a snarling, spitting wild cat of unusual size. It -seemed about to spring at the human enemy who had unwittingly surprised -it in its aerial retreat. - -The boys were stricken speechless with alarm as they gazed, but Cal -shouted encouragingly upward. - -"Hold on there, Dutchy. We'll help you out." - -"I know. Dot iss all right," came back the reply in a tremulous tone, -"but I dink me dis branch is rodden und ef der tom cat drives me much -furder out I down come." - -"Don't dare think of such a thing," called up Cal, "just you grip tight -and don't move." - -"All right, I try," quavered the photographer, about whose neck still -dangled the tool of his craft. - -Cal's long legs covered the space between the tree and the auto in -about two leaps, or so it seemed to the boys. In a flash he was back -with his well worn rifle and was aiming it upward into the tree. - -But as he brought the weapon to his shoulder and his finger pressed -the trigger the formidable creature crouching along the limb, sprang -full at the luckless Herr Muller. With a yell that stopped the breath -of every one of the alarmed party below, the German was seen to lose -his hold and drop, crashing through the foliage like a rock. As he -fell a shower of small branches and twigs were snapped off and floated -downward into space. - -But Herr Muller was not doomed, as the boys feared was inevitable, -to be dashed to pieces on the ground. Instead, just as it appeared -impossible that he could save himself from a terrible death, the German -succeeded in seizing a projecting limb and hanging on. The branch bent -ominously, but it held, and there he hung suspended helplessly with -nothing under him but barren space. Truly his position now did not -appear to be materially bettered from its critical condition of a few -minutes before. - -But the boys did not know, nor Cal either, that the Germans are great -fellows for athletics and gymnastics, and almost every German student -has at one time or another belonged to a Turn Verein. This was the case -with Herr Muller and his training stood him in good stead now. With a -desperate summoning of his strength, he slowly drew himself up upon the -bending limb, and began tortuously to make his way in toward the trunk. - -As he did so, the wild cat perceiving that it was once more at close -quarters with its enemy, advanced down the trunk, but it was not -destined this time to reach the German. Cal took careful aim and fired. - -Before the echo of the sharp report had died away a tawny body came -clawing and yowling downward, out of the tree, tumbling over and over -as it shot downward. The boys could not repress a shudder as they -thought how close Herr Muller had come to sharing the same fate. - -The creature was, of course, instantly killed as it struck the ground, -and was found to be an unusually large specimen of its kind. Its fur -was a fine piece of peltry and Cal's skillful knife soon had it off -the brute's carcass. A preparation of arsenic which the boys carried -for such purposes, was then rubbed on it to preserve it till it could -be properly cured and mounted. This done, it was placed away with the -mountain lion skin in a big tin case in the tonneau. - -While all this was going on, Herr Muller recovered the possession of -his faculties, which had almost deserted him in the terrible moment -when he hung between life and death. Presently he began to descend the -tree. Near the bottom of the trunk, however, his irons slipped and he -came down with a run and a rush that scraped all the skin off the palms -of his hands, and coated his clothes with the red stain of the bark. - -He was much too glad to be back on earth, however, to mind any such -little inconveniences as that. - -"Boys, I tole you ven I hung dere I dink by myselfs if ever I drop, I -drop like Lucifer----" - -"L-l-lucy who?" inquired Ding-dong curiously. - -"Lucifer--der devil you know, nefer to rise no more yet already." - -"I see you have studied Milton," laughed Nat, "but I can tell you, all -joking aside, you gave us a terrible scare. I want you to promise to do -all your photographing from safe places hereafter." - -"I vould suffer more dan dot for mein art," declared Herr Muller -proudly, "Ach, vot a terrible fright dot Robert cat give me." - -"Yep, those bob cats,--as we call them for short,--are ugly customers -at close quarters," put in Cal, with a grin. - -"Say," said Nat, suddenly pointing below them, "that little stream down -there looks as if it ought to have some trout in it. What do you say if -we try and get some for dinner?" - -"All right," agreed Cal, "you fellers go fishin' and the perfusser here -and I will stand by the camp." - -"Chess. I dinks me I dondt feel much like valking aroundt," remarked -Herr Muller, whose face was still pale from the alarming ordeal he had -undergone. - -So the boys selected each a rod and set out at a rapid pace for the -little brook Nat had indicated. The watercourse boiled brownly along -over a rough bed of rocks, forming here and there little waterfalls and -cascades, and then racing on again under flowering shrubs and beneath -high, rocky ramparts. It was ideal trout water, and the boys, who were -enthusiastic fishermen, welcomed the prospect of "wetting a line" in it. - -The brook was about a quarter of a mile from the camp under the big -trees, and the approach to it was across a park-like grassy slope. -Beyond it, however, another range shot up forbiddingly, rearing its -rough, rugged face to the sky like an impassable rampart. Gaunt pines -clothed its rocky slope, intermingled with clumps of chaparral and the -glossy-leaved madrone bushes. They grew almost down to the edge of the -stream in which the boys intended to fish. - -The sport, as Nat had anticipated, was excellent. So absorbed in it did -he become in fact, that he wandered down the streamlet's course farther -than he had intended. Killing trout, however, is fascinating sport, and -the time passed without the boy really noticing at all how far he had -become separated from his companions. - -At last, with a dozen fine speckled beauties, not one of which would -weigh less than three-quarters of a pound, the boy found time to look -about him. There was not a sign of Joe or Ding-dong Bell and he -concluded that they must be farther up the stream. With the intention -of locating them he started to retrace his footsteps. - -"Odd how far a fellow can come without knowing it, when he's fishing," -mused Nat. I wonder how many other boys have thought the same thing! - -As he went along he looked about him. On his right hand towered the -rocky slopes of the range, with the dark shadows lying under the gaunt -pine trees. On his other hand, separated from him, however, by some -clumps of madrone and manzinita, was the grove of big trees under which -the auto was parked, and where Cal and Herr Muller were doubtlessly -impatiently awaiting his arrival and that of his companions. - -"Got to hurry," thought Nat, mending his pace once more, but to his -dismay, as he stepped forward, his foot slipped on a sharp-edged rock, -and with a wrench of sharp pain he realized that he had twisted his -ankle. The sprain, judging by the pain it gave him, seemed to be a -severe one, too. - -"Wow!" thought Nat, sinking back upon another rock and nursing his -foot, "that was a twister and no mistake. Wonder if I can get back on -foot. Guess I'll rest a minute and see if it gets any better." - -The boy had sat thus for perhaps five minutes when there came a -sudden rustling in the brush before him. At first he did not pay much -attention to it, thinking that a rabbit, or even a deer might be going -through. Suddenly the noise ceased abruptly. Then it came again. This -time it was louder and it sounded as if some heavy body was approaching. - -"Great Scott!" was the sudden thought that flashed across the boy's -mind, "what if it's a bear!" - -He had good cause for alarm in such a case, for he had nothing more -formidable with which to face it but his fishing rod. But the next -moment the boy was destined to receive even a greater shock than the -sudden appearance of a grizzly would have given him. - -The shrubs before him suddenly parted and the figure of a man in -sombrero, rough shirt and trousers, with big boots reaching to his -knees, stepped out. - -"Ed. Dayton!" gasped Nat looking up at the apparition. - -"Yep, Ed. Dayton," was the reply, "and this time, Master Nat, I've got -you where I want you. Boys!" - -He raised his voice as he uttered the last word. - -In response, from the brush-wood there stepped two others whom Nat had -no difficulty in recognizing as the redoubtable Al. Jeffries and the -man with whom he had struggled on the stable floor the memorable night -of the attempted raid on the auto. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -NAT'S LUCKY ESCAPE. - - -If a round black bomb had come rolling down the mountain side and -exploded at Nat's feet he could not have been more thunderstruck than -he was at the sudden appearance of his old enemy. True, he should have -had such a possibility in mind, but so intent had he been on his trout -fishing, and the pain of his injury on the top of that, that he had not -given a thought to the possibility of any of their foes being about. - -"Don't make a racket," warned Al. Jeffries ominously, as he flourished -a revolver about, "I'm dreadful nervous, and if you make a noise I -might pull the trigger by accident." - -Nat saw at once that this was one way of saying that he would be shot -if he made any outcry, and he decided that there was nothing for him -to do but to refrain from giving any shout of alarm. Had his ankle not -been wrenched and giving him so much pain the boy would have tried to -run for it. But as it was, he was powerless to do anything but wait. - -"Ain't quite so gabby now as you was in Lower California," snarled -Dayton vindictively, as the boy sat staring at his captors. - -"If you mean by that that I am not doing any talking, you're right," -rejoined Nat. - -"That's a purty nice watch you've got there," remarked Al., gazing at -Nat's gold timepiece which had been jerked out of his breast pocket -when he fell over the rock. - -"Yes," agreed Nat, determined not to show them that he was alarmed by -his predicament, "my dead father gave me that." - -"Well, just hand it over." - -"What?" - -Nat's face flushed angrily. His temper began to rise too. - -"Come on, hand it over and don't be all night about it," ordered Al. - -Nat jumped to his feet. - -His fists were clenched ready for action. It seemed clear that if they -were going to take the watch from him while he had strength to protect -himself that they had a tough job in front of them. But an unexpected -interruption occurred. It came from Ed. Dayton. - -"See here, Al.," he growled, "don't get too previous. I reckon the -colonel can dispose of the watch as he sees fit. All such goes to him -first you know, so as to avoid disputes." - -"Don't see where you come in to run this thing," muttered Al., but -nevertheless he subsided into silence. - -All this time Nat's mind had been working feverishly. But cast about as -he would he could not hit on a plan of escape. - -"I guess the only thing to do is to let them make the first move, and -then lie low and watch for a chance to get away," he thought to himself. - -"Wonder what they mean to do with me anyhow?" - -He was not left long in doubt. - -"Get the horses," Dayton ordered, turning to Al. Jeffries. - -The other, still grumbling, turned obediently away however. There -seemed to be no doubt that Ed. Dayton was a man of some power in the -band. Nat saw this with a sinking heart. He knew the vengeful character -of the man too well for it not to cause him the gravest apprehension -of what his fate might be. Not by so much as a flicker of an eyelash, -however, did he let the ruffians see that he was alarmed. He would not -for worlds have given them the satisfaction of seeing him weaken. - -Pretty soon Al. returned with three ponies. The animals must have been -hidden in the brush on the opposite, or mountain side of the stream, -for this was the direction in which Al. had gone to get them. They were -a trio of wiry little steeds. On the back of each was a high-horned and -cantled Mexican saddle, with a rifle holster and a canteen slung from -it. The bridle of Dayton's pony was decorated with silver ornaments in -the Western fashion. - -"Come on. Get up kid," said Dayton gruffly, seizing Nat by the -shoulder, "we've got a long way to go with you." - -A long way to go! - -The words sounded ominous, and Nat, hurt as he was, decided on taking -a desperate chance. Springing suddenly to his feet he lowered his head -and ran full tilt at Dayton, driving his head into the pit of the -ruffian's stomach with the force of a battering ram. - -"Wo-o-o-f!" - -With the above exclamation the rascal doubled up and pitched over. -Before the others could recover their presence of mind Nat, despite the -pain in his ankle, had managed to dash in among the brush where it was -impossible to aim at him with any hope of bringing him down. - -Nevertheless, Dayton's companions started firing into the close-growing -vegetation. - -"Fire away," thought Nat, painfully struggling through the thick -growth, "the more bullets you waste the fewer you'll have for your -rascally work." - -But Dayton had, by this time, scrambled to his feet, and the boy could -hear him shouting angry commands. At the same instant came shouts from -another direction. - -With a quick flash of joy, Nat recognized the new voices. The shouts -were in the welcome and familiar tones of Cal Gifford and the Motor -Rangers. - -"Mount, boys, and get out of here quick!" - -The warning shout came from behind the fleeing boy, and was in the -voice of Dayton. The rascal evidently had heard, and interpreted -aright, the exclamations and shouts from the meadow side of the brook. -The next instant a clattering of hoofs announced the fact that the -members of Col. Morello's band of outlaws were putting all the distance -between themselves and the Motor Rangers' camp that they could. - -"Good riddance," muttered Nat, thinking how nearly he had come to being -borne off with them. - -But the tension of the excitement over, the pain in his ankle almost -overcame him. He sank limply down on a rock and sent out a cry for aid. - -"Cal! Cal! this way!" - -"Yip yee!" he heard the welcome answering shout, and before many -seconds had passed Herr Muller's horse, with the Westerner astride -of its bony back, came plunging into the brush. Behind came Joe and -Ding-dong, wide-eyed with excitement. They had missed their comrade -and had been searching for him when the sound of the shots came. Cal, -who had also become anxious, and had ridden down from the camp to the -stream side, was with them at the moment. Together the rescue party had -hastened forward, too late however, to find Dayton and his companions. -They naturally heard Nat's story with deep interest and attention. - -"Good thing them varmints didn't know that you two weren't armed," said -Cal, turning to Joe and Ding-dong, "or they might hev stayed. In which -case the whole bunch of us might have been cleaned out." - -"I think it will be a pretty good rule never to leave camp in future -without a revolver or a rifle," said Nat, painfully rising to his feet -and steadying himself by gripping Bismark's mane. - -"Right you are, my boy. We ought to have done thet in the first place. -Howsomever, the thing to do now is to get you back ter camp. Come on, -I'll give you a leg up." - -As he spoke, Cal slid off Bismark's back, and presently Nat was in his -place. Escorted by Joe and Ding-dong, the cavalcade lost no time in -getting back to where the auto had been left in charge of Herr Muller. - -"Get any pictures while we was gone?" asked Cal as they came within -hailing distance. - -"Nein," rejoined the German sorrowfully. - -"Nine," exclaimed Cal looking about him, "where in thunder did you get -nine subjects about here?" - -"He means no," said Nat, who had to laugh despite his pain, at this -confusion of tongues. - -"Wall, why can't he say so?" grunted Cal, plainly despising the -ignorance of the foreigner. - -Nat's ankle was found to be quite badly twisted, but Cal's knowledge of -woodcraft stood them in good stead. After examining it and making sure -that nothing was broken, the former stage driver searched about the -grassy meadow for a while and finally plucked several broad leaves from -a low-growing bush. These had a silvery tint underneath and were dark -on the upper surface. - -"Silver weed," said Cal briefly, as he came back to the camp. Selecting -a small pot, he rapidly heated some water on the fire which Herr Muller -had kindled in his absence. This done, he placed the leaves to steep in -it and after a while poured off the water and made a poultice with the -leaves. This he bound upon Nat's ankle and in a wonderfully short time -the pain was much reduced, and the boy could use his foot. - -In the meantime, a spiderful of beans and bacon had been cooked to go -with the fried trout, and the inevitable coffee prepared. For dessert -they had canned peaches, topping off the spread with crackers and -cheese. - -"Tell you," remarked Cal, as he drew out his black pipe and prepared -to enjoy his after dinner smoke, "this thing of travelling round in an -auto is real, solid comfort. We couldn't hev had a spread like that if -we'd bin on the trail with a packing outfit." - -Dinner over and Nat feeling his ankle almost as well as ever, it -was decided to start on at once. For one thing, the outlaws might -have marked the camping place and it was not a good enough strategic -position to withstand an attack if one should be made. - -"We want to be in a snugger place than this if that outfit starts in on -us," said Cal decisively. - -"Do you think they'll make us more trouble then?" inquired Joe. - -"I think that what they did to-day shows that they are keeping pretty -close watch on us, my boy. It's up to us to keep our eyes open by day -and sleep with one optic unclosed at night." - -Herr Muller and Ding-dong Bell, who had undertaken the dishwashing, -soon concluded the task and the Motor Rangers once more set out. They -felt some regret at leaving the beautiful camping spot behind them, but -still, as Cal had pointed out, it was a bad location from which to -repulse an enemy, supposing they should be attacked. - -"Vell, I'm gladt I didndt drop from dot tree," remarked Herr Muller, -gazing back at the lofty summit of the imposing Big Tree, in which he -had had such a narrow escape. - -"You take your pictures on terra firma after this," advised Joe. - -"Or if you do any more such stunts leave the camera with us," suggested -Cal, who was leading the Teuton's steed. - -"Then we could get a g-g-g-g-good pup-p-p-picture of what England -d-d-dreads," stuttered Ding-dong. - -"What's that?" inquired Nat. - -"The G-g-g-g-g-german p-p-p-peril," chuckled the stuttering youth. - -Soon after leaving the pleasant plateau of the big trees the scenery -became rough and wild in the extreme. The Sierras are noted for their -deep, narrow valleys, and after about an hour's progress over very -rough trails the Motor Rangers found themselves entering one of these -gloomy defiles. After the bright sunlight of the open country its dim -grandeur struck a feeling of apprehension into their minds. It seemed -chilly and oppressive somehow. - -"Say, perfusser," suggested Cal presently, "just sing us that Chinese -song to cheer us up, will you?" - - "Hi lee! Hi lo! - Hi lee! Hi lay!----" - -The "perfusser," as Cal insisted on calling him, had obligingly begun -when from ahead of them and high up, as it seemed, came a peculiar -sound. - -It was a crackling of brush and small bushes apparently. Instinctively -Nat stopped the car and it was well that he did so, for the next -instant a giant boulder came crashing down the steep mountainside above -them. - -[Illustration: Instinctively Nat stopped the car, and it was well that -he did so, for the next instant a giant boulder came crashing down.] - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -THE VOLLEY IN THE CANYON. - - -Nat had stopped in the nick of time. As the auto came to an abrupt -halt, almost jolting those in the tonneau out of their seats, there was -a roar like the voice of an avalanche. From far up the hillside a cloud -of dust grew closer, and thundered past like an express train. In the -midst of the cloud was the huge, dislodged rock, weighing perhaps half -a ton or more. - -So close did it whiz by, in fact, just ahead of the car, that Nat could -almost have sworn that it grazed the engine bonnet. The ground shook -and trembled as if an earthquake was in progress, during the passage of -the huge rock. - -"Whew! Well, what do you think of that!" gasped Joe. - -"I thought the whole mountainside was coming away," exclaimed -Ding-dong, startled into plain speech by his alarm. - -Of course the first thing to be done was to clamber out of the car and -examine the monster rock, which had come to rest some distance up the -side of the opposite cliff to that from which it had fallen, such had -been its velocity. Nat could not help shuddering as he realized that -if the great stone had ever struck the auto it would have been, in the -language of Cal, "Good-night" for the occupants of that vehicle. - -"Ach, vee vould haf been more flat as a pretzel alretty yet," exclaimed -Herr Muller, unslinging his ever ready camera, and preparing to take a -photo of the peril which had so narrowly missed them. - -"This must be our lucky day," put in Joe, "three narrow escapes, one -after the other. I wonder if there'll be a fourth." - -"Better not talk about it, Joe," urged Cal, "the next time we might not -be so fortunate." - -"Guess that's right," said Nat, who was examining the boulder with some -care. - -Apparently it had been one of those monster rocks which glacial action -in the bygone ages has left stranded, delicately balanced on a -mountainside. Some rocks of this character it takes but a light shove -to dislodge. So perfectly are other great masses poised that it takes -powerful leverage to overcome their inertia--to use a term in physics. - -But the scientific aspect of the rock was not what interested Nat. What -he wanted to find out was just how such a big stone could have become -unseated from the mountainside and at a time when its downfall would, -but for their alertness, have meant disaster and perhaps death, to the -Motor Rangers. Nat had an idea, but he did not wish to announce it till -he was sure. - -Suddenly he straightened up with a flushed face. His countenance bore -an angry look. - -"Come here, fellows," he said, "and tell me what you make of this mark -at the side of the rock." - -He indicated a queer abrasion on one side of the stone. The living -stone showed whitely where the lichen and moss had been scraped aside. - -"Looks like some cuss had put a lever under it," pronounced Cal, after -a careful inspection. - -"That's what. Fellows, this rock was deliberately tilted so that it -would come down on us and crush us. Now there's only one bunch of men -that we know of mean enough to do such a thing and that's----" - -_Phut-t-t!_ - -Something whistled past Nat's ear with a noise somewhat like the -humming of a drowsy bee, only the sound lasted but for a fraction of a -second. - -Nat knew it instantly for what it was. - -A bullet! - -It struck the rock behind him, and not half an inch from a direct line -with his head, with a dull spatter. - -The boy could not help turning a trifle pale as he realized what an -exceedingly narrow escape he had had. Cal's countenance blazed with -fury. - -"The--the dern--skunks!" he burst out, unlimbering his well polished -old revolver. - -"Reckon two kin play at that game." - -But Nat pulled the other's arm down. - -"No good, Cal," he said, "the best thing we can do is to get out of -here as quickly as possible. One man up there behind those rocks could -wipe out an army down in here." - -Cal nodded grimly, as he recognized the truth of the lad's words. Truly -they were in no position to do anything but, as Nat had suggested, get -out as quickly as possible. - -As they reached this determination another bullet whizzed by and struck -a rock behind them, doubly convincing them of the wisdom of this -course. Fortunately, as has been said, the boulder had rolled clear -across the floor of the narrow canyon, such had been its velocity. This -was lucky for the lads, for if it had obstructed the way they would -have been in a nasty trap. With no room to turn round and no chance of -going ahead their invisible enemies would have had them at their mercy. - -But if they could not see the shooters on the hillside, those marksmen -appeared to have their range pretty accurately. Bullets came pattering -about them now in pretty lively fashion. Suddenly Herr Muller gave an -exclamation and a cry of mingled pain and alarm. A red streak appeared -at the same instant on the back of his hand where the bullet had nicked -him. But this was not the cause of his outcry. The missile had ended -its career in the case in which he carried his photographic plates. - -Nat heard the exclamation and turned about as the car began to move -forward. - -"Where are you hurt?" he asked anxiously, fearing some severe injury -might have been inflicted on their Teutonic comrade. - -"In der plate box," was the astonishing reply. - -"Good heavens, you are shot in the stomach?" cried Joe. - -"No, but seferal of my plates have been smashed, Ach Himmel voss -misfordune." - -"I suppose you thought that plate box meant about the same thing as -bread basket," grinned Nat, turning to Joe, as they sped forward. A -ragged fire followed them, but no further damage to car or occupants -resulted. Herr Muller's horse, in the emergency, behaved like a -veteran. It trotted obediently behind the car without flinching. - -"Bismark, I am proudt off you," smiled his owner, after the damage to -the plate box had been investigated and found to be not so serious as -its owner had feared. - -"We must have drawn out of range," said Cal, as after a few more -desultory reports the firing ceased altogether. - -"I hope so, I'm sure," responded Nat, "I tell you it's a pretty mean -feeling, this thing of being shot at by a chap you can't see at all." - -"Yep, he jes' naturally has a drop on you," agreed Cal. "Wonder how -them fellers trailed us?" - -"Simple enough," rejoined Nat, "at least, it is so to my way of -thinking. They didn't _trail_ us at all. They just got ahead of us." - -"How do you mean?" asked Cal, even his keen wits rather puzzled. - -"Why they figured out, I guess, that we weren't going to be such -cowards as to let their attempts to scare us turn us back. That being -the case, the only way for us to proceed forward from the Big Trees -was to drive through this canyon. I reckon therefore that they just -vamoosed ahead a bit and were ready with that big rock when we came -along." - -"The blamed varmints," ground out the ex-stage driver, "I wonder if -they meant to crush us?" - -"Quite likely," rejoined Nat, "and if this car hadn't been able to stop -in double-quick jig-time, they'd have done it, too. Of course they may -have only intended to block the road so that they could go through us -at their leisure. But in that case I should think that they would have -had the rock already there before we came along." - -"Just my idea, lad," agreed the Westerner heartily, "them pestiferous -coyotes wouldn't stop at a little thing like wiping us out, if it was -in their minds ter do it. But I've got an idea that we must be getting -near their den. I've heard it is back this way somewhere." - -"If that is so," commented Nat, "it would account for their anxiety to -turn us back. But," and here the boy set his lips grimly, "that's one -reason why I'm determined to go on." - -"And you can bet that I'm with you every step of the way," was Cal's -hearty assurance. He laid a brown paw on Nat's hands as they gripped -the steering wheel. I can tell you, that in the midst of the perils -into which Nat could not help feeling they were now approaching, it -felt good to have a stalwart, resourceful chap like Cal along. - -"Thanks, Cal. I know you'll stick," rejoined Nat simply, and that was -all. - -The canyon--or more properly, pass--which they had been traversing soon -came to an end, the spurs of the mountains which formed it sloping -down, and "melting" off into adjoining ranges. This formed a pleasant -little valley between their slopes. The depression, which was perhaps -four miles in circumference, was carpeted with vivid green bunch grass. -Clumps of flowering shrubs stood in the centre where a small lake, -crystal clear, was formed by the conjunction of two little streams. -The water was the clear, cold liquid of the mountains, sharp with the -chill of the high altitudes. - -After the boys had selected a camping place on a little knoll -commanding all parts of the valley, their first task was to bring up -buckets of water and clean off the auto which, by this time, as you -may imagine, was pretty grimy and dusty. Several marks on the tonneau, -too, showed where bullets had struck during the brush in the canyon. -Altogether, the car looked "like business," that is to say, as if -it had gone through other ups and downs than those of the mountains -themselves. - -An inspection of the big gasolene tank showed that the emergency -container was almost exhausted, and before they proceeded to anything -else, Nat ordered the tanks filled from the stock they carried in the -big "store-room," suspended under the floor of the car. - -"We might have to get out of here in a hurry, when there would be no -time to fill up the tanks," he said. "It's best to have everything -ready in case of accidents." - -"That's right," agreed Cal, "nothing like havin' things ready. I -recollect one time when I was back home in Iowy that they----" - -But whatever had occurred--and it was doubtless interesting--back at -Cal's home in Iowa, the boys were destined never to know; for at that -moment their attention was attracted to the horse of Herr Muller, which -had been tethered near a clump of madrone shrubs not far from the lake. - -"He's gone crazy!" shouted Joe. - -"M-m-m-mad as a h-h-h-atter in Mum-m-march," sputtered Ding-dong. - -No wonder the boys came to such a conclusion. For a respectable equine, -such as Herr Muller's steed had always shown himself to be, Bismark -certainly was acting in an extraordinary manner. - -At one moment he flung his heels high into the air, and almost at the -same instant up would come his forelegs. Then, casting himself on the -ground, he would roll over and over, sending up little showers of turf -and stones with his furiously beating hoofs. All the time he kept up a -shrill whinnying and neighing that greatly added to the oddity of his -performance. - -"Ach Himmel! Bismark is a loonitacker!" yelled Herr Muller, rushing -toward his quadruped, of which he had become very fond. - -But alas! for the confidence of the Teuton. As he neared Bismark, the -"loonitacker" horse up with his hind legs and smiting Herr Muller -in the chest, propelled him with speed and violence backward toward -the lake. In vain Herr Muller tried to stop his backward impetus by -clutching at the brush. It gave way in his hands like so much flax. -Another second and he was soused head over heels in the icy mountain -water. - -"What in the name of Ben Butler has got inter the critter?" gasped Cal -amazedly. The others opened their eyes wide in wonder. All of them had -had something to do with horses at different stages of their careers, -but never in their united experiences had a horse been seen to act like -Bismark, the "loonitacker." - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -A "LOONITACKER" HORSE. - - -"I have it!" cried Nat suddenly. - -"What, the same thing as Bismark?" shouted Joe, "here somebody, hold -him down." - -"No, I know what's the matter with him--loco weed!" - -He stooped down and picked up a small, bright green trefoil leaf. Cal -slapped his leg with an exclamation as he looked at it. - -"That's right, boy. That's loco weed, sure. It's growing all around -here, and we was too busy to notice it. That old plug has filled his -ornery carcass up on it." - -By this time the German had crawled out of the water, and was poking a -dripping face, with a comical expression of dismay on it, through the -bushes about the lake. Not seeing Bismark near, he ventured out a few -paces, but the horse suddenly spying him made a mad dash for him. Herr -Muller beat a hasty retreat. Even Bismark could not penetrate into the -thick brush after him. - -"Vos is los mit Bismark?" yelled the German from his retreat at the -boys and Cal, who were almost convulsed with laughter at the creature's -comical antics. - -"I guess his brains is loose," hailed back Cal, whose knowledge of the -German language was limited. - -"He's mad!" shouted Joe by way of imparting some useful information. - -"Mad? Voss iss he madt about?" - -"Oh, what's the use?" sighed Joe. Then placing his hands funnelwise to -his mouth he bawled out:-- - -"He's locoed!" - -"Low toed?" exclaimed the amazed German. "Then I take him mit der -blacksmith." - -"Say, you simian-faced subject of Hoch the Kaiser, can't you understand -English?" howled Cal, in a voice that might have dislodged a mountain. -"Bismark is crazy, locoed, mad, off his trolley, got rats in his -garret, bats in his belfry, bug-house, screw-loose, daft, looney--now -do you understand?" - -"Yah!" came the response, "now I know. Bismark is aufergerspeil." - -"All right, call it that if you want to," muttered Cal. Then, as -Bismark, with a final flourish of his heels and a loud shrill whinny, -galloped off, the Westerner turned to the boys. - -"Well, we've seen the last of him for a while." - -"Aren't you going to try to catch him?" asked Nat, as he watched the -horse dash across the meadow-like hollow, and then vanish in the belt -of dark wood on the hillside beyond. - -"No good," said Cal decisively, "wouldn't be able to do a thing with -him for days. That loco weed is bad stuff. If I'd ever noticed it -growing around here you can bet that Bismuth, or whatever that Dutchman -calls him, wouldn't have left the camp." - -Herr Muller, rubbing a grievous bump he had received when the -ungrateful equine turned upon the hand that fed him, now came up and -joined the party. He made such a grievous moan over the loss of his -horse that Nat's heart was melted. He promised finally that they would -stay in the vicinity the next day, and if Bismark had not appeared that -they would make a short search in the mountains for him. - -This was strongly against Cal's advice, but he, too, finally gave in. -The Westerner knew better even than the boys with what a desperate gang -they were at odds, and he did not favor anything that delayed their -getting out of that part of the country as quick as possible. - -"My mine is only a day or so's run from here," he said to Nat, "and if -once we reached there we could stand these fellows off till help might -be summoned from some place below, and we could have Morello's gang all -arrested." - -"That would be a great idea," agreed Nat, "do you think it could be -done?" - -"Don't see why not," rejoined Cal, "but you'll see better when you get -a look at the place. It's a regular natural fortress, that's what it -is. My plan would be to hold 'em there while one of us rides off to -Laredo or Big Oak Flat for the sheriff and his men." - -"We'll talk some more about that," agreed Nat, to whom the idea -appealed immensely. In fact, he felt that there was little chance -of their really enjoying their trip till they were sure that Col. -Morello's gang was disposed of. Somehow Nat had a feeling that they -were not through with the rascals yet. In which surmise, as we shall -see, he was right. - -Supper that night was a merry meal, and after it had been disposed of, -the waterproof tent which the boys had brought along was set up for the -first time. With its sod cloth and spotless greenish-gray coloring, it -made an inviting looking little habitation, more especially when the -folding cots were erected within. But Herr Muller was in a despondent -mood. He ate his supper in silence and sat melancholy and moody -afterward about the roaring camp fire. - -"Ach dot poor horse. Maypee der wolves get der poor crazy loonitacker," -he moaned. - -"Wall," commented Cal judicially, "ef he kin handle wolves as well as -he kin Dutchmen he's no more reason to be scared of 'em than he is of -jack-rabbits." - -Of course watches were posted that night, and extra careful vigilance -exercised. The events of the day had not added to the boys' confidence -in their safety, by any means. There was every danger, in fact, of a -night attack being attempted by their enemies. - -But the night passed without any alarming interruption. And the morning -dawned as bright and clear as the day that had preceded it. Breakfast -was quickly disposed of, and then plans were laid for the pursuit of -the errant Bismark. - -Cal was of the opinion, that if the effect of the loco weed had worn -off, that the horse might be found not far from the camp. There was -a chance, of course, that he might have trotted back home. But Cal's -experience had shown him that in the lonely hills, horses generally -prefer the company of human kind to the solitudes and that if the -influence of the crazy-weed was not still upon him the quadruped would -be found not very far off. - -This was cheering news to the photographing Teuton, who could hardly -eat any breakfast so impatient was he to be off. Cal was to stay and -guard the camp with Ding-dong for a companion. The searching party was -to consist of Nat, in command, with Joe and Herr Muller as assistants. - -All, of course, carried weapons, and it was agreed that the signal in -case of accident or attack, would be two shots in quick succession, -followed by a third. Two shots alone would announce that the horse was -found; while one would signify failure and an order to turn homeward. - -These details being arranged, and Herr Muller thoroughly drilled in -them, the searchers set forth. The little meadow was soon traversed, -and at the edge of the woods, which clothed the slope at this side of -the valley, they separated. Nat took the centre, striking straight -ahead on Bismark's trail, while the other two converged at different -radii. - -The hill-side was not steep, and walking under the pinons and madrones -not difficult. Occasionally a clump of dense chaparral intervened, so -thick that it had to be walked around. It would have been waste of time -to attempt to penetrate it. - -All three of the searchers, as may be imagined, kept a sharp look-out, -not only for trace of Bismark but also for any sign of danger. But they -tramped on, while the sun rose higher, without anything alarming making -itself manifest. - -But of Bismark not a trace was to be found. He had, apparently, -vanished completely. The ground was dry and rocky, too, which was bad, -so far as trailing was concerned. Nat, although he now and then tumbled -on a hoof mark or found a spot where Bismark had stopped to graze, saw -nothing further of the horse. - -At last he looked at his watch. He gave an exclamation of astonishment -as he did so. It was almost noon. - -"Got to be starting back," he thought, and drawing his revolver, he -fired one shot, the signal agreed upon for the return. - -This done, he set off walking at a brisk pace toward what he believed -was the valley. But Nat, like many a more experienced mountaineer, had -become hopelessly turned around during his wanderings. While it seemed -to him he was striking in an easterly direction, he was, as a matter of -fact, proceeding almost the opposite way. - -After tramping for an hour or more the boy began to look about him. - -"That's odd," he thought as he took in the surroundings, "I don't -remember seeing anything like this around the valley." - -It was, in fact, a very different scene from that surrounding the -camp that now lay about him. Instead of a soft, grass-covered valley, -all that could be seen from the bare eminence on which he had now -climbed, was a rift in some bare, rocky hills. The surroundings were -inexpressibly wild and desolate looking. Tall rocks, like the minarets -of Eastern castles, shot upward, and the cliffs were split and riven -as if by some immense convulsion of nature. - -High above the wild scene there circled a big eagle. From time to time -it gave a harsh scream, adding a dismal note to the dreary environment. - -For a flash Nat felt like giving way to the wild, unreasoning panic -that sometimes overwhelms those who suddenly discover they are -hopelessly lost. His impulse was to dash into the wood and set off -running in what he thought must be the right direction. But he checked -himself by an effort of will, and forced his mind to accept the -situation as calmly as possible. - -"How foolish I was not to mark the trees as I came along!" he thought. - -If only he had done that it would have been a simple matter to find -his way back. A sudden idea flashed into his mind, and drawing out his -watch the boy pointed the hour hand at the sun, which was, luckily, in -full sight. He knew that a point between the hour hand thus directed, -and noon, would indicate the north and south line. - -As Nat had begun to think, this test showed him that he had been -almost completely turned about, and had probably come miles in the -wrong direction. - -The east lay off to his right. Nat faced about, and was starting -pluckily off in that direction when a sudden commotion in a clump of -chaparral below attracted his attention. A flock of blue jays flew up, -screaming and scolding hoarsely in their harsh notes. - -Nat was woodsman enough to know that the blue jay is the watch-dog -of the forests. Their harsh cries betoken the coming of anything for -half a mile or more. Sometimes, however, they do not scream out their -warning till whatever alarms them is quite close. - -As the birds, uttering their grating notes, flew upward from the clump -in the chaparral, Nat paused. So still did he keep that he could -distinctly hear the pounding of his heart in the silence. But presently -another sound became audible. - -The trampling of horses coming in his direction! - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -THE MOTOR RANGER'S PERIL. - - -"Reckon Nat must have forgotten to fire the signal," thought Joe, -sinking down on a rock, some little time before the former had halted -to listen intently to the approaching noise. - -Suddenly, however, the distant report came, borne clearly to his ears. - -"There it goes," thought Joe. "One shot. I guess that means good-bye to -the Dutchman's horse." - -Knowing that it would be no use looking about for Nat, for evidently -from the faint noise of the shot it had been fired at some distance, -Joe faced about and started back for the camp. When he reached it, he -found to his surprise, that Herr Muller had returned some time before. -As a matter of fact, Joe formed a shrewd suspicion from the rapid time -he must have made on his return, that Herr Muller had sought a snug -spot and dozed away the interval before Nat's shot was heard. - -As it so happened he was not very far from the truth. The German, -having tramped quite a distance into the woods, had argued to himself -that he stood about as good a chance of recovering his horse by -remaining still as by proceeding. So he had seated himself with a big -china-bowled pipe, to await the recall signal. He had started on the -hunt with much enthusiasm, but tramping over rough, stony ground, under -a hot sun, is one of the greatest solvents of enthusiasm known. And so -it had proved in the German's case. - -He had, however, a fine tale to tell of his tramp, and to listen to -him one would have thought that he was the most industrious of the -searchers. - -"Guess we'd better start dinner without Nat," said Cal, after they had -hung around, doing nothing but watching the pots simmer over the camp -fire, for an hour or two. - -"That's a gug-g-g-good idea," agreed Ding-dong. - -Joe demurred a bit at the idea of not waiting for their young leader, -but finally he, too, agreed to proceed with the meal. As will be seen -by this, not much anxiety was yet felt in the camp over Nat's absence. -He was stronger and much more wiry than the other two searchers, and -it was altogether probable that he had proceeded much farther than had -they. - -But, as the afternoon wore on and no Nat put in an appearance, -conversation seemed to languish. Anxious eyes now sought the rim of -the woods on the opposite side of the clearing. Nobody dared to voice -the fears that lay at their hearts, however. Cal, perhaps, alone among -them, realized the extent of the peril in which Nat stood, if he were -lost in the mountains. It was for this reason that he did not speak -until it became impossible to hold out hope any longer. - -This was when the shadows began to lengthen and the western sky burned -dull-red, as the sun sank behind the pine-fringed mountain tops. Then, -and not till then, Cal spoke what was on his mind. - -His comrades received the news of Cal's conviction that Nat was -lost without the dismay and outward excitement that might have been -expected. As a matter of fact, the dread that something had happened to -the lad had been in the minds of all of them for some hours, although -each tried to appear chipper and cheerful. There was no evading the -facts as they stood, any longer, however. - -Very soon night would fall, with its customary suddenness in these -regions. Unless Nat returned before that time--which was so improbable -as to hardly be worth considering--there remained only one conclusion -to be drawn. - -"Whatever can we do?" demanded Joe, in a rather shaky voice, as he -thought of his comrade out on the desolate mountain side, hungry and -perhaps thirsty, looking in vain for a trace of a trail back to camp. - -"Not much of anything," was Cal's disquieting reply, "except to stay -put." - -"You mean stay right where we are?" - -"That's right, boy. There's a chance that Nat may be back before long. -Only a chance, mind you, but in that case we want ter be right here." - -"Suppose he is h-h-h-h-hurt?" quavered out Ding-dong, voicing a fear -they had all felt, but had not, so far, dared to speak of. - -Cal waved his hand in an inclusive way at the range opposite. - -"That will mean a search for him," he said, "and he may be any place in -those hills within a ten-mile radius. Talk about lookin' fer a needle -in a haystack. It 'ud be child's play, to finding him in time to do -anything." - -They could not but feel the truth of his words. - -"Besides," went on Cal, "there's another thing. We know that that -ornery bunch of skunks and coyotes of Morello's is sky-hootin' round -here some place. If we leave the camp they might swoop down on it and -clean it out, and then we'd be in a worse fix than ever." - -"That's right," admitted Joe, "but it seems dreadfully tough to have to -sit here with folded hands and doing nothing; while Nat----" - -His voice broke, and he looked off toward the mountains, now dim and -dun-colored in the fast gathering night. - -"No use giving way," said Cal briskly, "and as fer sitting with folded -hands, it's the worst thing you could do. Here you," to Herr Muller, -"hustle around and git all ther wood you can. A big pile of it. We'll -keep up a monstrous fire all night in case the lad might happen to see -it." - -"It will give us something to think about anyhow," said Joe, catching -the infection of Cal's brisk manner; "come on, Herr Muller, I'll help -you." - -They started off to collect wood, while Ding-dong Bell and Cal busied -themselves with the supper dishes and then cleaned up a variety of -small jobs around the camp. - -"Jes' stick this bit of advice in your craw, son," advised Cal as he -went briskly about his tasks, "work's the thing that trouble's most -scart of, so if ever you want to shake your woes pitch in an' tackle -something." - -While Nat's comrades are thus employed, let us see for ourselves -what has become of the lad. We left him listening intently to some -approaching horsemen. He remained in this attentive attitude only long -enough to assure himself that they were indeed coming toward him, and -then, like a flash, his mind was made up. - -It was clear to the boy that travellers in such a remote part of the -Sierras were not common. It also came into his mind that Col. Morello's -band was reputed to have their hiding place somewhere in the vicinity. -The brief glance about him that Nat had obtained had shown him that it -was just the sort of place that men anxious to hide themselves from the -law would select. In the first place, it was so rugged and wild as to -be inaccessible to any but men on foot or horseback, and even then it -would have been a rough trip. - -The valley, or rather "cut," in the hills, up which the sound of hoofs -was coming, was, as has been said, narrow and deep in the extreme. -From the summits of its cliffs a defence of the trail that lay beneath -would be easy. Stationed on those pinnacled, natural turrets, two -might, if well supplied with ammunition, have withstood an army. All -these thoughts had occurred to Nat before he made his resolution--and -turning, started to run. - -But as he sped along a fresh difficulty presented itself. The hillside -at this point seemed to be alive with blue-jays. They flew screaming -up, as he made his way along, and Nat knew that if they had acted as -a warning to him of approaching danger the vociferous birds would be -equally probable to arouse the suspicions of whoever was coming his way. - -He paused to listen for a second, and was glad he had done so. The -horsemen, to judge from their voices, had already reached the spot upon -which he had been standing when he first heard them. What wind there -was blew toward him and he could hear their words distinctly. - -"Those jays are acting strangely, Manuello. I wonder if there is -anybody here." - -"I do not know, colonel," was the reply from the other unseen speaker, -"if there is it will be to our advantage to find him. We don't want -spies near the Wolf's Mouth." - -"Wolf's Mouth," thought Nat, "If that's the name of that abyss it's -well called." - -"You are right, Manuello," went on the first speaker, "after what -Dayton told us about those boys I don't feel easy in my mind as long -as they are in our neighborhood. If Dayton and the others had not -miscalculated yesterday we shouldn't have been bothered with them any -longer." - -"No," was the rejoinder, "it's a pity that boulder didn't hit them and -pound them into oblivion. Just because they happen to be boys doesn't -make them any the less dangerous to us." - -At this unlucky moment, while Nat was straining his ears to catch every -word of the conversation a stone against which he had braced one of his -feet gave way. Ordinarily he would have hardly noticed the sound it -made as it went bounding and rolling down the hillside, but situated as -he was, the noise seemed to be as startling and loud as the discharge -of a big gun. - -"What was that?" asked the man who had been addressed as "colonel." - -"A dislodged stone," was the reply, "someone is in there; the blue-jays -didn't fly up for nothing." - -"So it would seem. We had better investigate before going farther." - -"Still, it is important that we find where those boys are camped." - -"That is true, but it is more important that we find out who is in that -brush." - -Without any more delay, the two horses were turned into the hillside -growth. Nat could hear their feet slipping and sliding among the loose -rocks on the mountain as they came toward him. He did not dare to run -for fear of revealing his whereabouts. - -Close at hand was a pinon tree, which spread out low-growing branches -all about. Nat, as he spied it, decided that if he could get within -its leafy screen unobserved he would, if luck favored him, escape the -observation of the two men--one of whom he was certain now, must be -the famous, or infamous, Col. Morello himself. - -Without any repetition of the unlucky accident of the minute before, he -crept to the trunk of the tree and hoisted himself noiselessly up. As -he had surmised, the upper branches made a comfortable resting place -impervious to the view from below. - -Hardly had he made himself secure, before the horses of the two outlaws -approached the tree and, rather to Nat's consternation, halted almost -immediately beneath it. - -Could the keen-eyed leader of the outlaw band have discovered his -hiding place? It was the most anxious moment of the boy's life. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -THE HORNS OF A DILEMMA. - - -Few men, and still fewer boys, have ever been called upon to face the -agonizing suspense which Nat underwent in the next few seconds. So -close were the men to his hiding place that his nostrils could scent -the sharp, acrid odor of their cigarettes. He was still enough as he -crouched breathless upon the limb to have been carved out of wood, like -the branch upon which he rested. He did not even dare to wink his eyes -for fear of alarming the already aroused suspicions of the two men -below him. - -"Guess those jays got scared at a lion or something," presently decided -the man who had been addressed as "colonel." - -Nat, peering through his leafy screen, could see him as he sat upright -on his heavy saddle of carved leather and looked about him with a pair -of hawk-like eyes. - -Colonel Morello, for Nat had guessed correctly when he concluded that -the man was the famous leader, was a man of about fifty years, with a -weather-beaten face, seamed and lined by years of exposure and hard -living. But his eye, as has been said, was as keen and restless as an -eagle's. A big scar made a livid mark across his cheek indicating the -course of a bullet, fired years before when Morello had been at the -head of a band of Mexican revolutionists. In that capacity, indeed, he -had earned his brevet rank of "colonel." - -A broad-brim gray sombrero, with a silver embossed band of leather -about it, crowned the outlaw chief's head of glossy black hair, worn -rather long and streaked with gray. Across his saddle horn rested -a long-barrelled automatic rifle, of latest make and pattern. For -the rest his clothes were those of an everyday mountaineer with the -exception of a wide red sash. His horse was a fine buckskin animal, and -was almost as famous in Sierran legend as its redoubtable master. - -His companion was a squat, evil-visaged Mexican, with none of the -latent nobility visible under the cruelty and rapaciousness which -marred what might have once been the prepossessing countenance of -Morello. His black hair hung in dank, streaky locks down to the greasy -shoulders of his well-worn buckskin coat, and framed a wrinkled face -as dark as a bit of smoked mahogany, in which glittered, like two live -coals, a pair of shifty black eyes. He was evidently an inferior to the -other in every way--except possibly in viciousness. - -Such were the two men who had paused below the tree in which was -concealed, none too securely, the leader of the young Motor Rangers. As -to what his fate might be if he fell into their hands Nat could hazard -a guess. - -All at once the lad noticed that the branch of the tree upon which he -was lying was in motion. His first thought was that one of the men -might be shaking it in some way. But no--neither of them had moved. -They were seemingly following the remark of the colonel regarding the -blue-jays, and taking a last look about before leaving. In another -moment Nat would have been safe, but as he moved his eyes to try and -see what had shaken the bough he suddenly became aware of an alarming -thing. - -From the branch of another tree which intertwined with the one in which -he was hidden, there was creeping toward him a large animal. The boy -gave a horrified gasp as he saw its greenish eyes fixed steadily on him -with a purposeful glare. - -Step by step, and not making as much noise as a stalking cat, the -creature drew closer. To Nat's terrified imagination it almost seemed -as if it had already given a death spring, and that he was in its -clutches. - -Truly his predicament was a terrible one. If he remained as he was the -brute was almost certain to spring upon him. On the other hand to make -a move to escape would be to draw the attention of the outlaws to his -hiding place. - -"Phew," thought Nat, "talk about being between two fires!" - -Instinctively he drew his revolver. He felt that at least he stood more -of a chance with his human foes than he did with this tawny-coated -monster of the Sierran slopes. - -If the worst came to the worst he would fire at the creature and trust -to luck to escaping from the opposite horn of his dilemma. But in -this Nat had reckoned without his host--or rather, his four-footed -enemy--for without the slightest warning the big creature launched -its lithe body through the air. With a cry of alarm Nat dropped, and -it landed right on the spot where a second before he had been. At the -same instant the colonel and his companion wheeled their horses with -a startled exclamation. The horses themselves, no less alarmed, were -pawing the ground and leaping about excitedly. - -The boy's fall, and the howl of rage from the disappointed animal, -combined to make a sufficiently jarring interruption to the calm and -quiet of the mountain side. - -"Caramba! what was that?" the colonel's voice rang out sharply. - -"It's a boy!" cried his companion, pointing to Nat's recumbent form. -To the lad's dismay, in his fall his revolver had flown out of its -holster and rolled some distance down the hillside. He lay there -powerless, and too stunned and bruised by the shock of his fall to move. - -But the great cat above him was not inactive. Foiled in its first -spring it gathered itself for a second pounce but the colonel's sharp -eye spied the tawny outline among the green boughs. Raising his rifle -he fired twice. At the first shot there came a howl of pain and rage. -At the second a crashing and clawing as the monster rolled out of the -tree and fell in a still, motionless heap not far from Nat. - -"Even the mountain lions seem to work for us," exclaimed the colonel -triumphantly, as he dismounted and walked to Nat's side. - -"Yes, senor, and if I make no mistake this lad here is one of the very -boys we are in search of." - -"You are right. These Americans are devils. I make no doubt but this -one was on his way to spy into our manner of living at our fort. Eh -boy, isn't that true?" - -"No," replied Nat, whose face was pale but resolute. He scrambled -painfully to his feet. Covered with dust, scratched in a dozen places -by his fall through the branches, and streaming with perspiration, -he was not an imposing looking youth right then; but whatever his -appearance might have been, his spirit was dauntless. - -"No," he repeated, "I came up here to look for a horse that one of us -had lost." - -"That's a very likely story," was the colonel's brief comment, in a -dry, harsh tone. His eyes grew hard as he spoke. Evidently he had made -up his mind that Nat was a spy. - -"It is true," declared Nat, "I had no idea of spying into your affairs." - -"Oh no," sneered the colonel vindictively, "I suppose you will tell us -next that you did not know where our fort is; that you were not aware -that it is up that gorge there?" - -"This is the first I've heard of it," declared Nat truthfully. - -"I hold a different opinion," was the rejoinder, "if you had not -been up here on some mischievous errand you would not have concealed -yourself in that tree. Eh, what have you to say to that?" - -"Simply that from all I had heard of you and your band. I was afraid -to encounter you on uneven terms, and when I heard you coming, I hid," -replied Nat. - -"That is it, is it? Well, I have the honor to inform you that I don't -believe a word of your story. Do you know what we did with spies when I -was fighting on the border?" - -Nat shook his head. The colonel's eyelids narrowed into two little -slits through which his dark orbs glinted flintily. - -"We shot them," he whipped out. - -For a moment Nat thought he was about to share the same fate. The -colonel raised his rifle menacingly and glanced along the sights. But -he lowered it the next minute and spoke again. - -"Since you are so anxious to see our fort I shall gratify your wishes," -he said. "Manuello, just take a turn or two about that boy and we'll -take him home with us; he'll be better game than that lion yonder." - -Manuello nimbly tumbled off his horse, and in a trice had Nat bound -with his rawhide lariat. The boy was so securely bundled in it that -only his legs could move. - -"Good!" approvingly said the colonel as he gazed at the tightly tied -captive, "it would be folly to take chances with these slippery -Americanos." - -Manuello now remounted, and taking a half-hitch with the loose end of -his lariat about the saddle horn, he dug his spurs into his pony. The -little animal leaped forward, almost jerking Nat from his feet. He only -remained upright with an effort. - -"Be careful, Manuello," warned the colonel, "he is too valuable a prize -to damage." - -Every step was painful to Nat, bruised as he was, and weak from hunger -and thirst as well, but he pluckily gave no sign. He had deduced from -the fresh condition of his captors' ponies that they could not have -been ridden far. This argued that it would not be long before they -reached the outlaws' fortress. - -In this surmise he was correct. The trail, after winding among -chaparral and madrone, plunged abruptly down and entered the gloomy -defile he had noticed when he first made up his mind that he was lost. -Viewed closely the place was even more sinister than it had seemed -at a distance. Hardly a tree grew on its rugged sides, which were of -a reddish brown rock. It seemed as if they had been, at some remote -period, seared with tremendous fires. - -The trail itself presently evolved into a sort of gallery, hewn out -of the sheer cliff face. The precipice overhung it above, while below -was a dark rift that yawned upon unknown depths. So narrow was the -pass that a step even an inch or two out of the way would have plunged -the one making it over into the profundities of the chasm. A sort of -twilight reigned in the narrow gorge, making the surroundings appear -even more wild and gloomy. A chill came over Nat as he gazed about him. -Do what he would to keep up his spirits they sank to the lowest ebb as -he realized that he was being conducted into a place from which escape -seemed impossible. Without wings, no living creature could have escaped -from that gorge against the will of its lawless inhabitants. - -Suddenly, the trail took an abrupt turn, and Nat saw before him the -outlaws' fort itself. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -IN COLONEL MORELLO'S FORTRESS. - - -Directly ahead of them the gorge terminated abruptly in a blank wall -of rock, in precisely the same manner that a blind alley in a city -comes to a full stop. But "blank" in this case is a misnomer. The -rocky rampart, which towered fully a hundred feet above the trail, was -pierced with several small openings, which appeared to be windows. A -larger opening was approached by a flight of steps, hewn out of the -rock. Although Nat did not know it, the spot had once been a habitation -of the mysterious aborigines of the Sierras. The colonel, stumbling -upon it some years before, had at once recognized its possibilities -as a fortress and a gathering place for his band, and had hastened to -"move in." Stabling for the horses was found in a rocky chamber opening -directly off the trail. - -But Nat's wonderment was excited by another circumstance besides the -sudden appearance of the rock fort. This was the strange manner in -which the abyss terminated at the pierced cliff. As they came along, -the boy had heard the sound of roaring waters at the bottom of the -rift, and coupling this with the fact that the gorge emerged into the -cliff at this point, he concluded that a subterranean river must wind -its way beneath the colonel's unique dwelling place. - -Small time, however, did he have for looking about him. About a hundred -yards along the trail from the pierced cliff there was a strange -contrivance extending outward from the face of the precipice along -which the trail was cut. This was a sort of platform of pine trunks -of great weight and thickness, on the top of which were piled several -large boulders to add to the weight. This affair was suspended by -chains and was an additional safeguard to the outlaws' hiding place. -In the event of a sudden attack the chains were so arranged that they -could be instantly cast loose. This allowed the platform to crash -down, crushing whatever happened to be beneath it, as well as blocking -the trail. - -The colonel paused before they reached this, and whistled three times. - -"Who is it?" came a voice, apparently issuing from a hole pierced in -the rock at their left hand. - -"Two Eagles of the Pass," came the reply from the colonel as he gave -utterance to what was evidently a password. - -"Go ahead, two Eagles of the Pass," came from the invisible rock -aperture, and the party proceeded. - -A few paces brought them from under the shadow of the weighted platform -and to the foot of the flight of stone steps. A shaggy-headed man -emerged from the stable door as they rode up, and took the horses -of the new arrivals. He gazed curiously at Nat, but said nothing. -Evidently, thought the lad, the colonel is a strict disciplinarian. - -This was indeed the case. Col. Morello exacted implicit obedience -from his band, which at this time numbered some twenty men of various -nationalities. On more than one occasion prompt death had been the -result of even a suspicion of a mutinous spirit. - -With Manuello still leading him along, as if he were a calf or a sheep, -Nat was conducted up the stone staircase and into the rock dwelling -itself. The contrast inside the place with the heated air outside was -extraordinary. It was like entering a cool cellar on a hot summer's day. - -The passage which opened from the door in the cliff was in much the -same condition as it had been when the vanished race occupied the -place. In the floor were numerous holes where spears had been sharpened -or corn ground. Rude carvings of men on horseback, or warring with -strange beasts covered the walls. Light filtered in from a hole in the -rock ceiling, fully twenty feet above the floor of the place. Several -small doors opened off the main passage, and into one of these the -colonel, who was in the lead, presently turned, followed by Manuello -leading the captive lad. - -Nat found himself in a chamber which, if it had not been for the rough -walls of the same flame-tinted rock as the abyss, might have been the -living room of any well-to-do rancher. Skins and heads of various -wild beasts ornamented the walls. On the floor bright rugs of sharply -contrasting hues were laid. In a polished oak gun-case in one corner -were several firearms of the very latest pattern and design. A rough -bookshelf held some volumes which showed evidences of having been -well thumbed. From the ceiling hung a shaded silver lamp, of course -unlighted, as plenty of light streamed into the place from the window -in the cliff face. - -The three chairs and the massive table which occupied the centre of the -place were of rough-hewn wood, showing the marks of the axe, but of -skilled and substantial workmanship, nevertheless. The upholstery was -of deerskin, carefully affixed with brass-headed nails. - -The colonel threw himself into one of the chairs and rolled a fresh -cigarette, before he spoke a word. When he did, Nat was astonished, but -not so much as to be startled out of his composure. - -"I've heard about you from Hale Bradford," said the outlaw, "and I have -always been curious to see you." - -"Hale Bradford! Could it be possible," thought Nat, "that the rascally -millionaire who had appropriated his father's mine was also associated -with Col. Morello, the Mexican outlaw?" - -Nat suddenly recalled, however, that it was entirely likely that -Bradford, in his early days on the peninsula, had met Morello, who, at -that time, was a border marauder in that part of the country. Perhaps -they had met since Bradford's abrupt departure from Lower California. -Or perhaps, as was more probable, it was Dayton who had told the -colonel all about the Motor Rangers, and this reference to Bradford was -simply a bluff. - -"Yes, I knew Hale Bradford," was all that Nat felt called upon to say. - -"Hum," observed the colonel, carefully regarding his yellow paper roll, -"and he had good reason to know you, too." - -"I hope so," replied Nat, "if you mean by that, that we drove the -unprincipled rascal out of Lower California." - -"That does not interest me," retorted Morello, "what directly concerns -you is this: one of my men, an old acquaintance of mine, who has -recently joined me, was done a great injury by you down there. He wants -revenge." - -"And this is the way he takes it," said Nat bitterly, gazing about him. - -"I don't know how he means to take it," was the quiet reply. "That must -be left to him. Where is Dayton?" he asked, turning to Manuello. - -"Off hunting. The camp is out of meat," was the reply. - -"Well, I expect Mr. Trevor will stay here till he returns," remarked -the colonel with grim irony, "take him to the west cell, Manuello. See -that he has food and water, and when Dayton gets back we will see what -shall be done with him." - -He turned away and picked up a book, with a gesture signifying that he -had finished. - -Nat's lips moved. He was about to speak, but in the extremity of his -peril his tongue fairly clove to the roof of his mouth. To be left to -the tender mercies of Dayton! That was indeed a fate that might have -made a more experienced adventurer than Nat tremble. The boy quickly -overcame his passing alarm, however, and the next moment Manuello was -conducting him down the passage toward what Nat supposed must be the -west cell. - -Before a stout oaken door, studded with iron bolts, the evil-visaged -Mexican paused, and diving into his pocket produced a key. Inserting -this in a well-oiled lock, he swung back the portal and disclosed a -rock-walled room about twelve feet square. This, then, was the west -cell. Any hope that Nat might have cherished of escaping, vanished as -he saw the place. It was, apparently, cut out of solid rock. It would -have taken a gang of men armed with dynamite and tools many years to -have worked their way out. The door, too, now that it was open, was -seen to be a massive affair, formed of several layers of oak bolted -together till it was a foot thick. Great steel hinges, driven firmly -into the wall, held it in place and on the outside, as an additional -security to the lock, was a heavy sliding bolt of steel. - -Manuello gave Nat a shove and the boy half stumbled forward into the -place. - -The next minute the door closed with a harsh clamor, and he was alone. -So utterly stunned was he by his fate that for some minutes Nat simply -stood still in the centre of the place, not moving an inch. But -presently he collected his faculties, and his first care was to cast -himself loose from the rawhide rope the Mexican had enveloped him in. -This done, he felt easier, and was about to begin an inspection of the -place when a small wicket, not more than six inches square, in the -upper part of the door opened, and a hand holding a tin jug of water -was poked through. Nat seized the receptacle eagerly, and while he was -draining it the same hand once more appeared, this time with a loaf of -bread and a hunk of dried deer meat. - -Nat's hunger was as keen as his thirst, and wisely deciding that -better thinking can be done on a full stomach than on an empty one, he -speedily demolished the provender. So utterly hopeless did the outlook -seem that many a boy in Nat's position would have thrown himself on -the cell floor and awaited the coming of his fate. Not so with Nat. He -had taken for his motto, "While there is life there is hope," although -it must be confessed that even he felt a sinking of the heart as he -thought over his position. Guided by the light that came into the cell -through the small wicket, the boy began groping about him and beating -on the wall. For an hour or more he kept this up, till his hands were -raw and bleeding from his exertions. It appeared to him that he had -pounded every foot of rock in the place, in the hope of finding some -hollow spot, but to no avail. The place was as solid as a safety vault. - -Giving way to real despair at last, even the gritty boy owned himself -beaten. Sinking his face in his hands he collapsed upon the cell floor. -As he did so voices sounded in the corridor. One of them Nat recognized -with a thrill of apprehension, as Dayton's. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -A RIDE FOR LIFE. - - -The next moment the door was flung open, but not before Nat had jumped -to his feet. He did not want his enemies, least of all Dayton, to find -him crouching in a despondent attitude. To have brought despair to -Nat's heart was the one thing above all others, the lad realized, which -would delight Ed. Dayton highly. - -Dayton was accompanied by Manuello and Al. Jeffries. The latter seemed -highly amused at the turn things had taken. - -"Well! well! well! What have we here!" he cried ironically, tugging -his long black mustaches as the light from the passage streamed in -upon Nat, "a young automobiling rooster who's about to get a lesson in -manners and minding his own business. Oh say, Ed., this is luck. Here -is where you get even for the other day." - -"Oh, dry up," admonished Dayton sullenly, "I know my own business best." - -He advanced toward Nat with a sinister smile on his pale face. Dayton -had, as Manuello had informed Colonel Morello, been off hunting. His -clothes were dust covered, from the tip of his riding boots--high -heeled and jingle spurred in the Mexican fashion--to the rim of his -broad sombrero. He had evidently lost no time in proceeding to the cell -as soon as he learned that Nat was a captive. - -"Looks as if we had you bottled up at last, my elusive young friend," -he grated out, "this is the time that you stay where we want you." - -"What are you going to do, Dayton?" asked Nat, his face pale but -resolute, though his heart was beating wildly. Knowing the man before -him as he did, he had no reason to expect any compassion, nor did he -get any. - -"You'll see directly," rejoined Dayton, "come with me. I'm going to let -the colonel boss this thing." - -Nat didn't say a word. In fact, there was not anything to be said. -Dayton, as well as Manuello and Al. Jeffries, was armed, and all had -their weapons ready for instant action. It would have been worse than -madness to attempt any resistance right then. - -With Dayton ahead of him and Manuello and Jeffries behind, Nat stepped -out of the cell and into the dimly lit passage. Never had daylight -looked sweeter or more desirable to him than it did now, showing in a -bright, oblong patch at the end of the passage. - -But Nat, much as he longed to make a dash for it then and there, saw no -opportunity to do so and in silence the little procession passed along -the passageway and entered the colonel's room. Colonel Morello looked -up as they entered, but did not seem much surprised. Doubtless he had -had a chat with Dayton on the latter's return from hunting and was -aware that Nat would be ushered before him. - -"Here he is, colonel," began Dayton advancing to the table, while -Manuello, ever on the outlook for a cigarette, also stepped a pace to -the front, to help himself from a package of tobacco and some rice -papers that lay upon the table. This left only Al. Jeffries standing in -the door-way. - -Swift as the snap of an instantaneous camera shutter Nat's mind was -made up. Crouching low, as he was used to do in football tactics, he -made a rush at Al. Jeffries, striking him between the legs like a -miniature thunderbolt. As he made his dash he uttered an ear-splitting -screech:-- - -"Yee-ow!" - -He shrewdly calculated that the sudden cry would further demoralize the -astonished outlaws. Jeffries was literally carried off his feet by the -unexpected rush. He was forcibly lifted as Nat dashed beneath him and -then he fell in a heap, his head striking a rock as he did so, knocking -him senseless. - -Like an arrow from a bow Nat sped straight for the end of the passage -through which he had spied, a minute before, two horses standing still -saddled and bridled. They were the steeds upon which Dayton and -Jeffries had just ridden in. Such had been Dayton's haste to taunt Nat, -however, that he and his companion deferred putting up their ponies -till later. Nat, on his journey down the passage, had spied the animals -and his alert mind had instantly worked out a plan of escape; as -desperate a one, as we shall see, as could well be imagined. - -As Al. toppled over in a heap, another outlaw, who was just entering -the passage, opposed himself to Nat. He shared the black-mustached -one's fate, only he came down a little harder. Neither he nor Al. moved -for some time in fact. In the meantime, Morello, Dayton and Manuello, -dashing pellmell after the fleeing lad, stumbled unawares over the -prostrate Al., and all came down in a swearing, fighting heap. - -This gave Nat the few seconds he needed. In two flying leaps he was -down the steps and had flung himself into the saddle of one of the -horses, before the stableman knew what was happening. When the latter -finally woke up and heard the bandits' yells and shouts coming from the -passage-way, it was too late. With a rattle of hoofs, and in a cloud -of dust, Nat was off. Off along the trail to freedom! - -"Yee-ow!" - -The boy yelled as he banged his heels into the pony's sides and the -spirited little animal leaped forward. - -Bang! - -Nat's sombrero was lifted from his head and he could feel the bullets -fairly fan his hair as he rode on. - -"Stop him! Stop him!" came cries from behind. And then a sudden order:-- - -"Let go the man-trap!" - -If Nat had realized what this meant he would have been tempted to give -up his dash for freedom then and there. But he had hardly given a -thought to the big suspended platform of pine trunks and rocks while -on his way to the outlaws' fort, nor even if he had noticed it more -minutely, would he have guessed its purpose. - -But as the order to release the crushing weight and send it crashing -down upon the trail was roared out by the colonel, a clatter of hoofs -came close behind. It was Dayton, who had hastily thrown himself -upon the other horse and was now close upon Nat. Drawing a revolver -he fired, but the bullet whistled harmlessly by Nat's head. At the -terrific pace they were making an accurate shot was, fortunately for -our hero, impossible. - -And now Nat was in the very shadow of the great platform. - -At that instant he heard a sudden creaking overhead, and looked up just -in time to realize that the ponderous mass was sagging. In one flash -of insight he realized the meaning of this. The great mass had been -released and was about to descend. - -Crack! - -"Ye-oo-ow!" - -The heavy quirt, which Nat had found fastened to the saddle horn, was -laid over the startled pony's flanks. It gave an enraged squeal and -flung itself forward like a jack-rabbit. - -At the same instant came a shout from behind. - -"Stop, Dayton. Stop!--The man-trap!" - -[Illustration: Nat, as the pony leaped forward, instinctively bent low -in the saddle.] - -Nat, as the pony leaped forward, instinctively bent low in the saddle. -As they flashed forward a mighty roar sounded in his ears. Behind him, -with a sound like the sudden release of an avalanche, the man-trap had -fallen. It had been sprung by the colonel's own hand. - -So close to Nat did the immense weight crash down that it grazed his -pony's flanks, but--Nat was safe. - -Behind him, he heard a shrill scream of pain and realized that Dayton -had not been so fortunate. - -"Has he been killed?" thought Nat as his pony, terrified beyond all -control by the uproar behind it, tore up the trail in a series of long -bounds. - -"Safe!" thought the lad as he dashed onward. But in this he was wrong. -Nat was far from being safe yet. - -Even as he murmured the word to himself there came a chorus of shouts -from behind. Turning in his saddle, the boy could see pursuing him -six or seven men, mounted on wiry ponies, racing toward the wreckage of -the ponderous man-trap. With quirt and spur they urged their frightened -animals over the obstruction. From the midst of the debris Nat could -see Dayton crawling. The man was evidently hurt, but the others paid no -attention to him. - -"A thousand dollars to the one who brings that boy down!" - -The cry came in the voice of Col. Morello. - -Nat laid his quirt on furiously. But the pony he bestrode had been used -for hunting over the rugged mountains most of that day and soon it -began to flag. - -"They're gaining on me," gasped Nat, glancing behind. - -At the same instant half a dozen bullets rattled on the rocks about -him, or went singing by his ears. As the fusillade pelted around him, -Nat saw, not more than a hundred yards ahead, the end of the trail. The -point, that is, where it lost itself in the wilderness of chaparral -and pinon trees, among which he had met the adventure which ended in -his capture. If he could only gain that shelter, he would be safe. But -on his tired, fagged pony, already almost collapsing beneath him, could -he do it? - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -OUTWITTING HIS ENEMIES. - - -There was a feeling of pity in Nat's heart for the unfortunate pony -he bestrode. The lad was fond of all animals, and it galled him to be -compelled to drive the exhausted beast so unmercifully, but it had to -be done if his life were to be saved. - -Crack! crack! came the cruel quirt once more, and the cayuse gamely -struggled onward. Its nostrils were distended and its eyes starting out -of its head with exhaustion. Its sunken flanks heaved convulsively. Nat -recognized the symptoms. A few paces more and the pony would be done -for. - -"Come on, old bronco!" he urged, "just a little way farther." - -With a heart-breaking gasp the little animal responded, and in a couple -of jumps it was within the friendly shelter of the leafy cover. A yell -of rage and baffled fury came from his pursuers as Nat vanished. The -boy chuckled to himself. - -"I guess I take the first trick," he thought, but his self-gratulation -was a little premature. As he plunged on amid the friendly shelter -he could still hear behind him the shouts of pursuit. The men were -scattering and moving forward through the wood. There seemed but little -chance in view of these maneuvers, that Nat, with only his exhausted -pony under him, could get clear away. As the shouts resounded closer -his former fear rushed back with redoubled force. - -Suddenly his heart almost stopped beating. - -In the wood in front of him he could hear the hoof-tramplings of -another horse. - -They were coming in his direction. Who could it be? Nat realized that -it was not likely to prove anybody who was friendly to him. He was -desperately casting about for some way out of this new and utterly -unexpected situation, when, with a snort, the approaching animal -plunged through the brush separating it from Nat. As it came into view -the boy gave a sharp exclamation of surprise. - -The new arrival was Herr Muller's locoed horse, now, seemingly, quite -recovered from its "late indisposition." It whinnied in a low tone as -it spied Nat's pony, and coming alongside, nuzzled up against it. - -To Nat's joy, Bismark showed no signs of being scared of him, and -allowed the boy to handle him. But in the few, brief seconds that had -elapsed while this was taking place, Col. Morello's gang had drawn -perilously near. The trampling and crashing as they rode through the -woods was quite distinct now. - -"After him, boys," Nat could hear the colonel saying, "that boy knows -our hiding place. We've got to get him or get out of the country." - -"We'll get him all right, colonel," Nat heard Manuello answer -confidently. - -"Yep. He won't go far on that foundered pony," came another voice. - -In those few, tense moments of breathing space Nat rapidly thought out -a plan of escape. Deftly he slipped the saddle and bridle off the -outlaw's pony, and transferred them to Bismark's back. - -Then, as the chase drew closer, he gave the trembling pony a final -whack on the rump with the quirt. The little animal sprang forward, its -hoofs making a tremendous noise among the loose rocks on the hillside. - -Half frantic with fear, its alarm overcame its spent vitality, and it -clattered off. - -"Wow! There he goes!" - -"Yip-ee-ee! After him, boys!" - -"Now we've got him!" - -These and a score of other triumphant cries came from the outlaws' -throats as they heard the pony making off as fast as it could among -the trees, and naturally assumed that Nat was on its back. With yells -and shrieks of satisfaction they gave chase, firing volleys of bullets -after it. The fusillade and the shouts, of course, only added to the -pony's fear, and made it proceed with more expedition. - -As the cries of the chase grew faint in the distance, Nat listened -intently, and then, satisfied that the outlaws had swept far from his -vicinity, urged Bismark cautiously forward. This time he travelled in -the right direction, profiting by his experiment with his watch. But -urge Bismark on as he would, darkness fell before he was out of the -wilderness. But still he pressed on. In his position he knew that it -was important that he reach the camp as soon as possible. Not only on -his own account, but in order that he might give warning of the attack -that Col. Morello would almost certainly make as soon as he realized -that his prisoner had got clear away. If they had been interested in -the Motor Rangers' capture before, the outlaws must by now be doubly -anxious to secure them, Nat argued. The reason for this had been voiced -by Col. Morello himself while he was conducting the chase in the wood: - -"That boy knows our hiding place." - -"You bet I do," thought Nat to himself, "and if I don't see to it that -the whole bunch is smoked out of there before long it won't be my -fault." - -Tethering Bismark to a tree the boy clambered up the trunk. His object -in so doing was to get some idea of his whereabouts. - -But it was dark, I hear some reader remark. - -True, but even in the darkness there is one unfailing guide to the -woodsman, providing the skies be clear, as they were on this night. The -north star was what Nat was after. By it he would gauge his direction. -Getting a line on it from the outer star of "the dipper" bowl, Nat soon -made certain that he had not, as he had for a time feared, wandered -from his course. - -Descending the tree once more, he looked at his watch. It was almost -midnight, yet in the excitement of his flight he felt no exhaustion -or even hunger. He was terribly thirsty though, and would have given -a lot for a drink of water. However, the young Motor Ranger had faced -hardships enough not to waste time wishing for the unattainable. So, -remounting Bismark, he pressed on toward the east, knowing that if he -rode long enough he must strike the valley which would bring him to his -friends. - -All at once, a short distance ahead, he heard a tiny tinkle coming -through the darkness. It was like the murmuring of a little bell. Nat -knew, though, that it was the voice of a little stream, and a more -welcome sound, except the voices of his comrades, he could not have -heard at that moment. - -"Here's where we get a drink, Bismark, you old prodigal son," he said -in a low tone. - -A few paces more brought them into a little dip in the hillside down -which the tiny watercourse ran. Tumbling off his horse Nat stretched -himself out flat and fairly wallowed in the water. When he had -refreshed his thirst, Bismark drinking just below him, the boy laved -his face and neck, and this done felt immensely better. - -He was just rising from this al-fresco bath when, from almost in front -of his face as it seemed, came a sound somewhat like the dry rattle -of peas in a bladder. It was harsh and unmusical, and to Nat, most -startling, for it meant that he had poked his countenance almost into -the evil wedge-shaped head of a big mountain rattler. - -"Wow!" yelled the boy tumbling backward like an acrobat. - -At the same instant a dark, lithe thing that glittered dully in the -starlight, was launched by his cheek. So close did it come that it -almost touched him. But Nat was not destined to be bitten that night -at least. As the long body encountered the ground after striking, and -Bismark jumped back snorting alarmedly, Nat picked up a big rock and -terminated Mr. Rattler's existence on the spot. - -Sure of his direction now, the boy remounted, and crossing the stream, -arrived in due course near to the camp. The first thing he almost -stumbled across was the prostrate form of Herr Muller, sound asleep -just outside the flickering circle of light cast by the fire. - -"Now for some fun," thought Nat, and slipping off his horse he crouched -behind the sleeping Teuton, and with a long blade of grass, began -tickling his ear. At first Herr Muller simply stirred uneasily, and -kicked about a bit. Then finally he sat up erect and wide awake. The -first thing he saw was a tall, dark form bent over him. - -With a wild succession of whoops and frantic yells he set off for the -camp in an astonishing series of leaps and bounds, causing Nat to -exclaim as he watched the performance:-- - -"That Dutchman could certainly carry off a medal for broad jumping." - -A few of the leaps brought Herr Muller fairly into the camp-fire, -scattering the embers right and left and thoroughly alarming the -awakened adventurers. - -As they started up and seized their arms, Nat caused an abrupt -cessation of the threatened hostilities by a loud hail:-- - -"Hullo, fellows!" - -"It's Nat--whoop hurroo!" came in a joyous chorus, and as description -is lamentably inadequate to set forth some scenes, I will leave each of -my readers to imagine for himself how many times Nat's hand was wrung -pump-handle fashion, and how many times he was asked:-- - -"How did it happen?" - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - -HERR MULLER GETS A CHILLY BATH. - - -"Shake a le-e-eg!" - -Rather later than usual the following morning the lengthy form of Cal -reared itself upright in its blankets and uttered the waking cry. From -the boys there came only a sleepy response in rejoinder. They were all -pretty well tired out with the adventures and strains of the day before -and had no inclination to arise from their slumbers. Even Nat, usually -the first to "tumble up," didn't seem in any hurry to crawl out of his -warm nest. - -Winking to himself, Cal picked up two buckets and started for the -little lake. He soon filled them with the clear, cold snow-water, and -started back with long strides across the little meadow. - -"Here's where it rains for forty days and forty nights," he grinned, as -poising a bucket for a moment he let fly its contents. - -S-l-o-u-s-h! - -What a torrent of icy fluid dashed over the recumbent form of Herr -Von Schiller Muller! The Teuton leaped up as if a tarantula had been -concealed in his bed clothes, but before he could utter the yell that -his fat face was framing Cal was on him in one flying leap and had -clapped a big brown hand over his mouth. - -"Shut up," he warned, "if you want to have some fun with the others." - -He pointed to the pail which was still half full. Herr Muller instantly -comprehended. Dashing the water out of his eyes he prepared to watch -the others get their dose, on the principle, I suppose, that misery -loves company. - -S-l-o-u-s-h! - -This time Ding-dong and Joe got the icy shower bath, and sputtering -and protesting hugely, they leaped erect. But the water in their eyes -blinded them and although they struck out savagely, their blows only -punctured the surrounding atmosphere. - -"Here, hold this bucket!" ordered Cal, handing the empty pail to the -convulsed Dutchman. - -"Oh-ho-ho-ho dees iss too much!" gasped Herr Muller, doubling himself -up with merriment, "I must mage me a picdgure of him." - -In the meantime Cal had dashed the contents of the other bucket over -Nat, who also sprang up full of wrath at the unexpected immersion. - -"Take this, too," ordered Cal, handing the other empty bucket to Herr -Muller. Tears were rolling down the German's fat cheeks. He was bent -double with vociferous mirth as he shook. - -"Dees iss der best choke I haf seen since I hadt der measles!" he -chuckled. - -Shouts of anger rang from the boys' throats as they rushed about, -shaking off water like so many dogs after a swim. Suddenly their eyes -fell on Herr Muller doubled with laughter and holding the two buckets. -From time to time, in the excess of his merriment he flourished them -about. - -"Oh-ho-ho-ho, I dink me I die ef I dodn't laughing stop it." - -"Hey, fellows!" hailed Nat, taking in the scene, "there's the chap that -did it." - -"That Dutchman?--Wow!" - -With a whoop the three descended on the laughter-stricken Teuton, and -before he could utter a word of expostulation, they had seized him -up and were off to the little lake at lightning speed, bearing his -struggling form. - -"Help! Murder! Poys, I don't do idt. It voss dot Cal vot vatered you!" - -The cries came from the German's lips in an agonizing stream of -entreaty and expostulation. But the boys, wet and irritated, were in no -mood for mercy. To use an expressive term, though a slangy one, they -had caught Herr Muller "with the goods on." - -Through the alders they dashed, and then---- - -Splash! - -Head over heels Herr Muller floundered in the icy water, choking and -sputtering, as he came to the surface, like a grampus--or, at least -in the manner, we are led to believe, grampuses or grampi conduct -themselves. - -As his pudgy form struck out for the shore the boys' anger gave way -to yells of merriment at the comical sight he presented, his scanty -pajamas clinging tightly about his rotund form. - -"Say, fellows, here comes Venus from the bath!" shouted Nat. - -"First time I heard of a Dutch Venus!" chortled Joe. - -"Poys, you haf made it a misdake," expostulated Herr Muller, standing, -with what dignity he could command, on the brink of the little lake. -His teeth were chattering as if they were executing a clog dance. - -"D-dod-d-dot C-c-c-c-al he do-done idt. If you don'd pelieve me,--Loog!" - -He pointed back to the camp and there was Cal rolling about on the -grass and indulging in other antics of amusement. - -"Wow!" yelled Nat, "we'll duck him, too." - -At full speed they set off for the camp once more, Cal rising to his -feet as they grew near. He looked unusually large and muscular somehow. - -"W-w-w-w-w-where w-w-w-w-will we t-t-t-t-tackle him?" inquired -Ding-dong, who seemed quite willing to yield his foremost place in the -parade of punishment. - -"I guess," said Nat slowly and judiciously, "I guess we'll--leave Cal's -punishment to some other time." - -Breakfast that morning was a merry meal, and old Bismark, who had -naturally been tethered in a post perfectly free from loco weed, came -in for several lumps of sugar as reward for his signal service of the -day before. All were agreed that if the old horse had not wandered -along so opportunely that Nat might have been in a bad fix. - -"I wonder if they'd have dared to kill me?" said Nat, drawing Cal aside -while the others were busy striking camp and washing dishes. - -"Wall," drawled Cal, "I may be wrong, but I don't think somehow that -you'd hev had much appetite fer breakfast this mornin'." - -"I'm inclined to agree with you," said Nat, repressing a shudder as he -recalled the tones of the colonel's voice. - -"And that reminds me," said Cal, "that our best plan is to get on ter -my mine as quick as we can. It ain't much of a place. You know there's -mighty little mining down here nowadays but what is done by the big -companies with stamp mills and hundreds of thousands invested. But I -reckon we kin be safe there while we think up some plan to get these -fellows in a prison where they belong." - -"That's my idea exactly," said Nat, "I'm pretty sure that now they are -aware that we know the location of their fort that they'll try to get -after us in every way they can." - -"Right you are, boy. Their very existence in these mountains depends on -their checkmating us some way. I think the sooner we get out of here -the better." - -"How soon can we get to the mine?" asked Nat. - -"Got your map?" - -"Yes." - -"Let's see it." - -Nat dipped down into his pocket and drew out his folder map of the -Sierra region. It was necessarily imperfect, but Cal, after much -cogitation, darted down his thumb on a point some distance to the -northwest of where they were camped. - -"It's about thar," he declared, "right in that thar canyon." - -"How soon can we get there?" - -"With luck, in two days, I should say. We can camp there while one of -us rides off and gets the sheriff and a posse. I tell you it'll be a -big feather in our caps to land those fellows where they belong. The -scallywags have made themselves the terror of this region for a long -time." - -"Well, don't let's holler till we're out of the wood," advised Nat. - -By this time the auto was ready and the others awaited their coming -with some impatience. - -"Are we all right?" asked Nat looking back at the tonneau and then -casting a comprehensive eye about. Bismark, hitched behind as usual, -was snorting impatiently and pawing the ground in quite a fiery manner. - -"Let 'er go," cried Cal. - -Chug-chu-g-chug! - -Nat threw on the power and off moved the auto, soon leaving behind the -camp on the knoll which had been the scene of so many anxieties and -amusing incidents. - -As they rode along Nat explained to the others the plan of campaign. It -was hailed with much joy and Joe and Ding-dong immediately began asking -questions. Cal explained that his mine was located in a canyon which -had once been the scene of much mining activity, but like many camps in -the Sierras, those who once worked it--the argonauts--had long since -departed. Only a little graveyard with wooden head-boards on the hill -above the camp remained to tell of them. Cal had taken up a claim there -in the heyday of the gold workings and from time to time used to visit -it and work about the claim a little. He had never gotten much gold out -of it, but it yielded him a living, he said. - -"Anybody else up there?" asked Nat. - -"Only a few Chinks," rejoined Cal. - -"I don't like 'em," said Joe briefly, "yellow-skinned, mysterious -cusses." - -"M-m-m-my mother had a C-c-c-c-chinese c-c-c-c-cook--phwit!--once," put -in Ding-dong, "but we had to fire him." - -"Why?" inquired Cal with some show of interest. - -"We could never tell whether he was sus-s-s-singing over his work or -moaning in agony," rejoined Ding-dong. - -"Say, is that meant for a joke?" asked Nat amid a deadly silence. - -"N-n-no, it's a f-f-fact," solemnly rejoined Ding-dong. - -"That feller must hev bin a cousin to the short-haired Chinaman who -couldn't be an actor," grinned Cal. - -"What is this, a catch?" asked Joe suspiciously. - -"No," Cal assured him. - -"Oh, all right, I'll bite," said Nat with a laugh, "why couldn't the -short-haired Chinaman be an actor?" - -"Pecoss he voss a voshman, I subbose," suggested Herr Muller. - -"Oh, no," said Cal, "because he'd always miss his queue." - -"Reminds me of the fellow who thought he was of royal blood every time -he watered his wife's rubber plant which grew in a porcelain pot," -grinned Nat. - -"I'll bite this time," volunteered Joe, "How was that, Mister Bones?" - -"Well, he said that when he irrigated it, he rained over china," -grinned Nat, speeding the car up a little grade. - -"If this rare and refined vein of humor is about exhausted," said Joe -with some dignity after the laugh this caused had subsided, "I would -like to draw the attention of the company to that smoke right ahead of -us." - -"Is that smoke? I thought it was dust," said Nat, squinting along the -track ahead of them. - -The column of bluish, brownish vapor to which Joe had drawn attention -could now be seen quite distinctly, pouring steadily upward above -the crest of a ridge of mountains beyond them. Although they were -travelling at a considerable height they could not make out what was -causing it, but Cal's face grew grave. He said nothing, however, but -if the others had noticed him they would have seen that his keen eyes -never left the column which, as they neared it, appeared to grow larger -in size until it towered above its surroundings like a vaporous giant -or the funnel of a whirlwind. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. - -THE FIRE IN THE FOREST. - - -"Why, that smoke's coming up from those trees!" declared Nat as they -topped the rise, and saw below them the familiar panorama of undulating -mountain tops, spreading to the sky line in seeming unending billows. - -Sure enough, as he said, the smoke was coming from some great -timber-clad slopes directly in front of them. - -"May be some more campers," suggested Joe. - -"Not likely," said Cal gravely, "no campers would light a fire big -enough to make all that smoke." - -Nat did not reply, being too busy applying the brakes as the road -took a sudden steep pitch downward. At the bottom of the dip was a -bridge, made after the fashion of most mountain bridges in those remote -regions. That is to say, two long logs had been felled to span the -abyss the bridge crossed. Then across these string pieces, had been -laid other logs close together. The contrivance seemed hardly wide -enough to allow the auto to cross. Grinding down his brakes Nat brought -the machine to a halt. - -"I guess we'd better have a look at that bridge before we try to cross -it," he said, turning to Cal. - -"Right you are, boy," assented the ex-stage driver, getting out, "this -gasolene gig is a sight heavier than anything that bridge was ever -built for. Come on, Joe, we'll take a look at it." - -Accompanied by the young Motor Ranger the Westerner set off at his -swinging stride down the few paces between the auto and the bridge. -Lying on his stomach at the edge of the brink, he gazed over and -carefully examined the supports of the bridge and the manner in which -they were embedded in the earth on either side. - -Then he and Joe jumped up and down on the contrivance and gave it every -test they could. - -"I guess it will be all right," said Cal, as he rejoined the party. - -"You guess?" said Nat, "say, Cal, if your guess is wrong we're in for a -nasty tumble." - -"Wall, then I'm sure," amended the former stage driver, "I've driv' -stage enough to know what a bridge 'ull hold I guess, and that span -yonder will carry this car over in good shape. How about it, Joe?" - -"It'll be all right, Nat," Joe assured his chum, "in any case we are -justified in taking a chance, for after what you told us about the -colonel's gang it would be dangerous to go back again." - -"That's so," agreed Nat, "now then, all hold tight, for I'm going to go -ahead at a good clip. Hang on to Bismark, Herr Muller." - -"I holdt on py him like he voss my long lost brudder," the German -assured him. - -Forward plunged the auto, Bismark almost jerking Herr Muller out of -the tonneau as his head rope tightened. The next instant the car was -thundering upon the doubtful bridge. A thrill went through every one of -the party as the instant the entire weight of the heavy vehicle was -placed upon it the flimsy structure gave a distinct sag. - -"Let her have it, Nat!" yelled Cal, "or we're gone coons!" - -There was a rending, cracking sound, as Nat responded, and the car -leaped forward like a live thing. But as the auto bounded forward to -safety Bismark hung back, shaking his head stubbornly. Herr Muller, -caught by surprise, was jerked half out of the tonneau and was in -imminent peril of being carried over and toppling into the chasm. But -Joe grasped his legs firmly while Cal struck the rope--to which the -Teuton obstinately held--out of his hands. - -"Bismark! Come back!" wailed the German as the released horse turned -swiftly on the rickety bridge and galloped madly back in the direction -from which they had come. - -But the horse, which was without saddle or bridle, both having been -placed in the car when they started out, paid no attention to his -owner's impassioned cry. Flinging up his heels he soon vanished in a -cloud of dust over the hilltop. - -"Turn round der auto. Vee go pack after him," yelled the German. - -"Not much we won't," retorted Cal indignantly, "that plug of yours is -headed for his old home. You wouldn't get him across that bridge if you -built a fire under him." - -"And I certainly wouldn't try to recross it with this car," said Nat. - -"I should say not," put in Joe, "why we could feel the thing give way -as our weight came on it." - -"Goodt pye, Bismark, mein faithful lager--charger I mean," wailed Herr -Muller, "I nefer see you again." - -"Oh yes, you will," comforted Cal, seeing the German's real distress, -"he'll go right home to the hotel stable that he come frum. You'll see. -The man that owns it is honest as daylight and ef you don't come back -fer the horse he'll send you yer money." - -"Put poor Bismark will starfe!" wailed the Teuton. - -"Not he," chuckled Cal, "between here and Lariat is all fine grazing -country, and there's lots of water. He'll get back fatter than he came -out." - -"Dot is more than I'll do," wailed Herr Muller resignedly as Nat set -the auto in motion once more and they left behind them the weakened -bridge. - -"No auto 'ull ever go over that agin," commented Cal, looking back. - -"Not unless it has an aeroplane attachment," added Joe. - -But their attention now was all centred on the smoke that rose in front -of them. The bridge had lain in a small depression so that they had -not been able to see far beyond it, but as they rolled over the brow -of the hill beyond, the cause of the uprising of the vapor soon became -alarmingly apparent. - -A pungent smell was in the air. - -"Smells like the punks on Fourth of July," said Joe, as he sniffed. - -But joking was far from Cal's mind as he gazed through narrowed eyes. -The smoke which had at first not been much more than a pillar, was now -a vast volume of dark vapor rolling up crowdedly from the forests ahead -of them. Worse still, the wind was sweeping the fire down toward the -track they had to traverse. - -"The woods are on fire!" cried Nat as he gazed, and voicing the fear -that now held them all. - -As he spoke, from out of the midst of the dark, rolling clouds of -smoke, there shot up a bright, wavering flame. It instantly died down -again, but presently another fiery sword flashed up, in a different -direction, and hung above the dark woods. They could now hear quite -distinctly, too, the sound of heavy, booming falls as big trees -succumbed to the fire and fell with a mighty crash. - -"Great Scott, what are we going to do?" gasped Joe. - -"T-t-t-t-turn b-b-b-back!" said Ding-dong as if that settled the matter. - -"Py all means," chimed in Herr Muller, gazing ahead at the -awe-inspiring spectacle. - -"How are you going to do that when that bridge won't hold us?" asked -Nat. "Do you think we can beat the fire to the trail, Cal?" - -"We've gotter," was the brief, but comprehensive rejoinder. - -"But if we don't?" wailed Ding-dong. - -"Ef you can't find nothing ter say but that, jus' shut yer mouth," -warned Cal in a sharp tone. - -His face was drawn and anxious. He was too old a mountaineer not to -realize to a far greater extent than the boys the nature of the peril -that environed them. His acute mind had already weighed the situation -in all its bearings. In no quarter could he find a trace of hope, -except in going right onward and trusting to their speed to beat the -flames. - -True, they might have turned back and waited by the bridge, but the -woods grew right up to the trail, and it would be only a matter of time -in all probability before the flames reached there. In that case the -Motor Rangers would have been in almost as grave a peril as they would -by going on. The fire was nearly two miles from where they were, but -Cal knew full well the almost incredible rapidity with which these -conflagrations leap from tree to tree, bridging trails, roads, and even -broad rivers. It has been said that the man or boy who starts a forest -fire is an enemy to his race, and truly to any one that has witnessed -the awful speed with which these fires devour timber and threaten big -ranges of country, the observation must ever seem a just one. - -"Can't we turn off and outflank the flames?" asked Joe, as they sped on -at as fast a pace as Nat dared to urge the car over the rough trail. - -Cal's answer was a wave of his hand to the thickset trees on either -side. Even had it not been for the danger of fire reaching them before -they could outflank it, the trunks were too close together to permit of -any vehicle threading its way amidst them. - -There was but little conversation in the car as it roared on, leaping -and careering over rocks and obstructions like a small boat in a heavy -sea. The Motor Rangers were engaged in the most desperate race of their -lives. As they sped along the eyes of all were glued on the trail -ahead, with its towering walls of mighty pines and about whose bases -chaparral and inflammable brush grew closely. - -The air was perceptibly warmer now, and once or twice a spark was blown -into the car. Not the least awe-inspiring feature of a forest fire in -the mountains is the mighty booming of the great trunks as they fall. -It is as impressive as a funeral march. - -"Ouch, somebody burned my hand!" exclaimed Joe suddenly. - -But gazing down he saw that a big ember had lit on the back of it. He -glanced up and noticed that the air above them was now full of the -driving fire-brands. Overhead the dun-colored smoke was racing by like -a succession of tempest-driven storm clouds. A sinister gloom was in -the air. - -Suddenly, Cal, who had been half standing, gazing intently ahead, gave -a loud shout and pointed in front of them. The others as they gazed -echoed his cry of alarm. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII. - -A DASH THROUGH THE FLAMES. - - -The object thus indicated by Cal was in fact about as alarming a thing -as they could have encountered. It was nothing more or less than the -smoking summit of a big tree a few hundred feet ahead of them. As -they gazed it broke into flame, the resinous leaves igniting with a -succession of sharp cracks like pistol shots. In a second the tree was -transformed into the semblance of an immense torch. Driven by the wind -the flames went leaping and rioting among its neighbors till all above -the Motor Rangers was a fiery curtain stretched between them and the -sky. - -To make matters worse, the smoke, as acrid and pungent as chemical -vapor, was driven in Nat's eyes, and he could hardly see to drive. -His throat, too, felt hot and parched, and his gloves were singed and -smoking in half a dozen places. - -"Get out that big bucket and fill it from the tank," he ordered as he -drove blindly onward. - -"Guess it's about time," muttered Cal as he, guessing the rest of Nat's -order, dashed the water right and left over the party, "we'd have bin -on fire ourselves in a few seconds." - -Nat drove as fast as he dared, but the fire seemed to travel -faster. The roar now resembled the voice of a mighty waterfall, and -occasionally the sharp cracks of bursting trunks or falling branches -filled the air. - -"The whole forest is going," bawled Cal, "put on more steam Nat." - -The boy did as he was directed and the beleaguered auto forged forward -a little more swiftly. Suddenly, however, a happening that bade fair -to put a dead stop to their progress occurred. Directly in front of -them the chaparral had blazed about a tree, till it had eaten into the -trunk. Weakened, the monster trembled for a moment and then plunged -downward. - -"Lo-ok ou-t!" - -Cal bellowed the warning, and just in time. Nat, half blinded as he -was, had not seen the imminent danger. - -With a crash like the subsidence of a big building, the tree toppled -over and fell across the track, blazing fiercely, and with a shower of -sparks and embers flying upward from it. - -[Illustration: As if it had been a leaping, hunting horse, the big car -bounced and jolted over the log.] - -A new peril now threatened the already danger-surrounded lads, and -their Western companion. The tree lay across their path, an apparently -insurmountable object. A glance behind showed that the flames had -already closed in, the fire, by some freak of the wind, having been -driven back from their temporary resting place. But they knew that the -respite was only momentary. - -Suddenly, the car surged forward, and before one of the party even -realized that Nat had made up his mind they were rushing full tilt for -the blazing log. - -"Wow!" yelled Cal carried away by excitement, as he sensed Nat's daring -purpose, "he's going ter jump it--by thunder!" - -Even as he spoke the auto was upon the log and its front wheels -struck the glowing, blazing barrier with a terrific thud. Had they not -been prepared for the shock the Motor Rangers would have scattered out -of the car like so many loose attachments. - -As if it had been a leaping, hunting horse, the big car bounced and -jolted over the log, which was fully six feet in diameter. It came down -again beyond it with a jounce that almost shook the teeth out of their -heads, but the lads broke into a cheer in which Herr Muller's and Cal's -voices joined, as they realized that Nat's daring had saved the day for -them. - -Behind them lay the fiercely blazing forest, but in front the road was -clear, although the resinous smell of the blaze and the smoke pall lay -heavily above them still. A short distance further a fresh surprise -greeted them. A number of deer, going like the wind, crossed the road, -fleeing in what their instinct told them was a safe direction. They -were followed by numerous wolves, foxes and other smaller animals. - -As they went onward they came upon a big burned-out patch in which an -ember must have fallen, carried by some freak of the capricious wind. -In the midst of it, squirming in slimy, scaly knots, were a hundred or -more snakes of half a dozen kinds, all scorched and writhing in their -death agonies. The boys were glad to leave the repulsive sight behind -them. At last, after ascending a steep bit of grade they were able to -gaze back. - -It was a soul-stirring sight, and one of unpassable grandeur. Below -them the fire was leaping and raging on its way eastward. Behind it lay -a smoking, desolate waste, with here and there a charred trunk standing -upright in its midst. Already the blaze had swept across the trail, -stripping it bare on either side. The lads shuddered as they thought -that but for good fortune and Nat's plucky management of the car, they -might have been among the ashes and debris. - -"Wall, boys," said Cal, turning to them, "you've seen a forest fire. -What do you think of it?" - -"I think," said Nat, "that it is the most terrible agent of destruction -I have ever seen." - -"I t-t-t-think we need a w-w-w-ash," stuttered Ding-dong. - -They burst into a laugh as they looked at one another and recognized -the truth of their whimsical comrade's words. With faces blackened and -blistered by their fiery ordeal and with their clothes scorched and -singed in a hundred places, they were indeed a vagabond looking crew. - -"I'll bet if old Colonel Morello could see us now we'd scare him away," -laughed Joe, although it pained his blistered lips to indulge in -merriment. - -"Wall, there's a stream a little way down in that hollow," said Cal, -pointing, "we'll have a good wash when we reach it." - -"And maybe I won't be glad, too," laughed Nat, setting the brakes for -the hill ahead of them. - -Suddenly Ding-dong piped up. - -"S-s-s-s-say, m-m-m-may I m-m-m-make a remark?" - -"Certainly, boy, half a dozen of them," said Cal. - -"It's a go-g-g-g-good thing we lost Bismark," grinned Ding-dong, in -which sage observation they all perforce acquiesced. - -"I've got something to say myself," observed Joe suddenly, "maybe you -other fellows have noticed it? This seat is getting awfully hot." - -"By ginger, so it is," cried Cal suddenly, springing up from the easy -posture he had assumed. - -"L-l-l-ook, there is s-s-s-smoke c-c-c-coming out from back of the -car!" cried Ding-dong alarmedly. - -As he spoke a volume of smoke rolled out from behind them. - -"Good gracious, the car's on fire!" yelled Nat, "throw some water on it -quick!" - -"Can't," exclaimed Cal, "we used it all up coming through the flames -yonder." - -"We'll burn up!" yelled Joe despairingly. - -Indeed it seemed like it. Smoke was now rolling out in prodigious -quantities from beneath the tonneau and to make the possibilities more -alarming still, the reserve tank full of gasolene was located there. - -The tonneau had now grown so hot that they could not sit down. - -"Get out, everybody," yelled Joe, as badly scared as he had ever been -in his life. - -"Yep, let us out, Nat," begged Cal. The Westerner was no coward, but he -did not fancy the idea of being blown sky high on top of an explosion -of gasolene any more than the rest. - -"Good thing I haven't got on my Sunday pants," the irrepressible -Westerner remarked. "Hey, Nat," he yelled the next minute, as no -diminution of speed was perceptible, "ain't you going ter stop?" - -"Not on your life," hurled back Nat, without so much as turning his -head. - -He evidently had some plan, but what it was they could not for the -life of them tell. Their hearts beat quickly and fast with a lively -sensation of danger as the burning auto plunged on down the rough -slope. - -All at once Joe gave a shout of astonishment. - -"I see what he's going to do now!" he exclaimed. - -So fast was the auto travelling that hardly had the words left his lips -before they were fairly upon the little rivulet or creek Cal's acute -eyes had spied from the summit of the hill. - -The next instant they were in it, the water coming up to the hubs. -Clouds of white steam arose about the car and a great sound of hissing -filled the air as the burning portion encountered the chill of the -water. - -"Wall, that beats a fire department," exclaimed Cal, as, after -remaining immersed for a short time, Nat drove the car up the opposite -bank which, luckily, had a gentle slope. - -As Cal had remarked, it did indeed beat a fire department, for the -water had put out the flames effectually. An investigation showed that -beyond having charred and blistered the woodwork and paint that the -fire had fortunately done no damage. It would take some little time -to set things to rights, though, after the ordeal they had all gone -through, and so it was decided that they would camp for a time at the -edge of the river. - -"Hullo, what's all that going on over there?" wondered Joe, as he -pointed to a cloud of dust in the distance. - -Cal rapidly shinned up a tree, and shading his eyes with his hand, -gazed for some moments in the direction of the cloud. - -"Sheep!" he announced as he slid down again, "consarn thet Jeb -Scantling, now I know who set thet fire." - -The boys looked puzzled till Cal went on to explain. - -"You know I told you fellows that cattlemen was dead sore at sheepmen," -he said, "and that's the reason." - -He jerked one brown thumb backward to indicate that "that" was the fire. - -"Do you mean to say that Jeb Scantling started it?" gasped Nat. The -idea was a new one to him. - -"Wall, I'd hate to accuse any one of doing sich a thing," rejoined Cal -non-committally, "but," he added with a meaning emphasis, "I've heard -of sheepmen setting tracts on fire afore this." - -"But whatever for?" inquired Joe in a puzzled tone. - -"So's to burn the brush away and hev nice green grass in the spring," -responded Cal. - -"Well, that's a nice idea," exclaimed Nat, "so they burn up a whole -section of country to get feed for a few old sheep." - -"Yep," nodded Cal, "and that's what is at the bottom of most of the -sheep and cattlemen's wars you read about." - -At first the boys felt inclined to chase up Jeb, but they concluded -that it would be impracticable, so, allowing the sheepman to take -his distant way off into the lonelier fastnesses of the Sierras, -they hastened to the stream and began splashing about, enjoying the -sensation hugely. Suddenly a voice on the bank above hailed them. -Somewhat startled they all turned quickly and burst into a roar of -laughter as they saw Herr Muller, who had slipped quietly from among -them "holding them up" with a camera. - -"Lookd idt breddy, blease," he grinned, "a picdgure I take idt." - -Click! - -And there the whole crew were transferred to a picture for future -development. - -"I guess we won't be very proud of that picture," laughed Nat, turning -to his ablutions once more. - -"No, we must answer in the negative," punned Joe. But the next minute -he paid the penalty as Cal leaped upon him and bore him struggling to -the earth. Over and over they rolled, Cal attempting to stuff a handful -of soapsuds in the punning youth's mouth. - -"Help! Nat!" yelled Joe. - -"Not me," grinned Nat, enjoying the rough sport, "you deserve your -fate." - -Soon after order was restored and they sat down to a meal to which they -were fully prepared to do ample justice. - -"Say," remarked Cal suddenly, with his mouth full of canned plum -pudding, "this stream and those sheep back yonder put me in mind of a -story I once heard." - -"What was it?" came the chorus. - -"Wall, children, sit right quiet an' I'll tell yer. Oncet upon a time -thar was a sheepman in these hills----" - -"Sing ho, the sheepman in the hills!" hummed Joe. - -"Thar was a sheepman in these hills," went on Cal, disdaining the -interruption, "who got in trouble with some cattlemen, the same way -as this one will if they git him. Wall, this sheepman had a pal and -the two of them decided one day that ef they didn't want ter act as -reliable imitations of porous plasters they'd better be gitting. So -they gabbled and got. Wall, the cattlemen behind 'em pressed em pretty -dern close, an' one night they come ter a creek purty much like this -one. - -"Wall, they was in a hurry ter git across as you may suppose, but the -problem was ter git ther sheep over. You see they didn't want ter -leave 'em as they was about all the worldly goods they had. But the -sheep was inclined to mutiny." - -"Muttony, you mean, don't you?" grinned Joe, dodging to safe distance. -When quiet was restored, Cal resumed. - -"As I said, the sheep was inclined ter argify"--this with a baleful -glance at Joe--"and so they decided that they'd pick up each sheep in -ther arms and carry them over till they got the hull three thousand -sheep across ther crick. You see it wuz ther only thing ter do." - -The boys nodded interestedly. - -"Wall, one of ther fellows he picks up a sheep and takes it across and -comes back fer another, and then ther other feller he does the same and -in the meantime ther first feller had got his other across and come -back fer more and ther second was on his way over and----" - -"Say, Cal," suggested Nat quietly, "let's suppose the whole bunch is -across. You see----" - -"Say, who's tellin' this?" inquired Cal indignantly. - -"You are, but----" - -"Wall, let me go ahead in my own way," protested the Westerner. "Let's -see where I was; I--oh yes, wall, and then ther other feller he dumped -down his sheep and come back fer another and----Say, how many does that -make, got across?" - -"Search me," said Joe. - -Nat shook his head. - -"I d-d-d-d-on't know," stuttered Ding-dong Bell. - -"Diss iss foolishness-ness," protested Herr Muller indignantly. - -"Wall, that ends it," said Cal tragically, "I can't go on." - -"Why not?" came an indignant chorus. - -"Wall, you fellers lost count of ther sheep and there ain't no way -of going on till we get 'em all over. You see there's three thousand -and----" - -This time they caught a merry twinkle in Cal's eye, and with wild yells -they arose and fell upon him. It was a ruffled Cal who got up and -resumed a sandy bit of canned plum pudding. - -"You fellers don't appreciate realism one bit," grumbled Cal. - -"Not three thousand sheep-power realism," retorted Nat with a laugh. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII. - -THE HUT IN THE MOUNTAINS. - - -The next morning they were off once more. As may be imagined each -one of the party was anxious to reach the canyon in which Cal's mine -was located. There they would be in touch with civilization and in a -position to retaliate upon the band of Col. Morello if they dared to -attack them. - -On the evening of the second day they found themselves not far from -the place, according to Cal's calculations. But they were in a rugged -country through which it would be impossible to proceed by night, so it -was determined to make camp as soon as a suitable spot could be found. - -As it so happened, one was not far distant. A gentle slope -comparatively free from rocks and stones, and affording a good view in -either direction, was in the immediate vicinity. The auto, therefore, -was run up there and brought to a halt, and the Motor Rangers at once -set about looking for a spring. They had plenty of water in the tank, -but preferred, if they could get it, to drink the fresh product. Water -that has been carried a day or two in a tank is not nearly as nice as -the fresh, sparkling article right out of the ground. - -"Look," cried Joe, as they scattered in search of a suitable spot, -"there's a little hut up there." - -"M-m-m-maybe a h-h-h-hermit l-l-lives there," suggested Ding-dong in -rather a quavering voice. - -"Nonsense," put in Nat, "that hut has been deserted for many years. See -the ridge pole is broken, and the roof is all sagging in. Let's go and -explore it." - -With a whoop they set out across the slope for the ruined hut, which -stood back in a small clearing cut out of the forest. Blackened stumps -stood about it but it was long since the ground had been cultivated. A -few mouldering corn stalks, however, remained to show that the place -had once been inhabited. - -As for the hut itself, it was a primitive shelter of rough logs, the -roof of which had been formed out of "slabs" split from the logs -direct. A stone chimney was crumbling away at one end, but it was many -a year since any cheerful wreaths of smoke had wound upward from it. - -The boys were alone, Cal and Herr Muller having remained to attend to -the auto and build a fire. Somehow, in the fading evening light, this -ruined human habitation on the edge of the dark Sierran forest had -an uncanny effect on the boys. The stillness was profound. And half -consciously the lads sank their voices to whispers as they drew closer. - -"S-s-s-s-say hadn't we b-b-b-better go back and g-g-g-get a g-gun?" -suggested Ding-dong in an awe-struck tone. - -"What for," rejoined Joe, whose voice was also sunk to a low pitch, -"not scared, are you?" - -"N-n-n-no, but it seems kind of creepy somehow." - -"Nonsense," said Nat crisply, "come on, let's see what's inside." - -By this time they were pretty close to the place, and a few strides -brought Nat to the rotting door. It was locked apparently, for, as he -gave it a vigorous shake, it did not respond but remained closed. - -"Come on, fellows. Bring your shoulders to bear," cried Nat, "now then -all together!" - -Three strong young bodies battered the door with their shoulders with -all their might, and at the first assault the clumsy portal went -crashing off its hinges, falling inward with a startling "bang." - -"Look out!" yelled Nat as it subsided, and it was well he gave the -warning. - -Before his sharp cry had died out a dark form about the size of a small -rabbit came leaping out with a squeak like the sound made by a slate -pencil. Before the boy could recover from his involuntary recoil the -creature was followed by a perfect swarm of his companions. Squeaking -and showing their teeth the creatures came pouring forth, their -thousands of little eyes glowing like tiny coals. - -"Timber rats!" shouted Nat, taking to his heels, but not before some -of the little animals had made a show of attacking him. Nat was too -prudent a lad to try conclusions with the ferocious rodents, which can -be savage as wild cats, when cornered. Deeming discretion the better -part of valor he sped down the hillside after Ding-dong and Joe, who -had started back for the camp at the first appearance of the torrent of -timber rats. - -From a safe distance the lads watched the exodus. For ten minutes or -more the creatures came rushing forth in a solid stream. But at last -the stampede began to dwindle, and presently the last old gray fellow -joined his comrades in the woods. - -"Great Scott!" exclaimed Joe, "did you ever see such a sight?" - -"Well, I've heard of places in which the rats gathered in immense -numbers, but I never knew before that such a thing as we have seen was -possible," replied Nat; "there must have been thousands." - -"Mum-m-m-m-millions," stuttered Ding-dong, his eyes still round with -astonishment. - -"I suppose some supplies were left in there," suggested Nat, "and that -the rats gathered there and made a regular nesting place of it after -the owner departed." - -"Well, now that they have all cleared out, let's go and have a look," -said Joe. - -"Might as well," agreed Nat, "it's a good thing those creatures didn't -take it into their heads to attack us, as I have read they have done to -miners. They might have picked our bones clean." - -They entered the hut with feelings of intense curiosity. It was well -that they trod gingerly as they crossed the threshold, for the floor -was so honeycombed with the holes of the timber rats that walking -was difficult and even dangerous. The creatures had evidently gnawed -through the sill beams supporting the floor, for the hearthstone in -front of the open fireplace had subsided and sagged through into the -foundations, leaving a big open space. The boys determined to explore -this later but in the meantime other things in the hut attracted their -attention. - -There was a rough board table with a cracker box to serve as chair -drawn up close to it. But both the table and the box had been almost -gnawed to pieces by the ravenous rats. Some tin utensils stood upon the -table but all trace of what they might have contained had, of course, -vanished. Even pictures from illustrated magazines which had once been -pasted on the walls had been devoured, leaving only traces to show what -they had been. - -Nat, while the others had been investigating at large, had made his way -to the corner of the hut where a rude bunk had been built. As he gazed -into its dark recesses he shrank back with a startled cry. - -"Fellows! Oh, fellows! Come here!" - -The other two hastened to his side and were scarcely less shocked -than he at what they saw. Within the bunk, the bed clothing of which -had been devoured wholesale, lay a heap of whitened bones. A skull at -the head of the rude bed-place told all too clearly that the owner -had either been killed or had died in the lonely place and had been -devoured by the rats. The grisly evidences were only too plain. - -The boys were almost unnerved by this discovery, and it was some time -before any one of them spoke. Then Nat said in a low tone, almost a -whisper:-- - -"I wonder who he was?" - -"There's a tin box," said Joe, pointing to a receptacle beneath the -bunk, "maybe there's something in that to tell." - -"Perhaps," said Nat, picking the article up. It was a much battered -case of the type known as "despatch box." The marks of the rats' teeth -showed upon it, but it had not been opened. A rusty hammer with the -handle half gnawed off lay a short distance away. With one sharp blow -of this tool Nat knocked the lock off the despatch box. He gave a cry -of triumph as he opened it. Within, yellow and faded, were several -papers. - -"Let's get into the open air and examine these," suggested Nat, who -was finding the ratty odor of the place almost overpowering. The -others gladly followed him. Squatting down outside the hut in the -fading light, they opened the first paper. It seemed to be a will of -some sort and was signed Elias Goodale. Putting it aside for further -perusal, Nat, in turn, opened and glanced at a packet of faded letters -in a woman's handwriting, a folded paper containing a lock of hair, -seemingly that of an infant, and at last a paper that seemed fresher -than the others. This ink, instead of being a faded brown, was black -and clear. The paper seemed to have been torn from a blank book. - -"Read it out," begged Joe. - -"All right," said Nat, "there doesn't seem to be much of it, so I will." - -Holding the paper close to his eyes in the waning day, the boy read as -follows:-- - - "I am writing this with what I fear is my last - conscious effort. It will go with the other papers in - the box, and some day perhaps may reach my friends. I - hope and pray so. It has been snowing for weeks and - weeks. In my solitude it is dreadful, but no more of - that. I was took down ill three days ago and have been - steadily getting worse. It is hard to die like this on - the eve of my triumph, but if it is to be it must be. - The sapphires--for I found them at last--are hid under - the hearthstone. I pray whoever finds this to see that - they are restored to my folks whom I wronged much in my - life before I came out here. - - "As I write this I feel myself growing weaker. The - timber rats--those terrible creatures--have grown quite - bold now. They openly invade the hut and steal my - stores. Even if I recover I shall hardly have enough - to live out the winter. The Lord have mercy on me and - bring this paper to the hands of honest men. They will - find details in the other papers of my identity." - -"Is that all?" asked Joe as Nat came to a stop. - -"That's all," rejoined Nat in a sober voice. "What do you think of it?" - -"That we'd better tell Cal and see what he advises." - -"That's my idea, too. Come on, let's tell him about it." - -The Motor Rangers lost no time in hastening back to the camp and Cal's -face of amazement as he heard their story was a sight to behold. As -for Herr Muller he tore his hair in despair at not having secured a -photograph of the rats as they poured out of the ruined hut. - -"I've heard of this Elias Goodale," said Cal as he looked over the -papers. "He was an odd sort of recluse that used to come to Lariat -twice a year for his grub. The fellows all thought he was crazy. He was -always talking about finding sapphires and making the folks at home -rich. I gathered that some time he had done 'em a great wrong of some -kind and wanted to repair it the best way he could. Anyhow, he had a -claim hereabouts that he used to work on all the time. The boys all -told him that the Injuns had taken all the sapphires there ever was in -this part of the hills out of 'em, but he kep' right on. I last heard -of him about a year ago--poor chap." - -"Was he old?" asked Nat. - -"Wall, maybe not in years, but in appearance he was the oldest, saddest -chap you ever set eyes on. The boys all thought he was loony, but to -me it always appeared that he had some sort of a secret sorrow." - -"Poor fellow," exclaimed Nat, "whatever wrong he may have done his -death atoned for it." - -They were silent for a minute or so, thinking of the last scenes in -that lonely hut with the snow drifting silently about it and the dying -man within cringing from the timber rats. - -"Say!" exclaimed Joe suddenly, starting them out of this sad reverie, -"what's the matter with finding out if he told the truth about those -sapphires or if it was only a crazy dream?" - -"You're on, boy," exclaimed Cal, "I think myself that he must hev found -a lot of junk and figgered out in his crazy mind they wuz sapphires and -hid 'em away." - -"It's worth investigating, anyhow," said Nat, starting up followed by -the others. - -It took them but a few seconds to reach the hut. Having entered they -all crowded eagerly about the hearthstone. Cal dropped into the hole -with his revolver ready for any stray rats that might remain, but not -a trace of one was to be seen. Suddenly he gave a shout and seized a -rough wooden box with both hands. - -"Ketch hold, boys," he cried, "it's so heavy I can't hardly heft it." - -Willing hands soon drew the box up upon the crazy floor, and Nat -produced the rusty hammer. - -"Now to see if it was all a dream or reality," he cried, as he brought -the tool down on the half rotten covering. The wood split with a -rending sound and displayed within a number of dull-looking, half -translucent rocks. - -"Junk!" cried Cal, who had hoisted himself out of the hole by this -time, "a lot of blame worthless old pyrites." - -"Not py a chug ful," came an excited voice as Herr Muller pressed -forward, "dem is der purest sapphires I haf effer seen." - -"How do you know?" demanded Nat quickly. - -"Pecos vunce py Amstertam I vork py a cheweller's. I know stones in der -rough and dese is an almost priceless gollecdion." - -"Hoorooh!" yelled Cal, "we'll all be rich." - -He stepped quickly forward and prepared to scoop up a handful of the -rough-looking stones, but Nat held him back. - -"They're not ours, Cal," he said, "they belong to the folks named in -that will." - -"You're right, boy," said Cal abashed, "I let my enthoosiasm git away -with me. But what are we going to do about it? Them folks don't live -around here." - -"We'll have to find them and----Hark!" - -The boy gave an alarmed exclamation and looked behind him. He could -have sworn that a dark shadow passed the window as they bent above the -dully-gleaming stones. But although he darted to the door like a flash, -nothing was to be seen outside. - -"What's the matter?" asked Cal, curiously. - -"Nothing," was the quiet rejoinder, "I thought I saw another timber -rat, but I guess I was mistaken." - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV. - -FACING THEIR FOES. - - -"Nat, wake up!" - -"_Nat!_" - -"NAT!" - -Joe's third exclamation awoke the slumbering boy and he raised himself -on the rough couch on one arm. - -"What is it, Joe?" he asked, gazing in a startled way at his chum. Joe -was sitting bolt upright on the rough, wooden-framed bed, and gazing -through a dilapidated window outside upon the moon-flooded canyon. - -"Hark!" whispered Joe, "don't you hear something?" - -"Nothing but the water running down that old flume behind the hut." - -"That's queer, I don't hear it any more either," said Joe; "guess it -was a false alarm." - -"Guess so," assented Nat, settling down once more in the blankets. From -various parts of the rough hut came the steady, regular breathing of -Ding-dong Bell, Cal and Herr Muller. The latter must have been having a -nightmare for he kept muttering:---- - -"Lookd oudt py der sapphires. Lookd oudt!" - -"No need for him to worry, they are safe enough in the hiding place -where Cal used to keep his dust when he had any," grunted Joe, still -sitting erect and on the alert, however. Somehow he could not get it -out of his head that outside the hut he had heard stealthy footsteps a -few moments before. - -The Motor Rangers and their friends had arrived at Cal's hut in the -canyon that afternoon. Their first care had been to dispose safely of -the box of precious stones in the hiding place mentioned by Joe. The -evening before their last act at the camp by the ruined hut had been to -consign the remains of the dead miner to a grave under the great pines. -Nat with his pocketknife had carved a memorial upon a slab of timber. - -"Sacred to the memory of Elias Goodale. Died----." - - * * * * * - -And so, with a last look backward at the scene of the lonely tragedy of -the hills, they had proceeded. Nat had not mentioned to his companions -that he was sure that he had seen some one at the window, as they bent -over the sapphires. After all it might have been an hallucination. The -boy's first and natural assumption had been that whoever had peeped -through the window was a member of Col. Morello's band, sent forward -to track them. But then he recollected the burned forest that lay -behind. It seemed hardly credible that any member of the band could -have passed that barrier and arrived at the hut at almost the same time -as the Motor Rangers. Had Nat known what accurate and minute knowledge -the colonel possessed of the secret trails and short cuts of that part -of the Sierras he might not, however, have been so incredulous of his -first theory. - -The same afternoon they had reached a summit from which Cal, pointing -downward, had shown them a scanty collection of huts amid a dark sea -of pines. - -"That's the place," he said. - -Half an hour's ride had brought them to the canyon which they found had -been deserted even by the patient Chinamen, since Cal's last visit. -His hut, however, was undisturbed and had not been raided by timber -rats, thanks to an arrangement of tin pans set upside down which -Cal had contrived on the corner posts. The afternoon had been spent -in concealing the sapphire chest in a recess behind some rocks some -distance from the hut. A short tour of exploration followed. As Cal -had said on a previous occasion, the camp had once been the scene of -great mining activity. Traces of it were everywhere. The hillside was -honeycombed with deserted workings and mildewed embankments of slag. -Scrub and brush had sprung up everywhere, and weeds flourished among -rotting, rusty mining machinery. It was a melancholy spot, and the boys -had been anxious to leave it and push on to Big Oak Flat, ten miles -beyond. But by the time they reached this decision it was almost dark -and the road before them was too rough to traverse by night. It had -been decided therefore to camp in Cal's hut that night. - -"Pity we can't float like a lot of logs," said Joe, as he stood looking -at the water roaring through the flume which was a short distance -behind the hut. - -"Yep," rejoined Cal, "if we could, we'd reach Big Oak Flat in jig time. -This here flume comes out thereabouts." - -"Who built it?" inquired Nat, gazing at the moss-grown contrivance -through which the water was rushing at a rapid rate. There had been a -cloudburst on a distant mountain and the stream was yellow and turbid. -At other times, so Cal informed them, the flume was almost dry. - -"Why," said Cal, in reply to Nat's question, "it was put up by some -fellows who thought they saw money in lumbering here. That was after -the mines petered out. But it was too far to a market and after working -it a while they left. We've always let the flume stand, as it is -useful to carry off the overflow from the river above." - -Somehow sleep wouldn't come to Joe. Try as he would he could not doze -off. He counted sheep jumping over a fence, kept tab of bees issuing -from a hive and tried a dozen other infallible recipes for inducing -slumber. But they wouldn't work. Nat, after his awakening, had, -however, dozed off as peacefully as before. - -Suddenly, Joe sat up once more. He had been electrified by the sound of -a low voice outside the hut. This time there was no mistake. Some human -being was prowling about that lonely place. Who could it be? He was not -kept long in doubt. It was the voice of Dayton. Low as it was there was -no mistaking it. Joe's heart almost stopped beating as he listened:-- - -"They're off as sound as so many tops, colonel. All we've got to do is -to go in and land the sapphires, and the kid, too." - -"You are sure they have them?" - -"Of course. Didn't I see them in old Goodale's hut? You always said -the old fellow was crazy. I guess you know better now. These cubs -blundered into the biggest sapphire find I ever heard of." - -Joe was up now, and cautiously creeping about the room. One after -another he awoke his sleeping companions. Before arousing Herr Muller, -however, he clapped a hand over the German's mouth to check any outcry -that the emotional Teuton might feel called upon to utter. - -Presently the voices died out and cautiously approaching the window Nat -could see in the moonlight half a dozen dark forms further down the -canyon. Suddenly a moonbeam glinted brightly on a rifle barrel. - -"They mean business this time and no mistake," thought Nat. - -Tiptoeing back he told the others what he had seen. - -"Maybe we can ketch them napping," said Cal, "oh, if only we had a -telephone, the sheriff could nab the whole pack." - -"Yes, but we haven't," said the practical Nat. - -Cal tiptoed to the door and opened it a crack. If there had been any -doubt that they were closely watched it was dispelled then. - -Zip! - -_Phut!_ - -Two bullets sang by Cal's ears as he jumped hastily back, and buried -themselves in the door jamb. - -"Purty close shooting for moonlight," he remarked coolly. - -"What are we going to do?" demanded Joe. - -"Well, thanks to our foresight in bringing in all the rifles and -ammunition, we can make things interesting for them coyotes fer a long -time," rejoined Cal. - -"But in this lonely place they could besiege us for a month if need -be," said Nat. - -Cal looked grave. - -"That's so, lad," he agreed, "we'd be starved and thirsted out before -long. If only we could communicate with Big Oak Flat." - -Nat dropped off into one of his deep studies. The boy's active mind -was revolving the situation. It resolved itself into a very simple -proposition. The colonel's band was well armed. They had ample -opportunities for getting food and water. Situated as the Motor Rangers -were, the others could keep them bottled up as long as they could -stand it. Then nothing would be left but surrender. Nat knew now from -what Joe had told him, that it was no fancy he had had at the hut. -Dayton had been on their track and had unluckily arrived in time for -his cupidity to be tempted by the sight of the sapphires. His injury -when the man-trap fell must have been only a slight one. Nat knew the -character of the outlaws too well to imagine that they would leave the -canyon till they had the sapphire box and could wreak their revenge on -the Motor Rangers. - -True, as long as their ammunition held out the occupants of the hut -could have stood off an army. But as has been said, without food or -water they were hopeless captives. Unless--unless---- - -Nat leaped up from the bedstead with a low, suppressed:-- - -"_Whoop!_" - -"You've found a way out of it?" exclaimed Joe, throwing an arm around -his chum's shoulder. - -"I think so, old fellow--listen." - -They gathered around while in low tones Nat rehearsed his plan. - -"I ain't er goin' ter let you do it," protested Cal. - -"But you must, Cal, it's our only chance. You are needed here to help -stand off those rascals. It is evident that they are in no hurry to -attack us. They know that they can starve us out if they just squat -down and wait." - -"Thet's so," assented Cal, scratching his head, "I guess there ain't no -other way out of it but--Nat, I think a whole lot of you, and don't you -take no chances you don't have to." - -"Not likely to," was the rejoinder, "and now the sooner I start the -better, so good-bye, boys." - -Nat choked as he uttered the words, and the others crowded about him. - -"Donner blitzen," blurted out Herr Muller, "I dink you are der pravest -poy I effer heardt of, und----" - -Nat cut him short. There was a brief hand pressure between himself and -Joe, the same with Ding-dong and the others, and then the lad, with -a quick, athletic movement, caught hold of a roof beam and hoisted -himself upward toward a hole in the roof through which a stone chimney -had once projected. Almost noiselessly he drew himself through it and -the next moment vanished from their view. - -"Now then to cover his retreat," said Joe, seizing his rifle. - -The others, arming themselves in the same way rushed toward the window. -Through its broken panes a volley was discharged down the canyon. A -chorus of derisive yells greeted it from Morello's band. - -"Yell away," snarled Cal, "maybe you'll sing a different tune before -daybreak." - -In the meantime Nat had emerged on the roof of the cabin. It was a -difficult task he had set himself and this was but the first step. But -as the volley rang out he knew that the attention of the outlaws had -been distracted momentarily and he wriggled his way down toward the -eaves at the rear of the hut. Luckily, the roof sloped backward in that -direction, so that he was screened from the view of any one in front. - -Reaching the eaves he hung on for a second, and then dropped the ten -feet or so to the ground. Then crouching like an Indian he darted -through the brush till he reached the side of the old flume. - -He noted with satisfaction that the water was still running in a good -stream down the mouldering trench. With a quick, backward look, Nat -cast off his coat and boots, and flinging them aside picked up a board -about six feet long that lay near by. - -The water at the head of the flume traversed a little level of ground, -and here it ran more slowly than it did when it reached the grade -below. Extending himself full length on the board, just as a boy does -on a sleigh on a snowy hill, Nat held on for a moment. - -He gave one look about him at the moonlit hills, the dark pines and -the rocky cliffs. Then, with a murmured prayer, he let go. - -The next instant he was shooting down through the flume at a rate that -took his breath away. All about him roared the voices of the water -while the crosspieces over his head whizzed by in one long blur. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV. - -THROUGH THE FLUME. - - -Faster than he had ever travelled before in his life Nat was hurtled -along down the flume. Water dashed upward into his face, half choking -him and occasionally his board would hit the wooden side with a bump -that almost threw him off. His knuckles were bruised and bleeding and -his head dizzy from the motion. It was the wildest ride that the lad, -or any other lad for that matter, had ever undertaken. - -Suddenly, ahead of him--above the noise of the rushing water--came -another sound, a deep-throated, sullen thunder. As he shot along -with the speed of a projectile, Nat realized what the strange sound -betokened. The end of the flume. Cal had told them that the raised -water-course discharged its contents into a big pool at that point. -With a sudden sinking of the heart Nat realized that he had forgotten -to inquire how high the drop was. If it was very high--or if there was -but little water in the pool below the flume--he would be dashed to -pieces, or injured so that he could not swim, and thus drown. - -But even as the alarming thought was in his mind, Nat felt himself shot -outward into space. Instinctively his hands came together and he dived -downward, entering the water about twenty feet below him, with a clean -dive. - -For a space the waters closed above the lad's head and he was lost to -view in the moonlit pool. When he came to the surface, out of breath -and bruised, but otherwise uninjured, he saw that he was in what had -formerly been used as a "collection-pool" for the logs from the forest -above. He struck out for the shore at once and presently emerged upon -the bank. But as he clambered out, the figure of a Chinaman who had -been seated fishing on the brink galvanized into sudden life. The -Mongolian was poaching in private waters under cover of the darkness -and was naturally startled out of a year's growth at the sudden -apparition. - -With an ear-splitting screech the Mongolian leaped about three feet -into the air as if propelled by a spring, and then, with his stumpy -legs going under him like twin piston rods, he made tracks for the town. - -"Bad spill-it! Bad spill-it! He come catchee me!" he howled at the top -of his voice, tearing along. - -As he dashed into the town a tall man dressed in Western style, and -with a determined, clean-cut face under his broad-brimmed sombrero, -stepped out of the lighted interior of the post-office, where the mail -for the early stage was being sorted. - -"Here, Sing Lee," he demanded, catching the astonished Chinaman by the -shoulder and swinging him around, "what's the matter with you?" - -"Wasee malla me, Missa Sheliff? Me tellee you number one chop quickee -timee. Me fish down by old lumbel yard and me see spill-it come flum -watel!" - -"What?" roared Jack Tebbetts, the sheriff, "a ghost? More likely one -of Morello's band; I heard they were around here somewhere. But hullo, -what's this?" - -He broke off as a strange figure came flying down the street, almost as -fast as the fear-crazed Chinaman. - -"Wow!" yelled the sheriff, drawing an enormous gun as this weird -figure came in view, "Halt whar you be, stranger? You're a suspicious -character." - -Nat, out of breath, wet through, bruised, bleeding and with his -clothing almost ripped off him, could not but admit the truth of this -remark. But as he opened his mouth to speak a sudden dizziness seemed -to overcome him. His knees developed strange hinges and he felt that in -another moment he would topple over. - -The sheriff stepped quickly forward and caught him. - -"Here, hold up, lad," he said crisply, "what's ther trouble?" - - * * * * * - -"One o'clock. We ought to be hearing from Nat soon." - -Cal put his old silver watch back in his pocket and resumed his anxious -pacing of the floor. The others, in various attitudes of alertness, -were scattered about the place. Since Nat's departure they had been, as -you may imagine, at a pretty tight tension. Somehow, waiting there for -an attack or for rescue, was much more trying than action would have -been. - -"Do you guess he got through all right?" asked Joe. - -"I hope so," rejoined Cal, "but it was about as risky a bit of business -as a lad could undertake. I blame myself for ever letting him do it." - -"If Nat had his mind made up you couldn't have stopped him," put in Joe -earnestly. - -"H-h-h-hark!" exclaimed Ding-dong. - -Far down the canyon they could hear a sound. It grew closer. For an -instant a wild hope that it was the rescue party flashed through their -minds. But the next instant a voice hailed them. Evidently Col. -Morello had made up his mind that a siege was too lengthy a proceeding. - -"I will give you fellows in the hut one chance," he said in a loud -voice, "give up that boy Nat Trevor and the sapphires and I will -withdraw my men." - -Cal's answer was to take careful aim, and if Joe had not hastily pulled -his arm down that moment would have been Morello's last. But as Cal's -white face was framed in the dark window a bullet sang by viciously and -showered them with splinters. - -"That's for a lesson," snarled Morello, "there are lots more where that -came from." - -But as he spoke there came a sudden yell of alarm from his rear. - -"We're attacked!" came a voice. - -At the same instant the sound of a distant volley resounded. - -"Hooray! Nat made good!" yelled Cal, leaping about and cracking his -fingers. - -The next instant a rapid thunder of hoofs, as the outlaws wheeled and -made off, was heard. As their dark forms raced by, the posse headed -by Sheriff Tebbetts and Nat, fired volley after volley at them, but -only two fell, slightly wounded. The rest got clear away. A subsequent -visit to their fortress showed that on escaping from the posse they had -revisited it and cleaned all the loot out of it that they could. The -express box stolen from Cal's stage was, however, recovered. - -As the posse galloped up, cheering till the distant canyons echoed -and re-echoed, the besieged party rushed out. They made for Nat and -pulled him from his horse. Then, with the young Motor Ranger on their -shoulders, they paraded around the hut with him, yelling like maniacs, -"'For he's a jolly good fellow'!" - -"And that don't begin to express it," said the sheriff to himself. - -"He's the grit kid," put in one of the hastily-gathered posse -admiringly. - -And the "Grit Kid" Nat was to them henceforth. - -The remainder of the night was spent in the hut, Nat telling and -retelling his wild experience in the flume. The next morning the posse -set out at once at top speed for the fortress of Morello, the sapphire -chest being carried in the auto which accompanied the authorities. Of -course they found no trace of the outlaws; but the place was destroyed -and can never again be used by any nefarious band. - -Nat and his friends were anxious for the sheriff to take charge of the -sapphire find, but this he refused to do. It remained, therefore, for -the Motor Rangers themselves to unravel the mystery surrounding it. - -How they accomplished this, and the devious paths and adventures into -which the quest led them, will be told in the next volume of this -series. Here also will be found a further account of Col. Morello and -his band who, driven from their haunts by the Motor Rangers, sought -revenge on the lads. - -Having remained in the vicinity of Big Oak Flat till every point -connected with Morello and his band had been cleared up, the boys -decided to go on to the famous Yosemite Valley. There they spent some -happy weeks amid its awe-inspiring natural wonders. With them was Herr -Muller and Cal. Bismark, as Cal had foretold, returned to the hotel at -Lariat and Herr Muller got his money. - -But all the time the duty which devolved upon the Motor Rangers of -finding Elias Goodale's heirs and bestowing their rich inheritance -on them was not forgotten. Nat and his companions considered it in -the nature of a sacred trust--this mission which a strange chance -had placed in their hands. How they carried out their task, and what -difficulties and dangers they faced in doing it, will be related in -"THE MOTOR RANGERS ON BLUE WATER; OR, THE SECRET OF THE DERELICT." - - - THE END. - - - - -Reasons why you should obtain a Catalogue of our Publications - -_A postal to us will place it in your hands_ - -1. You will possess a comprehensive and classified list of all the best -standard books published, at prices less than offered by others. - -2. You will find listed in our catalogue books on every topic: Poetry, -Fiction, Romance, Travel, Adventure, Humor, Science, History, Religion, -Biography, Drama, etc., besides Dictionaries and Manuals, Bibles, -Recitation and Hand Books, Sets, Octavos, Presentation Books and -Juvenile and Nursery Literature in immense variety. - -3. You will be able to purchase books at prices within your reach; as -low as 10 cents for paper covered books, to $5.00 for books bound in -cloth or leather, adaptable for gift and presentation purposes, to suit -the tastes of the most critical. - -4. You will save considerable money by taking advantage of our SPECIAL -DISCOUNTS, which we offer to those whose purchases are large enough to -warrant us in making a reduction. - - HURST & CO., _Publishers_, - 395, 397, 399 Broadway, New York. - - - - -Motor Rangers Series - -By MARVIN WEST - -OUTDOOR LIFE STORIES FOR MODERN BOYS - - Cloth Bound Price 50c per volume. - - -The Motor Rangers' Lost Mine. - -A new series dealing with an idea altogether original in juvenile -fiction,--the adventures of a party of bright, enterprising youngsters -in a splendid motor car. Their first trip takes them to the dim and -mysterious land of Lower California. - -Naturally, as one would judge from the title, the lost mine, which -proves to be Nat Trevor's rightful inheritance,--occupies much of the -interest of the book. But the mine was in the possession of enemies so -powerful and wealthy that it taxed the boys' resources to the uttermost -to overcome them. How they did so makes absorbing reading. - -In this book also, the young motor rangers solve the mystery of the -haunted Mexican cabin, and exterminate for all time a strange terror of -the mountains which has almost devastated a part of the peninsula. - -The Motor Rangers too, have an exciting encounter with Mexican cowboys, -which beginning comically, comes very near having a serious termination -for all hands. Emphatically "third speed" books. - - - Sold by Booksellers Everywhere. - Hurst & Co., Publishers New York - - - - -BORDER BOY SERIES - -BY - -FREMONT B. DEERING - -Frontier Stories for Modern Boys - - Cloth Bound Price, 50c per volume. - - -The Border Boys on the Trail. - -There is little left of the romantic western life of which our -forefathers delighted to read and in which they not infrequently took a -part. The author of this series has, however, taken to himself modern -conditions in this interesting section of the country in a vital way. - -The pages of this book throb with the strenuous outdoor life and -pastimes of the ranch and range. The volume is as vivid as a western -sunset and as lively as a bucking broncho. What boy will not want to -read of the adventures of the ranchers and the boys in Grizzly Pass and -the strange strategy of Black Ramon--the Border cattle-rustler which -came nearly costing them all their lives? - -But the adventures do not terminate at the annihilation of the bridge -by the rustler's gang. They elude pursuit for a time by this means but -only for a time. The beginning of the end of their depredations comes -when Jack and his cowpuncher chum escape from the bell-tower of the -old mission. From then on to the conclusion of the book events come as -fast as the discharge of an automatic rifle, or the rattling execution -of the long roll on a snare-drum. No boy should fail to read how the -Mexicans almost succeeded in releasing the pent-up waters of the -irrigation dam and ruining a vast track of country. Thoroughly healthy -in tone and appealing to manly standards the Border Boys are ideal -chums for the wholesome lads of to-day. - - - Sold by Booksellers Everywhere. - HURST & CO., Publishers NEW YORK. - - - - -BOY SCOUT SERIES - -BY - -LIEUT. HOWARD PAYSON - -MODERN BOY SCOUT STORIES FOR BOYS - - Cloth Bound Price, 50c per volume. - - -The Boy Scouts of the Eagle Patrol. - -A fascinating narrative of the doings of some bright boys who become -part of the great Boy Scout movement. The first of a series dealing -with this organization, which has caught on like wild fire among -healthy boys of all ages and in all parts of the country. - -While in no sense text-book, the volume deals, amid its exciting -adventures, with the practical side of Scouting. To Rob Blake and his -companions in the Eagle Patrol, surprising, and sometimes perilous -things happen constantly. But the lads, who are, after all, typical of -most young Americans of their type, are resourceful enough to overcome -every one of their dangers and difficulties. - -How they discover the whereabouts of little Joe, the "kid" of the -patrol, by means of smoke telegraphy and track his abductors to their -disgrace; how they assist the passengers of a stranded steamer and foil -a plot to harm and perhaps kill an aged sea-captain, one must read the -book to learn. A swift-moving narrative of convincing interest and -breathless incident. - - - Sold by Booksellers Everywhere. - Hurst & Co. Publishers New York - - * * * * * - -Transcriber's Notes: - -Obvious punctuation errors repaired. Varied hyphenation was retained. - -Page 54, "attampt" changed to "attempt" (and an attempt made) - -Page 160, "penertate" changed to "penetrate" (could not penetrate into) - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Motor Rangers Through the Sierras, by -Marvin West - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOTOR RANGERS THROUGH SIERRAS *** - -***** This file should be named 43917.txt or 43917.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/3/9/1/43917/ - -Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Emmy and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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