the earth. The woods began to thin out, and the sides of the "tunnel," which had bee

, for Jerry used all the power possible on the differential gear. If the high speed one had been in wo

eir shouts to halt could be plainly heard. But Jerry was not going to g

slacking up,"

spoke Jerry. "The auto

re was no excuse for it in the condition

, "and the way I have to run it isn't

ey'll catch up t

tered Jerry. "We are

eze. The auto coughed and wheezed, seeming like a man who has run far and is about to collapse. The explosions be

ry, as, by a hasty glance back he s

ve up!" one of t

kling lever to the final notch. This seemed to be the last stra

muttered Ned grimly

ow, and the car, with the impetus it had gathered,

g nearer. There seemed to be no help at hand and there was every indica

can we go?" aske

hill," replied Jer

xclaimed Tommy. "I gue

ow

replied the young lad, "and when you get a

od will

know for I passed it as I was tramping toward the ranch. It is large e

ted the wheel to conform with Tommy

that told him the cave was at hand. Into it, by a skillful turn, he steered the auto, and the machine, running in about one hundred feet fr

fe!" whis

d he began to get out the rifles from the bottom o

tural one in the rocky side of the

y go?" they he

some ledge and been k

said the first one. "T

, by it, the boys knew their

the travelers heard some one shout. "

n that cave," w

" came a s

getting off their horses, an

es ready!" was t

nd at the mouth of the cave. We'll warn them not to enter. If they persist we wil

le and crept to the mouth of the opening. No sooner had they reached it than

y, who had natural

asked the lea

ry. "We are in possession of this ca

a kid!" sneer

poke Jerry. Then, in lower tones, he

members of the gang, and then, seeming to feel

" crie

ts of the rifles there succeeded howls of pain. Several of the gang shot back, b

other volley!

ls there was added a command from the leader to retreat, an

f them killed?

red too low to do much damage. I only wante

t he saw several blood stains, but the absence of any bodies told him the battle had not resulted fatally, for which he was thankful. Thoug

But I don't suppose they have gone for good. This probably will only make

y want me?" asked

d give a good deal to get you," replied Jerry. "Perhaps your signature may be

dad is dead?" as

answere

find him. But if the gang is after me, it is not right for you all to be in danger on my account. Give me up t

s cave, Tommy Bell, until we go! I'm not afraid of that gang. We've b

echoed Bo

and let me help fi

shoot?" a

my said, and Jerry gave him a rifl

distance away. But that they had no notion of giving up the fight was evidenced by th

" remarked the professor. "Lucky we have plenty

. "We'd have to lay up a few days at any rate, to fix the machine, and

Then, as the gang showed no signs of renewing the atta

d Ned. "I'll set up the stove, and we'll h

ed Bob to stand guard at the mouth of the cavern, and to gi

t eating breakfast?" aske

"I'll relieve you, or some one will, in time t

ed, and, at the same time, mak