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