CHAPTER XXVII.
BESIEGED AT THE MINE.
In an instant every one at the gold camp was on his feet. Broswickreached for his ever-ready rifle and Nestor had his revolvers out in ajiffy.
"What is it?" called the miner to Jerry.
"I heard some one coming, and I fired," replied the boy.
"Did you see any one?"
"I thought I saw a man, but I'm not sure."
"You're right! It was a man, and that man is on deck now!" replied amocking voice, but no one was in sight.
"That's Dalsett!" cried Nestor. "I know his voice. Come out where I cansee you, Dalsett!" went on the miner. "But I s'pose you're afraid toshow your sneakin' face!"
"It's healthier where I am," said Dalsett, "but, just to show you thatwe have the advantage--how's that?"
A shot followed his voice, and a twig was clipped from the tree aboveNestor's head. Instinctively, the miner ducked.
"We've got you surrounded," went on Dalsett. "You may have the mine, butwe have you, and a heap of good the claim will do you when you can'tfile your papers!"
In a rage, Nestor fired in the direction of the voice, aiming high, ashe did not wish to seriously wound even an enemy when there seemed to beno need. A mocking laugh followed. At the same time there were severalshots from different points surrounding the camp, showing that it wasindeed encircled.
"It looks as if they had us, don't it?" asked Broswick.
"Not by a long shot!" replied Nestor, heartily. "I've only just begun toplay this here game. Before I'm through I'll make Noddy Nixon and TomDalsett wish they'd never bothered me."
"What shall we do?" inquired Jerry.
"Get breakfast," answered Nestor, promptly. "We'll need food for what'sahead of us."
A stealthy movement in the bushes attracted his attention.
"So that's their plan, eh?" he murmured. "Hank, take your gun and go upto the mouth of the mine shaft. If any of that gang tries to approach,shoot to wound but not to kill. They were trying to sneak up to the mineand gain possession," explained Nestor, in reference to his directionsto the hunter. Broswick hurried up the slope.
Jerry and the other boys proceeded to get the morning meal. As forProfessor Snodgrass, he was walking around, gathering specimens, asthough danger was a thousand miles away. Nestor, with weapons ready,kept sharp watch.
They ate breakfast by turns, keeping a lookout lest the enemy mightattempt to rush the position. But this did not seem to be the plan ofthe besiegers. They were content to keep close watch so that those inpossession of the mine could not leave.
As an experiment, Nestor tried it. He walked a little way down thevalley. He had not proceeded far before there was a spurt of dust at hisfeet and a voice cried:
"Better go back, Jim. You'll be all right as long as you stay in bounds,but if you go out there'll be trouble; so I advise you to keep quiet."
"Wait till I git hold of you, Tom Dalsett!" cried the miner, shaking hisfist in the direction of his invisible foe.
"Oh, I expect to be here some time, so I'll wait," was the reply, andNestor could only turn back.
Just before noon the miner called a council of war. He explained that itwas very necessary for him, or some one, to get to a Government officeand file a claim on the mine.
"It's a case of first come, first served in this minin' business,"explained Nestor. "Those chaps may be on the way now to register theirpapers, an' if they are we'll lose the claim. I'll bet that's theirplan, an' that's why they're keepin' us cooped up here!"
"How far is it to the Government office?" asked Jerry.
"A matter of thirty miles," replied Nestor. "It's about five milesbeyond where we turned up into this valley. But what's the use talkin'?We can't git away while they're on guard with guns."
"We all can't, but one of us might," suggested Jerry.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that I will go and file the papers."
"How will you manage it?"
Jerry explained his plan. Nestor nodded in approval, and hurriedly toldhim how to comply with the necessary legal forms. The miner hastilyfilled out a paper, gave it to the boy, and remarked:
"Now we'll try that trick of yours, Jerry."
In accordance with the plan Jerry had proposed, every one but himselfstarted toward the top of the hill where the mine shaft was located.Jerry stayed near the automobile. The others took no pains to movequietly, but laughed and talked.
Reaching the top of the slope, at a word from Nestor, they made a rushdown the other side, at the same time firing their revolvers wildly inthe air.
As Jerry had expected, the ruse worked. The force of besiegers,thinking an escape was being attempted, ran around the other side of thehill to intercept it. Led by Dalsett, Noddy and his crowd drew up inthe underbrush at the opposite foot of the slope to trap the supposedfugitives.
At that instant Jerry sprang to the auto. Like a flash he had the motorgoing, and a second later he had leaped into the seat and was off downthe valley. A ringing cheer by his comrades, together with the chuggingof the motor, told the enemy what had happened. They realized that theyhad been fooled, and had been drawn away on a false alarm.
"Quick! After him, Noddy!" cried Dalsett. "Jump in your auto! You mustovertake him before he reaches the Government office, for he's goingthere to file the claim. That's what we'd ought to have done instead ofmonkeying here."
Noddy needed no second bidding. His auto stood ready a short distancedown the valley. He ran to it, started the motor, and was after Jerry ina few minutes. It was another race for the possession of the gold mine.
Returning to their camp, much pleased at the success of their stratagem,Nestor, the boys and Professor Snodgrass got dinner. Broswick was stillon guard at the shaft, but Nestor relieved the hunter a little later,allowing him to eat and take some rest.
As for the besiegers, they seemed to have settled down to doggedwaiting, for they gave no sign, though an occasional movement in theunderbrush showed they were still on guard.
Meanwhile, Jerry and Noddy were racing on. Jerry had a good start andsent his car along at a fine speed. The road was rough, and severaltimes he struck large stones that caused the auto to bounce unpleasantly.
Now and then Jerry would glance back to see if his enemy was in sight.After a run of about two miles he caught a glimpse of Noddy's machinecoming after him.
"Now we'll see who has the best car, and who is the best driver,"reasoned Jerry, and his spirits rose at the prospect of the race.
For several miles Jerry held his lead. Then he noticed that Noddy wasgaining slightly. Jerry could feel that his motor was not running assmoothly as it should, and no wonder, for it had been through strenuoustimes. He used all his skill in operating the various valves, gears,levers, but, do the best he could, he saw Noddy slowly though surelycreeping up on him.
"He must not win!" exclaimed Jerry, fiercely, to himself. Then, thoughit was a dangerous thing to do, for the road was very rough, he openedthe gasolene throttle still wider, and the car bounded forward atgreater speed.
This temporary advantage was soon lost, however, and Noddy came onrelentlessly. For an hour the race continued. The autoists left thesmall valley leading to the mine and turned into the broad defile.
"Five miles more!" thought Jerry, recalling Nestor's directions.
The next instant, with a rush and rattle, Noddy's car came up alongsidethat of Jerry's. They were now on even terms.
"I s'pose you thought you'd beat me!" sneered the bully.
"The race isn't over yet," answered Jerry.
But in truth it looked as if it was, as far as Jerry was concerned.Noddy gained inch by inch, until his car was a good length ahead. Thebully looked back with a mocking smile.
One mile was reeled off, and but four remained of the distance to thelittle town where the Government office was located. Another mile; thenanother. Noddy's car was now five hundred feet ahead, and Jerry wasrunning his machine as fast as he dared, thou
gh not to the limit.
There remained but another mile as the cars shot into a long, straightstretch. In the distance Jerry could see a small town. Noddy was aneighth of a mile in advance.
"I'm going to lose!" exclaimed Jerry, and he felt his heart sink.