CHAPTER X

ATTACKED BY A COUGAR

"I say, Jerry," called Ned, "we're in a sort of a pickle."

"How's that?"

"Why, I started to make coffee and I got along all right until I came to the water."

"Well?"

"No, it's not at all well. In fact we ought to have a well here."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean there's no water in the cave!"

"Great Scott! Is that so?" exclaimed Jerry. "I never thought of such a thing. Are you sure there's not a spring away in the rear?"

"The professor and I made a good search," replied the temporary cook. "The cave comes to an end about three hundred feet back, and there's not a sign of water."

For a few seconds Jerry was silent. Then he gave an exclamation.

"I have it!" he cried. "We can use the emergency water supply on the auto. It is not very fresh, but it will do for coffee."

"The very thing!" ejaculated Ned.

It was fortunate that the auto carried an extra tank of water, as well as one of gasolene. They had often found it useful in getting a supply of the fluid for the radiator in places far from a supply, and the reserve tank had been built with that purpose in view. It held about ten gallons. Drawing on this Ned had a supply for his coffee which was soon boiling merrily on the stove, while some canned chicken and bacon were put on to fry.

"I say, is anybody going to relieve me?" called Bob from his post on guard.

He smelled the breakfast in preparation, and it added to his hunger.

"I'll go," volunteered the professor. "I'm in no hurry to eat, and perhaps I may pick up a specimen or two. This cave ought to be a good place for them."

Accordingly he took Bob's place, and soon the four boys were eating ravenously, and with as good appetites as if a band of bad men was not outside, ready to attack them at the first opportunity.

"Now to fix the machine," said Jerry as he rose from the ground that served as a table. "Light all the lamps, Ned, and then you and Bob come and help me. Tommy and the professor can take turns standing guard."

It was no easy matter to take the automobile engine apart, and substitute a new gear for the broken one. It was also found necessary to insert new spark plugs, which had become covered with a coating of carbon; and the cylinders also needed cleaning, while the pistons had to be adjusted.

The afternoon was spent in working at the auto, and by night such good progress had been made that Jerry said by the next evening it would be in shape to start.

"That is if the gang let's us," spoke Ned.

"We'll make a dash for it," replied Jerry. "We needn't fear them with the car in good order, for we can leave them behind in less than half an hour. We'll try to escape to-morrow about midnight."

"In the meanwhile let's eat," suggested Bob, and his cry brought forth the usual chaffing about "Chunky's" appetite.

Ned started to get supper. He went to the tank of the auto to draw some water for the tea, when he gave a cry of surprise.

"What's the trouble?" called Jerry.

"The water's gone!" exclaimed Ned. "That's a leak in the tank!"

They all rushed to the car. There, on the ground under the reserve tank was a muddy spot, showing where the precious fluid had dripped away. A quick examination showed there was a small hole in the reservoir.

"Now we are up against it," murmured Bob.

"Not quite yet," said Jerry.

"How can we get water without being shot?" asked Ned.

"There is quite a bit left in the pipe coils of the radiator," answered Jerry. "It will be pretty poor stuff to drink I guess, but it's better than nothing."

There was considerable of the fluid in the big brass radiator on the front of the car, and, though it was stale, and had been heated many times, as it circulated about the cylinders, still, it was better than none. Made into tea, which was served as a change from coffee, it did not taste so very bad.

But the situation was grave. With only water enough on hand to last about half a day, the plight of the travelers was a critical one.

"We'll have to have water for the car, as well as ourselves," spoke Ned. "We can't run the machine without water."

"That's so," admitted Jerry dubiously. "Something will have to be done."

After the evening meal Jerry resumed his labors on the car, working at double speed, in which he was assisted by Ned and Bob. The professor and Tommy took turns watching at the cavern's mouth.

But there seemed to be no need of this, as the men showed no inclination to make a second attack. They appeared to know that the boys were caught in a trap; a trap that contained no water. So they evidently felt sure of success sooner or later, and that without the danger of being wounded.

Jerry and his comrades worked to such advantage that shortly after midnight the auto was in shape to be used, and with the new high gear wheel in place. The car was given a good oiling, and was repacked in readiness for a quick start.

"Now if we only had water," sighed Jerry, "we could slip out, and, I believe get away."

But he knew it was useless to proceed without at least a full radiator. The extra tank, which had been repaired, could be filled later. The radiator coils were empty however. What had not been used for cooking had been made up into weak tea, as it was not considered healthful to drink the water as it came from the pipes.

"We've got to do something," said Jerry decidedly. "If we stay here much longer we'll die of thirst. If we could only make a dash and get some water we could manage. Two pails full would do."

"Let me go after them," exclaimed Tommy. "I'm not afraid. I can run fast. Maybe I can get out there by the brook, get the water and come back before any of them see me."

"No you couldn't," spoke Jerry, pointing to where one of the men, as sentry, could be seen, from the mouth of the cave, walking up and down near the camp fire. "If any one goes I will, and I think I'd better start."

Bob and Ned both offered to make the dangerous attempt, and the professor insisted that he be allowed to try, as he knew how to move over ground very silently. But Jerry was firm in his determination.

"I'm going to make the try about two o'clock," he said. "They'll be sounder asleep then."

As he was very tired he stretched out in some blankets until it would be time to make the try. He fell asleep soon, and the others moved away, talking in whispers lest they disturb him.

Almost exactly at the appointed hour Jerry awakened. He sat up, and, slipping a pair of Indian moccasins over his shoes, to enable him to move as silently as possible, he cautiously approached the mouth of the cavern, carrying two water pails with him.

The moon had gone down and it was quite dark, which was favorable to Jerry's plans. As he got to the entrance of the cavern the boy looked toward the gang's camp. There seemed to be no sign of life, and Jerry thought perhaps the sentry had fallen asleep.

As silent as a cat the lad made his way toward the stream, which he could hear gurgling and splashing over the stones. His throat was dry, for the last of the cold tea had been drunk, and his exertions had made him very thirsty. As he heard the sound of the brook he felt a fierce desire for water, so strong was it that he felt he would brave anything to get it.

Foot by foot he advanced, crouching down as low as he could. He was beginning to feel that he would be successful, and not be detected. He could see the sparkle of the water about three hundred feet away, and his parched mouth and throat seemed to be as dry as leather. He could hardly swallow.

On and on he went. Now he was about two hundred feet away and he was getting ready to make a dash for the brook.

Suddenly he heard a clicking sound, and knew it was a rifle being cocked. Next there rang out on the night air the command:

"Halt or I'll fire!"

Poor Jerry was detected! He came to a stop, sick at heart at the failure of his plan.

For a moment there was no other sound. The boy could not see who had discovered him, though he instinctively felt the eyes of the man on him. Suddenly there was a shaking in the tree somewhat to Jerry's left, and about one hundred feet away. Then came a rustle of the leaves on the ground and the boy made out the figure of a man, dimly, standing with rifle aimed straight at him.

"Throw up your hands!" was the next order, and, letting the pails fall to the ground, Jerry obeyed.

Then, all at once, there burst out on the air a most terrifying sound. It was a blood-curdling yell, a screech as if from some one in mortal agony. Jerry felt the cold chills go down his back.

The next instant there was a crashing sound, and, from the tree under which the man stood who had aimed at the boy a dark body shot downward.

The screech of the cougar, for such it was, mingled with the terrific yells of the sentry. Jerry dimly saw a confused tangle of man and beast. He heard the man shout for help. He heard his rifle go off, and then came sounds that told that the camp had been aroused.

The attack of the cougar had come just in time. Jerry, taking advantage of the diversion, grabbed up his pails, and running to the brook filled them with water. Then, as fast as he could go, he ran toward the cave.