CHAPTER XVII

THE INDIAN AND THE AUTO

For a few moments the scientist who hoped he had discovered the fabled power to transmute metals stared at the result of his latest trial. He appeared lost in thought. Then he seemed to recollect that there were strangers present.

"I am sorry my experiment did not succeed," he said in a more quiet voice than he had yet used. "I hoped to show you what I can do. Well, I must try again. I think I know where I made the error. I had too much soda in the powder. I will use less next time."

"We are sorry to interrupt your experiments," put in the professor, "but we are travelers, and our object in stopping here was to find out if you could take us in for the night."

"Gladly," replied the old man. "There is a barn in the rear, but it has not been occupied in years; not since I came here. You are welcome to use that. Some of you can spend the night in the rear room. As for me I shall not go to bed. I must start at once and make up some fresh powders."

"I think perhaps we had all better sleep in the barn," said the professor. "Then we will not disturb you at your labors."

The truth of it was Mr. Snodgrass saw that the aged man was not altogether right in his head, and he preferred not to be too near in case the fellow should suddenly become violent.

"Just as you like, just as you like," was the reply to the professor's decision, and the chemist seemed to be dreaming over some problem he was trying to solve.

"May we cook some of our food on your stove?" asked Jerry.

"Why certainly. I beg your pardon for not mentioning supper," spoke the man, "but you see I am so used to getting a bite whenever I need it, so as not to interrupt my work, that I forgot there is such a thing as hospitality. Make yourselves at home, and, if you find anything in the cupboards help yourselves. Meanwhile please excuse me if I do not join you. I must go out and gather some roots and herbs I need in my experiments."

He left the cabin, and, after bringing in some provisions from the auto, having first ascertained that there were few in the cabin, the travelers proceeded to make a meal.

"Do you suppose he can be the hermit of Lost Lake?" asked Bob.

"Well, he's certainly a hermit," spoke the professor, "but I don't believe there's a lake of any kind about here. Certainly if he was the hermit of the lake he would not be away off here. No, I am inclined to think we shall never see the lost lake or the hermit either."

"Do you think it will be safe to stay here all night?" inquired Chunky.

"I think so," was the professor's reply. "You see we will be out in another building, and we can fasten the door. If he tries to get in, which I am sure he will not, he will make noise enough to awaken us."

"We could mount guard," suggested Ned.

"It will not be necessary," Mr. Snodgrass said.

Nor did the travelers find it so. After their meal, having left a good supply of victuals for the old man in case he came back, they retired to the rear building where they slept soundly.

After breakfast, which the old man did not spend more than five minutes over, the travelers prepared to resume their trip.

"You had better stay one more night," urged the owner of the cabin. "I feel sure that I shall be successful to-night. I have discovered a new root. See, I call it gold threads," and he held up some bulbs that had been dug from the ground. Clinging to them were small yellow fibres or roots. "I found them last night, down in the hollow by the mineral spring," the man went on. "I am sure they are just what I need. Please stay; won't you?"

But the professor told him, as gently as possible, that they must keep on. So, after bidding the gold-seeker good bye, and wishing him success, the boys and Mr. Snodgrass proceeded, the auto puffing along at a good rate.

The weather continued fine and the air was bracing and cool, for they were well up among the foothills now. During the morning the road led up a gentle slope, but at noon they camped on a sort of ridge that marked the divide. On the other side was a vast plain, bounded at the further side by tall mountains.

It was well along in the afternoon, when having descended to the plain, the travelers found themselves bowling along a fine road, on either side of which were rolling fields. Mile after mile was covered, everyone enjoying the trip very much. The professor, however, was beginning to show signs of uneasiness. He fidgeted about in his seat, and seemed unable to remain quiet.

"What's the matter?" asked Bob at length.

"To tell you the truth," said the scientist, "I want to get out and get some specimens, but I did not like to ask you, for I do not want to delay the party."

They all voted that the professor should be given a chance to get as many specimens as he wanted. Accordingly Jerry brought the car to a stop, and the boys and the scientist got out.

As the engine had not been running as smoothly as was desirable Jerry did not shut off the power, merely throwing out the gear clutches. He said he wanted to have the cylinders warm up, and so the engine was left going, though the car itself stood still.

The professor was soon busy gathering insects of various kinds from the tall grass, and even crawling on his hands and knees over the ground. The boys walked some distance off, to stretch their legs, for they were a little tired of sitting still so long.

Suddenly Bob, who happened to glance back toward the auto, uttered a cry.

"Look!" he shouted. "Some one is stealing our car and going off in it!"

The others looked. The sight that met their eyes was enough to astonish any one. Climbing into the automobile was a big Indian, attired in gay colored blankets, a rifle slung across his back, while near him stood a Pinto pony, clean-cut and wiry.

While they watched they saw the red man seat himself comfortably at the steering wheel, reach forward to throw the gear clutch in place, and then the car moved off, taking the Indian with it.

"Here! Come back!"

"Stop that auto!"

"Get out of that!"

These were some of the things the boys yelled at the bold thief. But all of no avail. The Indian threw in the second gear, and the auto went faster than before.

"Come on! We must catch him!" cried Jerry, and he began to run in the direction the auto was fast disappearing in, down the road.

"We can never catch him," called Bob.

"Yes we can! He can't know anything about running an auto!" panted Jerry. "He'll put on the brake or pull the wrong lever next, and the machine will stop!"

"That is unless he blows it up first or smashes it," said Bob.

"What's the matter?" asked Mr. Snodgrass, appearing at this juncture.

Bob was the only one left to tell him, as Jerry and Ned were running down the road at top speed. But it seemed that their race would be useless, for the auto was now running on third gear. And, strangest of all, the Indian seemed to know how to operate it. He kept a straight course, and the puffing of the exhaust told Jerry that the engine was running to perfection, with a good supply of gasolene, and the spark coming regularly.

"Who--ever--heard--of--an--Indian running--an--auto," panted Ned.

"Running--away--with--one--you--mean," said Jerry, his breathing labored.

Further and further away from the pursuing boys the auto went. It seemed hopeless to keep after it, but neither Jerry nor Ned would give up. They realized what it meant to lose their machine, though they could not understand how an Indian, in all his wild regalia, would think of getting into an auto.

Suddenly there sounded down the road the patter of hoof beats.

"Maybe that's more Indians," said Jerry turning around and slowing up in his running.

"No," he added, "it's Bob on the Indian's pony. I wonder you or I didn't think of that."

"He couldn't catch up with the auto if he had two ponies," growled Ned.

"The only chance is that the gasolene may give out, or the sparker refuse to work, or that he may run into a sand bank," lamented Jerry.

"And there don't seem to be much chance of either taking place right off," put in Ned. "Hark! What's that?"

From down the road sounded the _Toot! Toot!_ of the auto horn.

"It sounds as if he was coming back," said Jerry. Just then Bob caught up to them on the pony.