CHAPTER VIII

PURSUED BY ENEMIES

As the auto sped along, Professor Snodgrass asked Tommy Bell how he had come to the hut in the forest.

"Those men took me there," replied the boy.

"And what did they try to make you do?" asked Jerry.

"They wanted me to tell them where my father was," went on Tommy. "I could not because I did not know, and they burned me, because they did not believe I was telling the truth."

"What did they want of your father?" inquired Mr. Snodgrass.

"They want him to sign some papers connected with some property," went on Tommy. "I don't know much about it, except that father used to work with those men developing a mine. It didn't pay, and they left it, after selling it to some other men. I lived with my father, and my mother was alive then."

The boy stopped, and, at the mention of his mother's name began to cry softly.

"Poor little lad," muttered the professor, putting his arm, with a sort of caressing motion about Tommy. "Don't cry, lad," the scientist went on, in what seemed a sort of husky voice, for he was very fond of children; "don't worry, we'll look out for you; won't we, boys?"

"You bet!" exclaimed Jerry, Ned and Bob in one voice.

The auto was slowed down now, as there seemed to be no danger of pursuit.

"After mother died," Tommy resumed, "and the mine did not pay, father started prospecting with Nat Richards and the others in that crowd. But they were bad men, and soon got the better of my dad, taking away what little money he had left.

"This ruined my father, and he grew discouraged, for he was old, and in poor health. He wandered away and I haven't seen him for nearly a year. I traveled about, doing what little work I could get to do, until I struck Texas. One day, about a week ago, I passed a ranch, the same one we just came by. I asked for work, and got it. Then I found the same men owned it that had ruined my father.

"As soon as Nat Richards saw me he demanded to know where dad was. I couldn't tell, and then he promised me one hundred dollars if I would tell. He said they needed my father's signature to a paper.

"I don't know as I would have told them where dad was if I did know. When I kept on refusing to give them the information, Nat Richards grew ugly. He had me taken off to the hut where you found me, and said he'd starve me to death if I didn't tell.

"I almost did die from hunger," Tommy went on with a catch in his voice. "Then they tried torture. They burned me on the legs with a hot poker. That's what they were doing when you came in," and, overcome again by the thought of all he had suffered Tommy cried bitterly.

The boys and the professor did all they could to comfort the friendless lad, and, soon Tommy's grief wore off.

"We'll take you along with us," said Jerry heartily, "and we'll try to help you find your father. Where did you see him last?"

"He was in Arizona," answered Tommy.

"That's just where we're headed for," exclaimed Bob. "We'll take you there all right."

Jerry leaned forward to throw in the higher speed gear when there was a sudden ripping, breaking sound, and the auto began to slow up.

"What's the matter?" asked Ned.

"Stripped the gear, I'm afraid," replied the steersman. "This is a nice pickle to be in."

"Won't it run on the low or intermediate gear?" asked Bob.

Jerry tried them, and found they were all right.

"I guess we'd better stop here for the night," he said. "We may need the high gear any minute, and perhaps I can fix it in the morning. I have a spare wheel."

"Then let's camp and have supper," said Bob eagerly. "I haven't eaten in a week by the way I feel."

"Same here! I agree with you for once, Chunky," spoke Jerry. "It has been a long time since dinner, but with the excitement of the storm, the bear, and rescuing Tommy I didn't notice it before."

In a little while the camping outfit was taken from the automobile, and a fire started in the sheet-iron stove, with the charcoal that was carried to be used in emergencies, such as being unable to find dry wood after a rain.

Ned ground the coffee, while Bob went in search of water, using the lantern to aid him in the somewhat dim forest, though the moon helped some. He found a spring close at hand, and soon a fragrant beverage was steaming under the trees. Then some bacon was placed in the frying pan, and the hard tack was taken from the tin and other things prepared.

"Fall to!" commanded Ned, who was acting as cook, and fall to they all did, with a will.

"Do you often camp out and eat in the woods like this?" asked Tommy. "I think it's jolly fun," and the lad, who was about twelve years old, laughed for the first time since his rescue. He, too, was eating with an appetite that showed he needed the food.

Jerry briefly related some of their travel adventures, at which Tommy opened his eyes to their widest extent.

"Cracky! But you have had stunning times!" he exclaimed.

The meal having been finished, they began to think of getting some sleep. Blankets were brought out, and rolling themselves up in them the boys and the professor were soon in the land of nod.

It was nearly dawn when Jerry was suddenly awakened by the far off baying of a dog. At first he could not imagine what the sound was, and sat up to listen more intently. Then a long, mournful howl was borne to him on the wind.

"That's strange," he muttered. "There are very few dogs about here. I wonder what it is."

At the same time Tommy Bell roused up, and he, too, heard the sound.

"It's the gang after us!" he exclaimed. "They have a lot of hounds on the ranch! Hurry up! Let's get out of this!"

"Hark!" exclaimed Jerry, raising his hand.

Then the boys heard, faint and far off, the sound of galloping horses.

"They're coming!" cried Jerry.

His cry awakened the others, who sat up bewildered and heavy from sound sleep.

"Lively's the word!" called Jerry. "They're after us!"

No further explanation was needed, for all knew what Jerry meant. There was a hasty piling of blankets into the auto; the stove was packed up, and, while the travelers jumped into the car, Jerry went in front to crank it up. The cheerful chug-chug told that the machinery was in good working order, and then, the boy, leaping into the steersman's seat, threw in the low gear for the start.

As he did so Ned glanced back and saw, coming around the bend of the forest road a score of horsemen and a pack of dogs.

"Speed her up, Jerry!" called Bob.

"I will!" was the exclamation, as Jerry leaned forward to throw in the high gear. A mournful screeching of the engine was the only response.

"I forgot! The high gear is broken!" the steersman cried. "We can only use the intermediate, and that is not very fast!"

"It's the best we can do, though!" said Bob. "We may get away from them!"

On the intermediate cogs the auto made good speed, and, for a while, distanced the gang, the members of which, with shouts of rage, put their horses to their best effort.