The Motor Boys Over the Rockies; Or, A Mystery of the Air

by Clarence Young

  CHAPTER XVII

  NODDY NIXON ARRIVES

  The unexpected announcement of Professor Snodgrass came as a startlingconfirmation to the story told by the old miner. The scientist, havingfinished making an entry in his note-book, had come up, and listened tothe recital. All eyes were now turned on him.

  "Was Amos Deering your cousin?" asked Sledge Hammer Tod, thinking hemight not have heard aright; then, too, he was not quite satisfied asto the perfect sanity of the bald-headed man.

  "He was," replied the scientist. "Amos was always fond of a rovinglife, and when he heard of a place out West where he could take up somegold claims, he organized a party to go with him. It was in the yearthat I discovered a five-legged frog, and wrote a book about it. Amoswanted me to go with the party, saying I could find many specimens if Idid not want to hunt for gold. But I declined. However, he and a numberof venturesome persons went. We waited in vain for some news, and atlast it came. It was to the effect that the entire party had been ledoff into the mountains by the Indians, and killed. Poor Amos, to thinkI should meet somebody out here who knew of him!"

  "Well, it's true that the party was led off to the mountains, and bythe Indians," said Tod, "but it's not altogether so sure that they werekilled. Maybe some are living yet, though where they are is a mystery."

  "From the clews left by Mr. Bell, it would seem that they are alive,"suggested Jerry. "Mr. Bell practically says the party is alive, andin his letter to his son, the torn parts of which epistle I found inthe airship, he says he is about to go to their rescue. They are insome sort of a valley, I take it, hard to get at. That's why Mr. Bellthought of an airship, and why he started to find us, but, instead, metwith Noddy Nixon. Now, the question is, can we find that valley?"

  Sledge Hammer Tod shook his head doubtfully.

  "Lost Valley it's called," he said. "Many have tried to find it, buthave failed--miners of experience--for there is a rumor that gold isplentiful in it. And, not only is it hard to find, but there is dangerfrom the Indians."

  "I thought all the Indians were on Government reservations," commentedBob.

  "Not all," answered Tod. "Some broke away, and are still in theColorado mountains, I believe. Perhaps the remnant of this tribe is inpossession of Lost Valley. Anyhow, I don't believe it would be safe tolook for it, even if it was possible to find it, which I doubt."

  "My poor cousin," said Professor Snodgrass, sadly. "I had given him upfor dead, but now, to hear that there is a possibility of him beingalive, makes me wish I could help rescue him."

  "And you can!" exclaimed Jerry quickly.

  "How?" asked the scientist eagerly. "Do you mean that you are going totry to find Lost Valley?"

  "I certainly am," declared Jerry, firmly. "That is one reason why Icame West in the _Comet_. I wanted to protect our mine, but, now thatwe are on hand before Noddy's gang has arrived, I don't believe thereis much danger on that score. We can devote most of our time to findingthe mysterious valley, and, once we locate it, we will rescue any whoare left of the missing Deering Band. We will search for the valley inthe airship!"

  "You'll never find it!" predicted Tod, with a dubious shake of his head.

  "Say, you don't know these motor boys," spoke Jim Nestor, admiringly."Once they set out to do a thing they generally finish it. I wouldn'twant to gamble that they couldn't find that valley, Tod."

  "Well, they may stumble on it, if they hunt long enough, but theIndians will never let them get into it."

  "We'll see," declared Jerry, smiling grimly. "Anyhow, we won't giveup until we get there. If we can rescue those who are left it's worthfighting the Indians to accomplish."

  "That's right, and I'm with you!" cried Jim Nestor.

  "And you can count on me, when it comes to a fight!" added SledgeHammer Tod with energy.

  The whole party now began an engrossing discussion of the missing AmosDeering and his friends. Tod told such other details as occurred tohim, and Professor Snodgrass was so interested that he forgot to huntfor bugs.

  "But what I can't understand," said Ned, "is what has become of Mr.Bell? Why did he disappear so mysteriously?"

  "I think I can explain that," replied Jerry. "He probably learned,soon after starting with Noddy, that Jack and the bully were not theowners of the airship. Mr. Bell probably left in a hurry, either beforeor just after the accident. He may have imagined that we had sold theairship to Noddy, and despairing of help in that direction he may havecome back west here."

  "In that case we'll see him," suggested Bob.

  "Perhaps. But the thing for us to do is to get ready to hunt forthat valley. As soon as we have rested up, and given our craft anoverhauling, we'll start for the place."

  The airship was made secure against storms, and then our three heroesand Professor Snodgrass proceeded to make themselves comfortable in oneof the several cabins at the mine. Bob's desire for food was gratified,the Chinese cook soon serving an excellent meal.

  The next two days were spent in going over the airship, and inarranging for supplies and provisions for the long tour. Mr. Tod wentoff on a little trip, to see an old miner, and make some inquiriesregarding Lost Valley. He came back the third day after the arrival ofthe boys, but the information he secured was not much more definitethan that which he already possessed.

  "We'll just have to prospect for that valley," he said.

  "We," repeated Jim Nestor. "Are you going along, Tod?"

  "Wa'al, I calalated that if the airship would hold me I'd like to go.I ain't fit any Indians for a long time, and I'd sort of like thesensation."

  "Oh, the airship will carry a large party, though we have not sleepingaccommodations for many," said Jerry. "That is, if we should happen torescue the people of the valley."

  "Oh, I guess you can make out," answered Tod. "But I say, Jim, youain't got any objections to my goin'; have you?"

  "Not a bit. Glad to have you go with the boys. I'll have to stay hereand look after the mine, although I guess Noddy and his gang have aboutgiven up trying to get it."

  How mistaken Jim was he found out three days later. It was toward theclose of the afternoon, when he, with the three boys, was sittingnear the mouth of the shaft. Professor Snodgrass, as usual, was outcollecting specimens.

  Up the road that led from Rockyford, the nearest town to the golddiggings, came four figures. The motor boys and Jim Nestor looked up asthey saw them.

  "Hello! Something's doing," announced Jim, with a snapping shut of hisjaws. "There's Mike Malone, one of the deputy sheriffs. Wonder what hewants?"

  But the interest of them all was centred more in the three figures thatfollowed the deputy. For they were none others than Noddy Nixon, BillBerry and Tom Dalsett. They came on with a confident air.

  "Howdy," called Malone to the miner, as soon as he was within hailingdistance.

  "Howdy," answered Jim. "What's up?"

  Then, before the deputy sheriff could answer, Noddy Nixon broke in with:

  "We've come to take possession of our mine! You fellows have hadit long enough. We're going to clear you all out, and get the goldourselves. I told you I'd get ahead of you, Jerry Hopkins!" and Noddysneered at the three motor boys, while Tom Dalsett and Bill Berrygrinned maliciously.