CHAPTER V.
ON TO HAPPENCHANCE.
The boys were not long in discovering that the two motor cycles they were riding were fine machines. With the searchlights boring long holes in the dark, Merry and Clancy seemed fairly to fly over the trail. It seemed to them as though they had hardly started before the mass of deep shadow which marked the location of Loco's adobe lay almost in front of them on the right.
The house was dark. Frank, after getting out of the saddle, examined his watch under the lamp.
"Ten o'clock," he announced to Clancy. "The Loco family must all be in bed, Clan."
"Rout some one out, Chip," said Clan, "and see if you can pick up any news. While you're doing that I'll skirmish around and see if there is a recently ridden horse at Pete's hitching pole or in his corral."
Frank crossed the open space that lay between the road and the adobe and drummed on the front door with his knuckles. After two or three attempts he succeeded in arousing some one who demanded to know what was wanted.
"I want a word with Pete Loco." Frank called.
The door was unbolted and drawn open, revealing a swarthy-visaged man in shirt and trousers, holding a candle.
"What in blazes d'ye want?" asked the man with the candle in no very pleasant tone. "I'm Pete Loco."
"Any visitors staying with you to-night, Mr. Loco," Frank inquired.