They started directly after breakfast, Jack, Nat, Sam, Bony and Will. Jack, making inquiries of Long Gun, learned of another trail that could be taken. They rode along this for several miles, and then proceeded cautiously, as they judged they were near where the hostile men had their camp.
Suddenly Nat, who was riding along beside Jack, stopped his horse and began sniffing the air.
“Smell anything?” he asked his chum.
Jack took several long breaths. Then he nodded.
“Gasolene, eh?” questioned Nat. “Cæsar’s pancakes! but I believe we’re on the track of those same bogus certificate printers again!”
“It can’t be,” declared Jack.
“But smell the gasolene.”
“I know it, but it might be from an automobile.”
“An automobile out here? Nonsense! Listen, you can hear the pounding of the engine.”
Certainly there was an odd throbbing noise, but just as Jack was beginning to locate it again the sound ceased.