Fortunately, however, they were on a slight slope now, and the car, with the impetus it had gathered, began to glide down the hill under its own momentum.
But the horsemen were not one thousand feet in the rear and were drawing nearer. There seemed to be no help at hand and there was every indication that the boys would fall into the hands of their desperate enemies.
“How much farther can we go?” asked Tommy suddenly.
“To the foot of the hill,” replied Jerry. “Why do you ask?”
“That’s far enough!” exclaimed Tommy. “I guess we can escape them.”
“How?”
“Steer straight for that dead pine tree,” replied the young lad, “and when you get almost to it, make a wide turn to the right.”
“What good will that do?”
“There’s a big cave right at the foot of the hill,” replied Tommy. “I know for I passed it as I was tramping toward the ranch. It is large enough to take in the auto, and maybe we can hold it against the gang.”
“Hurrah!” shouted Jerry, as he shifted the wheel to conform with Tommy’s directions. “We’ll beat ’em yet!”