Their preparations were complete. Almost at the last minute, though, the professor nearly backed out. He found a curious bug in the hotel where they stayed, and he wanted to remain a week or more, to hunt for others.
“You’d better come on and look for that two-tailed toad, Professor,” advised Jerry.
“Yes, I think I had,” agreed the little scientist. “But on our way back we’ll stop here, and I can have another look for more of those rare bugs.”
The auto, well filled with the goods of our friends, and themselves, was ready for a start, and, having inquired the best route on from Pittsburg, the boys, with Jerry at the wheel, set off one fine morning. What lay before them they little realized.
On and on they went, over fairly good roads, until they came to the open country. Then, having fixed the spark and gasolene levers to carry them at a moderate pace, Jerry settled back to enjoy the scenery.
They had covered perhaps ten miles, and Bob was wondering whether he dare mention cooking a light lunch, as they whirled along, when Ned, who had looked back, uttered a cry.
“What’s up?” asked Jerry.
For answer Ned took a pair of powerful field glasses from a pocket inside the car. He focused them on an auto that was coming rapidly along behind the car of our friends.
“They’ve been following us for some time,” spoke Ned, “and I want to see who they are.” He was silent a moment, and then he exclaimed: