The boys decided to visit their mine, on their way back to the United States, and it was a good thing they did, as it had fallen into the possession of the plotters, as related in “The Motor Boys Across the Plains.” An old hermit, who lived near a lake, proved to be the father of a boy the three chums rescued from a desperate gang and, later, the hermit was of much assistance in retaining possession of the mine for the motor boys, since he was one of the original prospectors.
The boys returned home after that. They had saved quite a sum of money from their share of the mine profits, and invested it in a fine motor boat, the Dartaway. As set forth in the fifth volume of the series, entitled “The Motor Boys Afloat,” the three chums transferred their energies to river and lake, and took part in races, foiled the plot Noddy Nixon laid, and solved the mystery of a strange schooner and the robbery of Mr. Slade’s store. They had an exciting chase after the thieves, rendering the police much assistance.
All their adventures took place during their school vacations. Now another one was at hand, and, naturally enough, the boys wanted to have as much fun as had fallen to their lot in the past. But, while they were racing to the railroad wreck, their minds were more on that than on what the summer might hold for them.
“I wonder if many are killed?” Bob said.
“Looks as though some were, as there goes the morgue wagon. There must be a number injured, too,” Jerry replied. “There go Dr. Bounce, Dr. Jones and Dr. Hardy,” and he pointed to the carriages of the three physicians. The medical men were urging their horses to a gallop.
Following the crowd the boys soon found themselves near the railroad, which swept up to Cresville in a long curve, after passing through a deep cut. It was in this cut where the wreck had occurred. The boys could see, from the top of a little hill, a great crowd gathered about the entrance to the gorge.
“Come on!” cried Ned. “Maybe we can help!”
It was a terrible sight that met the boys’ eyes as they entered the narrow cut. As they learned later a defective rail had caused the smash-up. The engine had jumped the track, and crashed into the rocky sides of the defile. The cars had piled on top of the locomotive, and there was a mass of wreckage.
Wheels and trucks were scattered about. The top of one car had been sliced off, and was resting on the coach in front of it. Another car was almost inside of another, and the smoker had mounted the engine tender, the wheels being buried in the coal and water tank.
Fortunately it was summer, and there was no fire in the cars, so the wreckage did not ignite. The coals from the engine boiler had started a small blaze, but this had been put out.