“Well, we’ve seen all there is to see here,” said Jerry, as they turned away from the stalled wagon. “Let’s get back and start off with Tinny.”
“We’re going to eat, aren’t we?” asked Bob, anxiety manifesting itself in his voice.
“Of course we’re going to have dinner,” laughed Ned.
“Oh—all right!” and the stout lad breathed a sigh of relief.
With blankets, packages of food, and a simple camping outfit, the party rode off on horses shortly after noon. Though it had been comfortable riding in Tinny’s auto, the Motor Boys were not sorry to be again in the saddle. They had done some of this traveling in times past.
Now began the search in real earnest, for at last they were on the trail of the kidnapers. Word was sent back to the posse of miners from Leftover to abandon the trail they were on, since it was a false one.
But Cromley’s friends were handicapped by being several hours behind Noddy’s crowd.
“They have one disadvantage, though,” Jerry said, “and that is they have to keep Bill bound all the while. He can’t ride fast in that condition, and they’ll need to accommodate their speed to his horse. They daren’t loosen his ropes or he’ll fight like a wildcat.”
“That’s right,” declared Ned. “Maybe there isn’t such a handicap against us after all.”