“The idea!” cried Ned.
“Fellows,” went on Jerry eagerly, “this is why Noddy was so anxious to get out West! He wants to steal our gold mine away from us, with the help of Dalsett and his gang. This letter is a valuable clew.”
“But what of Jackson Bell, the hermit?” asked Ned.
“I don’t know,” answered Jerry, somewhat puzzled. “That is another part of the mystery. But we’ve got our work cut out for us now, boys. We’ve got to go West and protect our mine from the same gang who tried, once before, to get it away from us. We’ll go in the airship, as soon as it’s repaired. We caught Noddy just in time.”
“And will we let Mr. Bell’s friends, in the mysterious valley, suffer?” asked Bob.
“No, we’ll save them, too, if we can. There are plenty of adventures ahead of us,” finished Jerry, as he folded the letter and put it in his pocket.
“Do you want to arrest those two fellows?” asked the chief, pointing in the direction taken by Noddy and Jack.
“No, let them go,” advised Jerry. “We’ll see if we can find Mr. Bell, and then we’ll repair the ship and start for the West.”