“Say, you don’t know these motor boys,” spoke Jim Nestor, admiringly. “Once they set out to do a thing they generally finish it. I wouldn’t want to gamble that they couldn’t find that valley, Tod.”
“Well, they may stumble on it, if they hunt long enough, but the Indians will never let them get into it.”
“We’ll see,” declared Jerry, smiling grimly. “Anyhow, we won’t give up until we get there. If we can rescue those who are left it’s worth fighting the Indians to accomplish.”
“That’s right, and I’m with you!” cried Jim Nestor.
“And you can count on me, when it comes to a fight!” added Sledge Hammer Tod with energy.
The whole party now began an engrossing discussion of the missing Amos Deering and his friends. Tod told such other details as occurred to him, and Professor Snodgrass was so interested that he forgot to hunt for bugs.
“But what I can’t understand,” said Ned, “is what has become of Mr. Bell? Why did he disappear so mysteriously?”
“I think I can explain that,” replied Jerry. “He probably learned, soon after starting with Noddy, that Jack and the bully were not the owners of the airship. Mr. Bell probably left in a hurry, either before or just after the accident. He may have imagined that we had sold the airship to Noddy, and despairing of help in that direction he may have come back west here.”
“In that case we’ll see him,” suggested Bob.