“No; I just laid it to one side when I wanted to use the machine to haul you up with,” explained Ned. “It is safe. But what do you want of it now?”
“To put my snake in, of course,” and the scientist showed a tiny serpent grasped in his hand.
“So you got it after all, eh?” asked Broswick. “I thought you missed it when them rocks an’ dirt slid an’ let us all down kersmash over the cliff.”
“I wouldn’t have lost that snake for ten thousand dollars,” said the professor, as he put it safely away with his other curiosities.
After dinner the journey toward the lost gold mine was again taken up. In a short time the auto and its occupants, as well as Broswick on his horse, were making good speed. Presently it was noticed that the road was sloping downward. Jerry remarked on the fact.
“We’ve crossed the divide,” announced Nestor. “From now on, until we get to the mine, we’ll be going downhill. There’s another rise of the mountains after we pass the mine, though.”
It was now about five o’clock, and as the adventurers had eaten dinner rather late they decided not to stop for supper, but to keep on until it was time to camp for the night and have another meal then.
When it got too dark to go any further on the road, even though the gas and oil lamps gave a glaring light, a halt was made. Supper was eaten and soon all but Broswick, who mounted first guard, was slumbering.
Next morning the travelers came to a long, level stretch, on top of a vast plateau, and here good speed could be made. Jerry was steering the car, his turn having come around, and Broswick’s horse was keeping up well, for the boys would not leave the hunter behind, and regulated their pace to that of his steed.