Suddenly, from down the valley, sounded the noise of another machine approaching. Ned turned around.
“Here comes Noddy Nixon!” he shouted.
[CHAPTER XXV.]
A RACE TO THE MINE.
Before long Noddy Nixon and his crowd in their auto shot up alongside the Motor Boys and their friends. Noddy looked over and grinned, while Pud Stoneham raised his hat in mocking politeness.
“Hurry up!” said Nestor to Jerry, in a low voice. “They are going to give us a race to the mine. We must get there first!”
“What difference does it make?” asked the boy, as he speeded up his machine.
“All the difference in the world,” replied the miner. “I’ve staked my claim, but I haven’t filed the papers in the Government office, as the law requires. The first man who comes along could jump my claim now. I was relyin’ on the mine bein’ hard to find, but I see it has been discovered. We must beat them!”
“We’ll do it if possible,” said Jerry, with determination in his voice. “I wonder how they got in shape so quickly after we took their batteries?”