“So would I,” chorused Ned and Bob.
“The question is, shall we take the old man back in the auto with us, or run back to town and bring out a doctor?” went on Jerry.
“I think we’d better go get a doctor and fetch him here,” was Ned’s opinion. “It might injure the old man to move him.”
This was voted the best plan. They made the unconscious miner as comfortable as possible on the bed of rags, placed the pail of water where he could reach it, and prepared to run back to town. Ned volunteered to stay with the miner until they returned, but Jerry advised against it, as the hut was on a lonely road.
It did not take long to reach Cresville. Dr. Morrison was routed out of bed by the boys, and agreed to return with them in the auto, when the case had been explained to him.
“Just wait until I get dressed,” he said, “and pack up some instruments and I’ll be with you.”
While waiting, Jerry examined the auto to see that there was plenty of water and gasolene in the tanks. He found everything all right.
While Dr. Morrison was making ready to relieve the sufferings of the miner in the hut, Jack Pender, on his motor-cycle, was still speeding on, to get as far away as possible from those in pursuit of him. When he turned from the road and cut across lots he thought very likely that the auto would not follow. But he was taking no chances, and, when he emerged into the highway again, about a mile farther on, he still ran his machine at full speed.
“That was a close call!” he exclaimed. “Who would ever have thought that those boys, the same ones who made all the trouble for Noddy, would be after me! I escaped just in time. I hope I didn’t kill the old man, though it was a hard blow I struck him!”