“What else?” answered John; and he proceeded to explain their good fortune in obtaining the car.
“It’s wonderful! Marvelous! I hope we’re as lucky with the rest of the trip. We must hurry along now, or the girls will wonder what is detaining us.”
“No change in plans?”
“No change! Don’t lose us!”
“Never fear! We’ll be with you at the finish. Goodbye, and good luck!”
They waited where they were until they saw the girls leave the garage in their car, and then followed at a distance. The journey had begun. All that day the boys continued to follow, stopping when the girls stopped, but always keeping far enough in the rear to avoid attracting attention. So long as they could just see the leading car, or a cloud of dust before them, they were satisfied that they could overtake it quickly, if necessary. At regular intervals they changed places at the wheel in order to prevent fatigue. Jack was in a high humor; for he was an exceptionally good driver, and to be at the steering-wheel of a good car spelled heaven for him. He was immensely pleased at the steady pace the girls were setting; they seemed to be fairly eating up the miles. John sat grim and silent most of the time, with that look of determination his face always wore when embarked on some serious enterprise.
Nothing happened during the day to arouse their suspicions. They went steadily on, overtaking and passing other cars at times, but never being passed themselves. Late in the afternoon they entered one of the larger towns on their route where the party had planned to spend the night. They were careful not to drive past the hotel where the scouts had engaged rooms, but sought instead a smaller place nearby, put up their car for the night, and had dinner. They went to bed early, reasoning that the girls would do so after their long drive.
As on the day previous they were up the next morning at dawn, breakfasted and waited around until they saw the girls start, then took up the trail once more. As the day wore on, and nothing happened to break the monotony of the drive, Jack began to grow impatient and remarked that the enemy had gotten cold feet. The words were no sooner out of his mouth than both became aware of the fact that they were rapidly overtaking the car in front, although they had not increased their speed. Then they saw that the girls had stopped.
“Here’s where we come in at last!” cried Jack, who happened to be driving.
A sudden burst of speed brought them close to the girls in a minute’s time, and as Jack slowed down to get his bearings, they saw two horsemen searching the scout car. Then John suddenly remembered that Ted Fisher had told them that their car would probably be searched for liquor at the Nevada state line if they used this road.