“No one this side of Kingdom Come knows!” declared Glenn. “That is, no one save Mr. Havens,” he added. “Anyway, it’s trouble!”
“How far is it to that valley?” asked Mellen.
“At least twenty miles!” replied Ben.
“Would it be possible to reach it in this machine?”
“I can’t answer that question,” replied Ben, “because it was dark when we came over the ground. It seems, however, to be all up hill and down on the way there. I don’t think the machine could make the trip.”
“I’ve a great notion to try it!” declared Mellen. “Anyway,” he went on, “we can tour along in that direction. The man in charge of the last aeroplane doesn’t seem to be next to his job and he may get a tumble.”
“And if he does,” cried Ben, “we’ll give him a lift, patch up the machine, and start over to the old camp!”
And so, with the two machines in the air, the automobile went roaring and panting over the rough mountain trails in the direction of the valley! Occasionally the occupants saw the last machine but not often!
CHAPTER VII.
A PAIR OF PLANS.
“That other machine,” Jimmie observed glancing hastily in the direction pointed out by Sam, “looks to me like the Bertha.”