She tried to put on more speed, but already the big monoplane was doing all it could, and a more. Under their hood the cylinders were smoking. There was a smell of blistered paint about the aerial craft. But Peggy never slackened speed for an instant. With the time that had been lost with the leaky radiator, she knew it was possible that Red Bill's men were already in the town.
If she had known that a speedy automobile had met the stealers of the location papers in mid-desert that afternoon and rushed them into Blue Creek she might have given up in despair. But, she knew nothing of Red Bill's ruse, and imagined that the trip with the stolen papers had been made on horseback all the way.
Fifteen minutes after the little settlement been first sighted the aeroplane soared roofs in a long, graceful swing, and then swooped to earth in front of the National House. Cash and the usual group of loungers came rushing out in huge excitement.
"It's an airship! Come and see the airship!"
The cry spread through the town like wildfire. In five minutes quite a large crowd was swirling and surging about the machine and its anxious occupants.
"Whar's the United States Assayer's office?" demanded Wandering
William, above the hubbub and excitement.
"Why it's two blocks to the right an' down that alley," volunteered
Cash; "you're the second party as has bin askin' fer it ter day."
Peggy's heart sank and Wandering William bit his lips. From the bottom of the chassis Roy demanded:
"Are we too late?"
"We don't know yet, Roy dear," Peggy found time to whisper, and then: