"Jake must have punctured a tire," observed McGlory humorously. "What has he stopped for?"
"Possibly he stopped to breathe his horses," suggested Black. "We'll eat up the ground, now, for the road is on the level, and there's less sand."
Black let the car out. As he and the boys came closer and closer, a startling scene slowly unfolded before their eyes.
The wagon was at a standstill, just as the cowboy had said, and beside it was a motor car. Four or five figures could be seen moving around in the vicinity of the wagon. Abruptly these figures hunched together, and stood quietly.
"It's the other automobile," said Black between his teeth. "Siwash Charley and his pals came out from Oberon to meet Jake."
"They've got together and are looking this way," breathed McGlory.
"Mebbyso they makee shoot," chattered Ping.
"Shall we go on?" queried Black. "It's for you to say, Motor Matt. I don't think Siwash will dare rough things up so close to the fort, and in broad day."
"Yes," said Matt grimly, "we've got to go on. For all we know, Murgatroyd may have told Siwash to destroy the aëroplane. In fact, that may be what he's doing, now. Go on, Mr. Black, and go with a rush."
The boys fell silent as the car bounded on along the road. All of them felt the danger of their position, but neither McGlory, Black, nor Ping would have thought of asking Matt to turn back.