Motor Matt's Century" Run"

e it, Matt. By the skin of our teeth. And we didn't dump their gasoline into the

t off as well as we did," answered Matt.

n and hung the strap

e, with grim satisfaction. "That'

s with an exultation he could not conceal. What had happened

e did we lose

swered Matt, juggling

erence. There'll be no underhand work ahead of us

eled across the sandy level, they cast a look backward at the brush-covered slope,

denly the column was broken, and one, two, three balls of vapor floated aloft; then the straight, gra

tt. "What sort of a perform

ce was ominous

e telling some of the rest of the gang that we're coming." A look of savage prid

ess in the depths of Clip's nature, and had found more than any one else had ever taken the trouble to hunt for. Clip's ancestry was a r

dge born in me, Clip," said Matt generously, and Clip

ard a range of dim blue hills to the north. "T

column of smoke. It was broken into little clouds, just as the

do it, Clip

and Clip indicated a cluster of adobe walls and thatched roofs, midway b

exican settlement. There was no sign of the red roadster behind them, but,

ed Matt, "and we're forty-five miles from Ph?

head," said Clip briefly. "Here

n the ravine, but the rocks were jagged and sharp, and they had to use much care to save their tires. With all the reserve p

to appreciate the difficulties ahead of him and to worry a little about

makes it a tough trail is the boulders brought down in the freshets. That automobile couldn't get up

dge. The ridge was broken by a notch, and the roa

ile, Matt taking the lead. When they were about half-way through, a crash b

arning came

e of the notch. In a trice he speeded up the Comet and leaped forwar

hroat he shut off the power and clamped on the brake, stoppin

lip's machine lay on its side, with a twisted and bent re

ked, bracing the Comet agains

tment. One look at his machine was enoug

s eyes to the slope of the notch wall. "Some one loosened a

Evidently it had caught Clip's machine just as it was all but out of t

at," said Matt, almost as much disappointe

teep slope that brought a snarl of anger to his lip

ht with any of the Dangerfield gang, Matt wa

hard, well-trained muscles of th

rst, having had the lead of Matt in the start. As Matt crawled over, he saw

tions, in some unknown tongue, burst from the man's lips. Throwing up his hands, he c

d bounded down the wall, had not Matt, quick to note his chum

lithe body, caught the man's wrist and held the weapon back. Then, while all three were on their knees on the rocky shelf, a strange scene was enacted. Clip and the man stared at each

?" queried Matt, g

a word. There was a clatter as

ll and piercing, his hair was straight and black, and there were rings in his ears. He w

and Clip go

said Clip, in

ce. From the edge of the shelf he looked dow

uck the hand aside. The man did not appear very much cast down by this lack of courtesy, but bent over coolly and picked up his knife. Ret

he said Matt could not understand. The words came swiftly, fairly tripping over each other. That Clipperton was upbraiding the ma

ious expression took its place. As soon as he could break into the torrent of Clip's talk, the man spoke

e slope, beckoning Matt to follow. The man came to the edge of the shelf and watch

"They got us into this fix. And brought me a big surpr

, although his words

low?" queried Matt. "What sort of a

e smoke-signals are passed on. From the other side of Frog Tanks, they reach Dangerfield, at Tinaja Wells

it, until I get to the trail tha

daylight lasts," and a cunning look rose in Clip's eyes, "there'll be more smok

way to the boulder where

tt," said he. "You can

Clip?" asked Matt again,

. He's a half-breed. His name is Pima Pete. He's one of the gang. He didn't recognize

without another word. Matt was dumfounded. He rec

li

g out his hand. "Can't you say good-b

rward, caught Matt's hand, and wrung it ferve

r Matt was in Castle Cr