The Motor Boys Across the Plains

was kept headed as nearly as possible toward Arizona, though they often had to go some dis

one afternoon, when they had passed throu

get a wetting before we leav

t a bank of ugly dark clouds in the southwest. "A thunder shower is com

stretch of wild country, though, far to the north, the

, who was steering. "I was in hopes the storm would

nd began to blow a half gale, and the clouds, from which angry streaks of jagged ligh

for it,"

and rain which came down in sheets of water. Now and then the darkness would be illuminate

did the rain beat down. Fortunately they had time t

ad, likewise, been covered up with canvas, so

uddenly to Jerry. "There

the machine slowed down, he and the others

who had sharp eyes. "It's running along

hat it is!" shouted Ne

not considering the size of the animal, nor the difficulties in the way of c

the storm, the bear turned suddenly and faced the occupants of the car. So quickly wa

and we could have some bear

hundred and fifty pound bear with a big auto," replied Jerry.

natural enemies. Raising on its haunches the animal slowly amb

ck us!" exclaimed the profess

and ammunition were all under the canvas, and

trying to climb up on the engine hood, despite the throbbing of

nd run over him!

of his way!" was Ne

omething," mutter

the faces of the travelers. The growls of the angry beast mingled with the rumble and rattle of thunder

going to start!" y

r sprang forward like a thing alive. But the bear had too good a hold with his

d burn on the water

thick I guess,"

or clinging to it for dear life, while Bru

of him?" shouted Ned abo

ou," replied

en a sharp curve in the road. It was dim

uted Jerry a second or two

t the auto skidding. The next instant, unable to stand the impetus of the turn, the bear lost its hold on the h

fore he tries to eat up another live automo

as if Bruin objected to such treatment. Then the rain came

a small stream of water trickling down his back. "C

ust want to get my bearings. Guess we'd

ig search lights and the oil lanterns were lighted, and then, with four shaf

do except to keep on. Every now and then the machine would lurc

denly. "Here are two roa

irectly north," said the professor, pe

ems to be the better

become hard and firm as the auto tires rolled over it. It was almost as smooth as as

h had been coming down in

's clearing u

ense forest, and the trees above kee

every side the glare of the lamps showed big trunks and

e woods," said Bob. "See, the tree

ine road it i

erry. "Suppose we stop and look about before w

ey found it just as Bob had said, almost exactly like an immense tunnel in th

g this in the midst of

make this tunnel," remarked the professor. "I wo

speak of in here," said Bob, "and it's a

distance. In a few minutes he came hurrying bac

?" asked th

ise, but follow me

tist trailed after Jerry. He led them several hundred feet ahead of the au

pered Jerry

, I n

's qu

f side path, the travelers saw a small hut, brilliantly lighted up. Through