The Motor Rangers Through the Sierras

that this was to b

ed countenance, pushed back his sombrero and looked up whim

gs you don't know about it?" laughingly rejoined Nat Trevor, the eldest and

--" sputtered our old friend Wi

ng-dong," interject

of life," he concluded, his hesitating manner of speech leaving him,

" a vicious twist and raising the rear axle still higher. "Here it is, only three days sin

inned Nat aggravatingly, but Joe had sprung from h

are to pun, I'll-I'll

rom a safe distance, namely, a rock at the

ncluded Joe, with as much dignity as he co

ght lads with a companion, oddly named Sandrock Smith, had visited the sun-smitten peninsula to investigate some mysterious thefts of lumber from a dye-wood property belonging to Mr. Pomery, "The Lumber King," Nat's

California will also be called to mind, as well as the story of how matters were finally adjusted and Nat became, if not a millionaire, at least a very well-to-do young man. The gift of the auto in which they were now touring was likewise explained. The splendid vehi

Barbara. It had been a great delight to the lady to leave the tiny cottage in which straitened circumstances following the death of Nat's father, had compelled them to live

them not one of the boys dreamed, when, three days before, they had started from Santa Barbara for a tour of the Sierras. Nat was desirous of showing that it was feasible to hunt and fish and tour the mountains in an automobile just as well as on horseback. The car, therefore, carried rifles and sh

wind-swept canyon between two steep ranges of mountains. The valley is in the heart of the Sierras, and though too insignificant to be noted on any but the largest ma

y overcast had now become black and threatening, "we're going to have a storm of some sort. I

back of his hand, "it will go whooping thr

. The auto carried plenty of extra tires, but naturally the boys wished to be

t, Nat started the motor, and the car was soon whizzing forward at a good speed. Thanks to its finely-tempered springs and

" shouted Joe suddenly, "we'd

frames. It fitted all round the auto, enclosing it like a snug waterproof tent. In front was a window of mica through which the d

screamed through the narrow funnel of the rocky-walled valley. Through

ave to find cover," he thought,

ich were bending and bowing under the stress put upon them. As Nat

ckle began to pour into the tonneau. It came through a crack in the

b-b-b-back of my n-n-n-neck," spu

ted Joe, "maybe it will wash yo

ve yonder," exclaimed Nat, aft

hile the others had been talking, and had guessed that i

It seemed quite an abrupt change from the warring of the elements outside to the darkness and quiet of the chamber in the rocks

and its limits were lost in darkness. The mouth, however, was quite a big opening, being more than twenty

taking off his heavy driving gloves an

laughed Joe Hartley, gazing back in

little button. A sharp click resulted, and a flood of brilliant white radiance poured from the lamp.

ing the rough, rocky walls, stained here and there wi

r back into the cave but still did not seem to

d Nat's sleeve in a

ight high above his head in his eff

't you see it

med Nat in a start

aring eyes!" fizz

, menacing growl. They faced about abruptly t

the lips of the three lads. Stealthily approaching them, with cat-like caution, was a low, long-bodied animal of a tawny color. Its

at, recognizing their trea

re in the cave," called

g-g-g-guns!" sp

had left them in the automobile. The car, as will be recalled, had been left near the mouth of the cave. The mountain lion a

the mating season, a vindictive, savage brute, if separated from its mate. That this was now the case was evident. There wa

ny means of protecting themselves but their bare hands, they were