It began to rain shortly after this, and their trip was rather unpleasant, but, well wrapped up in rubber coats, they managed to keep fairly dry. As for the auto it did not seem to mind what kind of weather it was.
They camped that night under a clump of pine trees which served as a partial shelter, and it was so wet that no fire could be built. Jerry resorted to the stove made from one of the search-lights, and made some hot chocolate that warmed them all up.
The next day dawned clear, however, and with a better feeling the travelers took up their journey again. The way was becoming familiar to them, and they recognized many landmarks they had observed in their great race across the continent to secure the gold mine before Noddy Nixon and his crowd could win the claim, as told in detail in "The Motor Boys Overland."
That night they stayed in the town where the government assay office was located and to reach which there had been such an exciting brush between the two automobiles, the one run by Noddy, and that run by the Motor Boys. They saw several men whom they knew slightly, and who appeared much surprised to see them again.
"Well, well, well, where in the world did you come from?" asked the proprietor of the hotel, as the auto drew up in front of his place. He had been quite friendly with the boys while they stayed at the mine, and had sold them many supplies.
"We've been down to Mexico for a change of air," said Jerry.
"I suppose it didn't agree with you, or you wouldn't be coming back so soon," went on the proprietor.
"Well, we thought our mine needed looking after," Jerry remarked.
"Looking after? I should say it did," the proprietor continued. "Jim Nestor was here the other day and he said if you didn't come back pretty soon and do something, there wouldn't be any mine."
"Is that right?" asked Ned, thinking the man might be trying to scare them for a joke.
"Straight as a string," was the answer. "It seems that the title to the place is in doubt."
"I know, Nestor wrote us about that," put in Jerry. "But he is still in possession, isn't he?"
"Can't say," replied the hotel man. "He was very anxious the last time I saw him, and that was a week ago. If I was you I'd look after it the first thing in the morning."