The Motor Boys Across the Plains; or, The Hermit of Lost Lake

  PREFACE

  _Dear Boys_:

  Here it is at last--the fourth volume of "The Motor Boys Series," forwhich so many boys all over our land have been asking during the pastyear.

  To those who have read the other volumes in this line, this new taleneeds no special introduction. To others, I would say that in the firstvolume, entitled, "The Motor Boys," I introduced three wide-awakeAmerican lads, Ned, Bob and Jerry, and told how they first won a bicyclerace and then a great motor cycle contest,--the prize in the latterbeing a big touring car.

  Having obtained the automobile, the lads went west, and in the secondvolume, called, "The Motor Boys Overland," were related the particularsof a struggle for a valuable mine, a struggle which tested the boys'bravery to the utmost.

  While in the west the boys heard of a strange buried city in Mexico,and, in company with a learned college professor, journeyed to thatlocality. The marvellous adventures met with are told in "The MotorBoys in Mexico."

  Leaving the buried city, the boys started again for the locality of themine, and in the present tale are told the particulars of some strangethings that happened on the way. A portion of this story is based onfacts, related to me while on an automobiling tour in the west, by anold ranchman who had participated in some of the occurrences.

  With best wishes, and hoping we shall meet again, I leave you to perusethe pages which follow.

  CLARENCE YOUNG.

  _March 1, 1907._

  THE MOTOR BOYS ACROSS THE PLAINS