CHAPTER VI
ON A STRANGE ROAD
For several days they made good progress, for the roads were in faircondition. The machine was kept headed as nearly as possible towardArizona, though they often had to go some distance out of their way toget rid of bad places, or find a ford or bridge to cross a stream.
"We'll soon be out of Texas," remarked Bob one afternoon, when they hadpassed through a small ranch town where they had dinner.
"And I think we're going to get a wetting before we leave the bigstate," put in Ned.
"I think you're right," agreed the professor, as he turned and looked ata bank of ugly dark clouds in the southwest. "A thunder shower is comingup, if I'm any judge. There doesn't seem to be any shelter, either."
As far as they could see there was nothing but a vast stretch of wildcountry, though, far to the north, there was a dark patch which lookedas if it was a forest.
"It's coming just at the wrong time," remarked Jerry, who was steering."I was in hopes the storm would hold off a bit. Well, we shan't melt ifit does rain."
And that it was soon going to pour in the proverbial buckets full wasevident. The wind began to blow a half gale, and the clouds, from whichangry streaks of jagged lightning leaped, scurried forward. At the sametime low mutterings of thunder were heard.
"We're in for it," cried Bob.
The next instant the storm broke, and the whole landscape was blottedout in a veil of mist and rain which came down in sheets of water. Nowand then the darkness would be illuminated by a vivid flash of fire fromthe sky artillery, and the thunder seemed to shake the earth.
Jerry could barely see where to steer, so fiercely did the rain beatdown. Fortunately they had time to put on their raincoats before thedeluge hit them.
The provisions and other things in the auto had, likewise, been coveredup with canvas, so little damage would result from the downpour.
"Look out!" yelled Ned suddenly to Jerry. "There's something ahead ofus!"
Jerry partially shut off the power, and, as the machine slowed down, heand the others peered forward to see what the object was.
"It's some sort of an animal!" cried Bob, who had sharp eyes. "It'srunning along on four legs, right in front of the car!"
"It's a bear, that's what it is!" shouted Ned. "A big black bear!"
"Let me get it for a specimen!" exclaimed the professor, in hisenthusiasm, not considering the size of the animal, nor the difficultiesin the way of capturing it. "Let me get out! It's worth forty dollars ifit's worth a cent!"
At the sound of the excited voices, which the animal must have heardabove the roar of the storm, the bear turned suddenly and faced theoccupants of the car. So quickly was it done that Jerry had barely timeto jam on the brakes in order to avoid a collision.
"Why didn't you run him down, and we could have some bear steaks forsupper?" asked Bob.
"Because I don't think it's just healthy to run into a three hundred andfifty pound bear with a big auto," replied Jerry. "We might kill thebear, but we'd be sure to damage the car."
The beast did not appear to be frightened at the sight of his naturalenemies. Raising on its haunches the animal slowly ambled toward thestalled machine, growling in a menacing manner.
"I believe he's going to attack us!" exclaimed the professor. "Let meget out my rifle!"
But this was easier said than done. The weapons and ammunition were allunder the canvas, and it would require several minutes to get at them.
In the meanwhile the bear, showing every indication of rage was tryingto climb up on the engine hood, despite the throbbing of the engine,which was going, though the gears were not thrown in.
"Start the car and run over him!" exclaimed Bob.
"Back up and get out of his way!" was Ned's advice to Jerry.
"I've got to do something," muttered the steersman.
Matters were getting critical. The storm was increasing in violence,with the wind lashing the rain into the faces of the travelers. Thegrowls of the angry beast mingled with the rumble and rattle of thunder,and the machine was shaking under the efforts Bruin made to climb overthe hood and into the front seat.
"Hold on tight! I'm going to start!" yelled Jerry suddenly.
He threw in the intermediate gear and opened wide the gasolene throttle.The car sprang forward like a thing alive. But the bear had too good ahold with his long sharp claws sticking in the ventilator holes of thehood, to be shaken off.
"I should think he'd burn on the water radiator," said Ned.
"His fur's too thick I guess," was Bob's reply.
On went the auto, the boys and the professor clinging to it for dearlife, while Bruin hung on, half crazed with fear and anger.
"How you going to get rid of him?" shouted Ned above the roar of thestorm.
"I'll show you," replied Jerry grimly.
Some distance ahead the steersman had seen a sharp curve in the road. Itwas dimly discernible through the mist of water.
"Hold tight everybody!" shouted Jerry a second or two before the turnwas reached.
Then, suddenly swinging around it, at as sharp an angle as he dared tomake and not overturn the car, Jerry sent the auto skidding. The nextinstant, unable to stand the impetus of the turn, the bear lost its holdon the hood, and was flung, like a stone from a catapult, far off to theleft, rolling over and over on the muddy ground.
"There, I guess it will be quite a while before he tries to eat upanother live automobile," remarked Jerry as he slowed up a bit.
Off in the distance they heard a sort of reproachful whine, as if Bruinobjected to such treatment. Then the rain came down harder than ever,and all sight of the bear was lost.
"Let's get out of this!" exclaimed Ned, as he felt a small stream ofwater trickling down his back. "Can't we strike for those woods we saw awhile ago?"
"I'm headed for them," spoke Jerry. "I just want to get my bearings.Guess we'd better light up, as it will soon be dusk."
After some difficulty in getting matches to burn in the wind and rain,the big search lights and the oil lanterns were lighted, and then,with four shafts of light cutting the misty darkness ahead of them thetravelers proceeded.
The roads seemed to be getting worse, but there was nothing to do exceptto keep on. Every now and then the machine would lurch into some hollowwith force enough to almost break the springs.
"Hello!" cried Jerry suddenly. "Here are two roads. Which shall we take?"
"The right seems to go a little more directly north," said theprofessor, peering forward. "Suppose we take that?"
"Especially as it seems to be the better road," added Jerry.
He turned the machine into it, and, to the surprise of all they felt thethoroughfare become hard and firm as the auto tires rolled over it. Itwas almost as smooth as asphalt, and the travelers were congratulatingthemselves on having made a wise choice.
All at once the rain, which had been coming down in torrents, seemed tolet up.
"I believe it's clearing up," said Bob.
"No, it's because we've run into a dense forest, and the trees abovekeep the rain off," spoke the professor.
The others looked about them and saw that this was so. On every side theglare of the lamps showed big trunks and leafy branches, while aheadmore trees could be observed.
"Why it's just like a tunnel in the woods," said Bob. "See, the treesseem to meet in an arch overhead."
"And what a fine road it is," put in Ned.
"An altogether strange sort of road," agreed Jerry. "Suppose we stop andlook about before we go any further? I don't like the looks of it."
Accordingly the machine was brought to a halt, and the travelersalighted. They found it just as Bob had said, almost exactly like animmense tunnel in the forest. Beneath their feet the road was of thefinest Macadam construction.
"And to think of finding this in the midst of Texas," observed Jerry.
"Some one built this road, and cut the trees to make this tunnel,"remarked the professor. "I w
onder what sort of a place we have stumbledinto."
"At all events it doesn't rain anything to speak of in here," said Bob,"and it's a good place to stay until the storm is over."
Jerry, in the meanwhile had walked on ahead some distance. In a fewminutes he came hurrying back. His manner showed that he had seensomething.
"What is it?" asked the professor.
"Don't make any noise, but follow me," replied the lad.
In silence, and wondering what was about to happen, Bob, Ned and thescientist trailed after Jerry. He led them several hundred feet ahead ofthe automobile, and away from the glare of the lamps, the tunnel curvingsomewhat.
"See!" whispered Jerry, hoarsely.
"Well, I never!"
"That's queer!"
There, about three hundred feet to the left of the main road and on asort of side path, the travelers saw a small hut, brilliantly lightedup. Through an open window, a room could be seen, and several figuresmoving about in it.