st, but what did
Kie Wicks get out of it?" demanded Bet.

"Nothing at all!" chirruped Joy. "He's just out of luck. And he
deserves it for kidnapping our professor."

"Atta boy, Joy! Dad says to be generous to your enemies, but I'm
afraid I haven't one little generous thought for Kie Wicks. Isn't it
good that he didn't hear about us finding the treasure? He knows about
the chest but not a word about the other."

But Kie Wicks knew more than the girls realized. He had heard more and
seen more than they had any idea of. He suspected that treasure had
been found and at that moment he was giving instructions to his hired
men.

He had formed a gang of ruffians from the hills and they were collected
now in a ravine through which the automobiles must pass. Without any
suspicion that the treasure was safely stowed away in a car that had
passed fully half an hour before, the storekeeper huddled his men
behind the rock and waited.

As the car driven by Matt Larkin came out on the main road, Kie ordered
his men and his voice was hard:

"There's the chest of treasure. Go get it! Don't fail!"

A shot rang out! Matt Larkin tried to put on speed and get away from
the small car that had suddenly sprung into the road, and having a
higher-powered engine he succeeded for a while. But the pursuing
machine had only two men in it and the five girls and their luggage was
a drag on the big car.

Joy became hysterical with fright. She crouched low in the car, but
Bet was excited. Her head bobbed up every minute to see what was
taking place.

Matt caught her as she peered through the back window and spoke
angrily. "Get down there! Are you crazy? You'll be shot if you don't
look out."

Bet sighed as she obeyed. "Just my luck! To miss all the fun! Now if
I were a boy...." The sentence was jerked out as Matt Larkin took a
bump without easing it.

"Ouch!" screamed Joy. "My head!"

"Keep quiet, Joy Evans! It serves you right for being such a
cry-baby," snapped Bet.

But Shirley comforted her. Joy was trembling as her friend clasped her
in her arms.

"I wish the boys were here," sobbed Joy.

"Well, I don't!" said Kit. "They'd think it was their duty to put up a
fight, and it doesn't pay."

Another shot!

Another burst of speed that shook the car.

Then Matt slowed down. There was nothing else to do. The men were
gaining and it was foolish to try to out-speed them.

Matt turned. "Keep perfectly qui