"At Pedro Garcia's old _jacal_," interpolated Clipperton.
"And Clip, here, got me away," went on Matt. "I have to get to Phoenix by four o'clock."
Delray whistled. "Mebby you could do it if you had wings, Matt," said he. "Why, it's nearly two o'clock, and there's twenty long miles between here and Phoenix. That's a deuce of a note. Abducted by Hawley! Thunder! What did he do that for?"
"Let him take your horse," cried Clipperton, sinking down in the shade. "He can make it!"
"Horse?" echoed Delray. "I haven't got a horse. There isn't a horse this side of the Arizona Canal, eight miles away. Give it up, Matt. There'll be bicycle-races after you're dead and gone."
A half-stifled groan broke from Clipperton's lips. Matt and Delray, looking toward him, saw that he had his face in his hands.
"What's the matter with him, Matt?" asked Delray.
"I've lost the race for King," said Clipperton, lifting his haggard face. "I did it! But I got to him as quick as I could. Perry--I--I----" The words died huskily away on Clipperton's lips and he finished by shaking his fist menacingly in the direction of Phoenix.
"You didn't lose the race for me, Clip," said he, "and I want you to understand that here and now. You were no more to blame for it than the man in the moon. I ought to have----"
Matt halted abruptly. In front of him was the derrick, the lightning-rod point of Chub's aerial wire glistening in the sun. He whirled and jumped like a madman for Delray.
"Great Cæsar's ghost!" cried Delray, "have you gone dippy, Matt?"
"Is that wireless apparatus working?" shouted Matt.
"If it's working now," went on Matt excitedly, "maybe I can put this trick through yet. Get at your key, Delray! Try and get Chub."
"What the blazes----" Delray stared. "Say, Matt, do you think I can send you through to Phoenix by wireless?"
"Get Chub!" yelled Matt. "Don't stand there like a stick, Delray. Get Chub, I tell you! I'll tell you what to say when you get him. There's a chance, a _chance_!"
While the dazed Delray went into the house and sat down at his sending-key, Matt hovered frantically around him. The minute Delray touched the key the Hertzian waves got busy, crackling and flashing between the two polished balls of the terminals.