Each one of Dick's chums said, afterward, that he thought the same thing at the moment Mr. Cameron made his statement--that the affair was more desperate than they had at first suspected. True, the men racing after them in the swift car might only be trying to attract their attention by the firing of revolver shots, but, knowing what he did, Dick was more inclined to think that it was done with the intention of injuring some one. "Do you really think they're shooting at us?" asked Innis. "Well, not so much at us, as at our car," said the young engineer. "The tires!" cried Paul, with sudden thought. "What kind have you?" asked Mr. Cameron. "Not pneumatic!" exclaimed Dick, as he put on a little more power. "Cushions instead. It won't hurt them to get a few bullets inside." "Good! For I think that's their intention," went on Mr. Cameron. "They're not in effective range yet, though. But they think they can disable us, and then get me back in their control again. They're going to have their own troubles doing that though!" and he shut his teeth grimly. His former light-hearted manner seemed to have left him. Paul took a backward glance at the oncoming car. Behind it there floated a little haze of smoke from the firing of the revolver. "They're coming on," murmured the youth. "Can you get any more speed up, Dick?" "I think so. I'm sort of doing it gradually, though, for this going is hard on the running gear, and I don't want a breakdown." The _Last Word_ responded well to the demand made on her for increased speed. Faster and faster she raced over the sandy stretch of the desert, and now, Innis, looking back, reported: "We're giving them the go-by, Dick, old man!" "Glad of it. I thought we would. I have something left in reserve, too. I guess we'll make a get-away, all right." "That water in the gasoline ought to work pretty soon, I should think," said Mr. Cameron. "They must have used up all that was in the feed pipe and carbureter, and the small auxiliary tank." "I guess that's what's the trouble now, all right!" went on Innis. "See, they have stopped." "Then they're stuck!" cried the engineer, joyfully. "It's all right, boys. They won't be able to find out what's the matter for an hour or more. They'll tinker with every part of the engine, and when they do find it's the gas we'll be far enough off." "That's right," agreed Dick. "It was a good thing to do." "The nerve of them, though--firing at us!" exclaimed Paul. "They might have hit one of us." "I don't believe they would have done so intentionally," spoke the engineer. "The men are not as desperate as that. But the bullets might have glanced off. I imagine they fired low, just at the tires. But they had nerve even to chase after us, as if I were an escaping criminal." "Do you think they had orders to prevent you from going away?" asked Dick.