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diff --git a/old/53932-0.txt b/old/53932-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index fb6006a..0000000 --- a/old/53932-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6755 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, Frank Reade, Jr., and His New Steam Man, or, -the Young Inventor's Trip to the Far West, by Luis Senarens - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - - -Title: Frank Reade, Jr., and His New Steam Man, or, the Young Inventor's Trip to the Far West - Frank Reade Library Vol. I - - -Author: Luis Senarens - - - -Release Date: January 9, 2017 [eBook #53932] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANK READE, JR., AND HIS NEW -STEAM MAN, OR, THE YOUNG INVENTOR'S TRIP TO THE FAR WEST*** - - -E-text prepared by Richard Tonsing and the Online Distributed Proofreading -Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by -Internet Archive (https://archive.org) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustrations. - See 53932-h.htm or 53932-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/53932/53932-h/53932-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/53932/53932-h.zip) - - - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - https://archive.org/details/Frank_Reade_-_01 - - -Transcriber’s note: - - Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). - - Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). - - - - - - “Noname’s” Latest and Best Stories are Published in This Library. - -[Illustration: FRANK READE LIBRARY] - - ═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ - _Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., as Second Class - Matter._ - ═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ - =No. 1.= {=COMPLETE.=} FRANK TOUSEY, {=PRICE=} =Vol. I= - PUBLISHED, 34 & 36 {=5 CENTS.=} - NORTH MOORE STREET, NEW - YORK. - New York, ISSUED - September WEEKLY. - 24, 1892. - ═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ - _Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1892, by FRANK - TOUSEY, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, - D. C._ - ═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ - - - - - FRANK READE, JR., AND HIS NEW STEAM MAN; - OR, THE - YOUNG INVENTOR’S TRIP TO THE FAR WEST. - - By “NONAME.” - -[Illustration] - - The Subscription Price of the FRANK READE LIBRARY by the Year is $2.50: - $1.25 per six months, post-paid. Address FRANK TOUSEY, PUBLISHER, 34 and - 36 North Moore Street, New York. Box 2730. - - - - - Frank Reade Jr., and His New Steam Man; - OR, - THE YOUNG INVENTOR’S TRIP TO THE FAR WEST. - - - By “NONAME”, - - Author of Frank Reade Jr.’s Electric Cyclone; or, Thrilling Adventures - in No Man’s Land, etc. - - - - - CHAPTER I. - A GREAT WRONG. - - -Frank Reade was noted the world over as a wonderful and distinguished -inventor of marvelous machines in the line of steam and electricity. But -he had grown old and unable to knock about the world, as he had been -wont once to do. - -So it happened that his son, Frank Reade, Jr., a handsome and talented -young man, succeeded his father as a great inventor, even excelling him -in variety and complexity of invention. The son speedily outstripped his -sire. - -The great machine shops in Readestown were enlarged by young Frank, and -new flying machines, electric wonders, and so forth, were brought into -being. - -But the elder Frank would maintain that, inasmuch as electricity at the -time was an undeveloped factor, his invention of the Steam Man was -really the most wonderful of all. - -“It cannot be improved upon,” he declared, positively. “Not if steam is -used as a motive power.” - -Frank, Jr. laughed quietly, and patted his father on the back. - -“Dad,” he said, with an affectionate, though bantering air, “what would -you think if I should produce a most remarkable improvement upon your -Steam Man?” - -“You can’t do it!” declared the senior Reade. - -Frank, Jr., said no more, but smiled in a significant manner. One day -later, the doors of the secret draughting-room of design were tightly -locked and young Frank came forth only to his meals. - -For three months this matter of closed doors continued. In the machine -shop department, where the parts of machinery were secretly put -together, the ring of hammers might have been heard, and a big sign was -upon the door: - -No admittance! - -Thus matters were when one evening Frank left his arduous duties to -spend a few hours with his wife and little boy. - -But just as he was passing out of the yard, a darky, short in stature -and of genial features, rushed excitedly up to him. - -“Oh, Marse Frank,” cried the sable servitor, “Jes’ wait one moment!” - -“Well, Pomp,” said Frank, pleasantly, “what can I do for you?” - -The darky, who was a faithful servant of the Reades, and had accompanied -both on their tours in foreign lands, ducked his head, with a grin, and -replied: - -“Yo’ father wants yo’, Marse Frank, jes’ as quick as eber yo’ kin come!” - -“My father,” exclaimed Frank, quickly. “What is it?” - -“I don’t know nuffin’ ‘bout it tall, Marse Frank. He jes’ say fo’ me to -tell yo’ he want fo’ to see yo’.” - -“Where is he?” - -“In his library, sah.” - -“All right, Pomp. Tell him I will come at once.” - -The darky darted away. Frank saw that the doors to the secret rooms were -locked. This was a wise precaution for hosts of cranks and demented -inventors were always hovering about the place and would quickly have -stolen the designs if they could have got at them. - -Not ten minutes later Frank entered the library where his father was. - -The elder Reade was pacing up and down in great excitement. - -“Well, my son, you have come at last!” he cried. “I have much wanted to -see you.” - -“I am at your service, father,” replied Frank. “What is it?” - -“I want you to tell me what kind of a machine you have been getting up.” - -“Come now, that’s not fair,” said Frank Jr. with twinkling eyes. - -“Well, if it’s any kind of a machine that can travel over the prairies -tell me so,” cried the elder Reade, excitedly. - -Frank, Jr., was at a loss to exactly understand what his father was -driving at. However, he replied: - -“Well, I may safely say that it is. Now explain yourself.” - -“I will,” replied the senior Reade. “I have a matter of great importance -to give you, Frank, my boy. If your invention is as good as my steam man -even, and does not improve upon it, it will yet perform the work which I -want it to do.” - -A light broke across Frank, Jr.’s face. - -“Ah!” he cried. “I see what you are driving at. You have an undertaking -for me and my new machine.” - -Frank, Sr., looked steadily at Frank, Jr., and replied: - -“You have hit the nail upon the head.” - -“What is it?” - -“First, I must tell you a story.” - -“Well?” - -“It would take me some time to go into the details, so I will not -attempt to do that but give you a simple statement of facts; in short, -the outline of the story.” - -“All right. Let us have it.” - -The senior Reade cleared his throat and continued: - -“Many years ago when I was traveling in Australia I was set upon by -bushmen and would have been killed but for the sudden arrival upon the -scene of a countryman of mine, a man of about my own age and as plucky -as a lion. - -“His name was Jim Travers, and I had known him in New York as the son of -a wealthy family. He was of a roving temperament, however, and this is -what had brought him to Australia. - -“Well, Travers saved my life. He beat off my assailants, and nursing my -wounds brought me back to life. - -“I have felt ever since that I owed him a debt which could not be fully -repaid. At that time I could make no return for the service. - -“Jim and I drifted through the gold fields together. Then I lost track -of him, and until the other day I have not seen or heard from him. - -“But I now find that it is in my power to give him assistance, in fact -to partly pay the debt I owe him. This brings us to the matter in hand. - -“Six months ago it seems that Jim who is now a man of great wealth, -still a bachelor and for a few years past living at a fashionable hotel -in New York went to his club. When he returned in the evening he found a -note worded like this:” - -Mr. Reade laid a note upon the table, Frank read it: - - “DEAR TRAVERS:—I would like to see you to-night upon a very - important matter. Will you meet me in twenty minutes at the cafe - on your corner. I must see you, so be sure and come. - - “A FRIEND.” - -“Of course Jim wondered at the note, but he did not know of an enemy in -the world, so he felt perfectly safe in keeping the appointment. He -started for the cafe. - -“The night was dark and misty, Jim walked along and had got near the -cafe when somebody stepped out of a dark hallway and grasped his arm. - -“‘Come in here,’ a sharp voice said, ‘we can talk better here than in -the cafe.’ - -“Before Jim could make any resistance he was pulled into a dark hallway. -Two men had hold of him and something wet was dashed across his face and -over his hands, then he felt some liquid poured over his clothes and -some object thrust into his pocket. - -“Then the door opened again and he was flung out into the street. Jim -was unharmed, but amazed at such treatment. He had not been hurt and was -at a loss to understand what it all meant. - -“The incident had taken but a few moments in its course. At first a -thought of foul play had flashed across Jim. Then it occurred to him to -look at his hands which were wet with some substance. - -“He gave a great cry of horror as he did so. There was blood upon them. - -“In fact his hands and face and clothes were almost soaked in red blood. -For an instant he was horrified. - -“What mystery was this? But he quickly changed his opinion and actually -laughed. - -“It occurred to him as a practical joke upon the part of his club -friends. Satisfied of this he resolved to get even with them. - -“He tried to open the door, through which he had been pulled. It was -locked and would not yield. - -“Then he decided to go back to his room and wash off the blood. But he -had not gone ten steps before he was met in the glare of the lamplight -by one of the club men. - -“‘Thunder! What’s the matter with you, Travers?’ asked his friend. - -“‘Oh, nothing, only a little practical joke the boys have been playing -on me,’ replied Jim with a grin. Two or three others come along and Jim -explains in like manner. Then he goes to his apartments. - -“When he arrives there he is amazed to find the door open and a fearful -scene within. The furniture, the light carpet and the walls in places -are smeared with blood. Jim now got angry. - -“‘This is carrying a joke a little too far!’ he cried, testily. ‘This -spoiling the furniture is too much.’ - -“But he went to washing the blood from his hands. This was a hard job -and took time. Suddenly half a dozen officers came into the room and -seized him. - -“‘What do you want?’ cried poor Jim in surprise. - -“‘We want you,’ they replied. - -“‘What for?’ - -“‘For murder!’ - -“Instead of being horrified, Jim was mad, madder than a March hare. He -just got up and swore at the officers. - -‘I don’t like this sort of thing,’ he declared. ‘It’s carrying a joke -too far.’ - -“The officers only laughed and slipped manacles upon his wrists. Then -they led him away to prison. Not until brought into court did poor Jim -know that he had been made the victim of a hellish scheme. - -“Murder had really been committed in that house into which he had been -dragged, and where he was smeared with blood. A man unknown, was there -found literally carved to pieces with a knife. - -“Blood had been found upon Jim in his room. A trail led from the house -to his room. A knife was found in his coat pocket. The evidence was all -against him and his trial had just come off and he had just been -sentenced to death by hanging with only three months of grace.” - -Frank Reade, Jr., listened to this thrilling tale with sensations which -the pen cannot depict. It was so horrible, so strange, so ghastly that -he could hardly believe it true. - -He arose and walked once across the floor. - - - - - CHAPTER II. - THE NEW STEAM MAN. - - -Then the young inventor paused before his father, and in a deeply -impressed manner said: - -“Then an innocent man stands convicted of murder?” - -“Yes.” - -“In that case it is the duty of every philanthropic man to try and save -the innocent.” - -“It is.” - -“We must do it.” - -“I am glad to hear you say that.” - -“But the question now arises as to how we shall be able to do it. Is -there no clew to the real assassins?” - -“No definite clew.” - -“That is very strange. Of course there must have been a motive. That -motive would seem to be to get Travers out of the way.” - -“Yes.” - -“And he has no enemies?” - -“None that he knew of.” - -“Ah, but what would any one gain by putting him out of the way——” - -Frank Reade, Jr., paused. He gazed steadily at his father. Much passed -between them in that glance. - -“His fortune is a large one,” put in the senior Reade, “the right to -inherit would furnish the best motive. There is but one heir, and he is -a nephew, Artemas Cliff, who is a stockman, somewhere in the Far West. -It could not be him.” - -“Could not?” Frank Reade, Jr., sat down and dropped into a brown study. -After a time he aroused. - -“I am interested in this case,” he declared. “And my Steam Man is at the -disposal of justice at any time. But you spoke of the prairies. Is there -a clew in the West?” - -“The only clew possible to obtain at present,” declared Mr. Reade, Sr. -“You see detectives tracked two suspicious men to Kansas. There they -lost track of them. Everybody believes that they were the assassins.” - -“Well, I believe it,” cried Frank Reade, Jr., with impulse. “I can see -but one logical explanation of this matter. Either Artemas Cliff has -employed two ruffians to do this awful deed for the sake of Travers’ -money, or—the case is one not possible to solve with ease.” - -Frank Reade, Sr., did not display surprise at this statement of his son. - -“Now you have the whole thing in a nutshell, my boy,” he said. “Of -course, you can do as you please, but if you wish to take any kind of a -journey with your new invention, here is a chance, and a noble object in -view. That object should be to track down the murderers, and clear Jim -Travers. It may be that the nephew, Artemas Cliff, is the really guilty -one, but in any case, I believe that it is in the West you will find the -solution of the mystery.” - -“That is my belief,” agreed Frank Reade, Jr., “but now that this matter -is settled let me show you the plans of my steam man.” - -Frank Reade, Jr., drew a roll of papers from his pocket and spread them -upon the table. - -Upon them were the blue print plans and drawings of the mechanism of the -Steam Man. - -Frank Reade, Senior, examined them carefully and critically. From one -piece to another he went and after some time drew a deep breath saying: - -“Well, young blood is the best after all. I must say, Frank, that I am -beat. There is no doubt but that you have improved upon my Steam Man. I -congratulate you.” - -“Thank you,” said Frank Reade, Jr. with gratification. - -“But I am anxious to see this marvel at work.” - -“You shall,” replied the young inventor. “To-morrow the Steam Man will -go out of the shop upon his trial trip.” - -A few minutes later Frank Reade, Jr., was on the way to his own house. - -He was in a particularly happy frame of mind. He had achieved great -results in his new invention, and here, as by design, was a chance -afforded him to use the Steam Man to a philanthropic and heroic purpose. - -The idea of traveling through the wilds of the West was a thrilling one. - -Frank could already picture the effect of the Steam Man upon the wild -savages of the plains and the outlaws of Western Kansas and Colorado. - -Also the level floor-like prairie of that region would afford excellent -traveling for the new invention. - -Frank Reade, Jr., was a lover of adventure. - -It was an inborn love. The prospect before him fired his very soul. It -was just what he desired. - -That evening he unfolded all his plans to his wife. - -Of course Mrs. Reade was averse to her husband undertaking such a -dangerous trip. But after a time she overcame her scruples and -reconciled herself to it. - -The next morning at an early hour, Frank was at the engine house of the -steel works. The wide doors were thrown open and a wonderful sight -revealed. - -There stood the Steam Man. - -Frank Reade, Sr., and a great number of friends were present. Pomp, the -negro, was also there, as well as a queer-looking little Irishman with a -genuine Hibernian mug and twinkling eyes, which bespoke a nature -brimming over with fun. This was Barney O’Shea. - -Barney and Pomp had long been faithful servants of the Reades. In all of -their travels with their inventions they had accompanied them. Of these -two characters we will say no more, but permit the reader to become -acquainted with them in the course of the story. - -The senior Reade examined the mechanism of the new Steam Man with -deepest interest. - -“Upon my word, Frank,” he cried, “you have beaten me out and out. I can -hardly believe my eyes.” - -Frank Reade, Jr., laughed good humoredly. - -Then he went about showing a party of friends the mechanism of the new -Steam Man. - -The man himself was a structure of iron plates joined in sections with -rivets, hinges or bars as the needs required. - -In face and form the machine was a good imitation of a man done in -steel. - -In no wise did he look ponderous or unwieldy, though his stature was -fully nine feet. - -The man stood erect holding the shafts of a wagon at his hips. - -The wagon itself was light but roomy with four wheels and a top covering -of fine steel net work. This was impervious to a bullet while anyone -inside could see quite well all about them. - -There were loop-holes in this netting to put the rifle barrels through -in case of a fight. - -A part of the wagon was used as a coal bunker. Other small compartments -held a limited amount of stores, ammunitions and weapons. - -Upon the fender in front was a brake to regulate the wagon on a steep -grade, and a slit in the net work here allowed of the passage of the -reins, two long lines connecting with the throttle and whistle valves. A -word as to the mechanism of the man. - -Here was really the fine work of the invention. - -Steam was the motive power. - -The hollow legs and arms of the man made the reservoir or boilers. In -the broad chest was the furnace. Fully two hundred pounds of coal could -here be placed, keeping up a fire sufficient to generate steam for a -long time. - -The steam chest was upon the man’s back, and here were a number of -valves. The tall hat worn by the man formed the smoke stack. - -The driving rods, in sections, extended down the man’s legs, and could -be set in motion so skillfully that a tremendous stride was attained, -and a speed far beyond belief. - -This was the new steam man. The improvements were many and manifest. - -All the mechanism was more nicely balanced, the parts more strongly -joined, and the steel of finer quality. Greater speed was the certainty. - -Fire was burning in the furnace, steam was hissing from the retort, and -smoke was pouring from the funnel hat of the man. - -Frank Reade, Jr., suddenly sprung in the wagon. - -He closed the screen door behind him. Pomp was engaged in some work in -the coal bunker. - -Frank took up the reins and pulled them. The throttle was opened and -also the whistle valve. - -Three sharp shrieks the new Steam Man gave and then he was away on the -trial trip. - -Out of the yard he went and out upon the highway. - -Everybody rushed to the gates and a great cheer went up. Down the -highway went the Steam Man at a terrific gait. - -His strides were long and powerful. So rapidly were they made that a -tremendous amount of surface was covered. - -It was a good smooth road. - -Just ahead was a man riding a horse. Near him was a bicycler who was -noted as a fast rider. - -Both had heard that the Steam Man would make his trial run that morning. - -Bets had been made by both that they could beat the Man. - -Frank guessed the truth at once. - -“Ki dar, Marse Frank,” cried Pomp, with a chuckle and a shake of his -woolly head. “Dem two chaps ain got a pile ob gall. Jes’ yo’ show dem -dat dey ain’t in it. Won’t yo’?” - -Pomp had more than one reason for beating the horse and bicycle. He had -made a small bet of his own on the result. - -It was evident that the parties ahead were ready for the fun. - -Frank Reade, Jr., smiled grimly, and opened the throttle a little wider. - -The next moment the Steam Man, the bicycle rider and the trotter were -all flying neck and neck down the road. - -Heavens! what a race that was! - -Down the road they flew like a whirlwind. The dust flew up behind them -in a cloud. - -But the Steam Man just trotted by his competitors with seemingly no -exertion at all. Frank turned with a laugh to see how easily they were -distanced. - -After a good trial, the new Steam Man returned to the foundry yard. As -Frank stepped down out of the wagon, his father came up and grasped his -hand in an ecstasy of delight. - -“Bravo, my son!” he cried. “You have eclipsed my Invention. I wish you -luck, and I know that you will succeed in clearing Jim Travers.” - -“I shall take only Barney and Pomp with me,” said Frank Reade, Jr. -“There will not be room in the wagon for more.” - -“Well, they will be useful companions,” said the Senior Reade. “My son; -may God be with you in your enterprise.” - -Frank Reade, Jr., at once proceeded to make preparations for his western -trip. - -He visited Travers in prison and talked with him. - -“To tell the truth, I am distrustful of my nephew, Artemas Cliff. He is -an avaricious villain, and a number of times has tried to swindle me out -of money. I know that he has led the life of an outlaw out there on the -border.” - -“But if he aspired to gain your wealth, why did he not attempt your life -in some direct manner?” asked Frank. - -“I presume he may have feared detection,” replied Travers. “If I am hung -for the murder of this unknown man, the mystery will be sealed forever. -The real murderer will never be known.” - -“I believe you are right,” agreed Frank Reade, Jr. “Well, I will find -this Artemas Cliff, and do the best I can toward clearing up the mystery -and setting you right.” - -“Thank you!” said Travers with emotion. “I feel that you will succeed.” - - - - - CHAPTER III. - ON THE PLAINS. - - -The scene of our story now undergoes a great change. - -We will transfer the reader from Readestown to the plains of the Far -West. Fully five hundred miles from civilization, and right in the heart -of the region of the hostile Sioux. - -Frank Reade, Jr., had transported the Steam Man as far as possible by -rail. - -From thence he had journeyed the rest of the ways overland. - -Nothing of thrilling sort had as yet marked their journey. But they were -upon the verge of the most exciting adventures as the reader will -hereafter agree, possible to be experienced by man. - -With the broad expanse of rolling plain upon every hand, one morning in -June the Steam Man might have been seen making its way along at a -moderate gait. - -Frank Reade, Jr., with Barney and Pomp were in the wagon. - -Frank held the reins and his keen gaze swept the prairie in every -direction. - -As far as the eye could reach there remained the same broad expanse. -There was little to break the monotony. - -Barney and Pomp had taken advantage of a lull in their duties to play a -social game of poker in the rear of the wagon. - -These two unique characters, although the warmest of friends, were -nevertheless always engaged in badgering each other or the perpetration -of practical jokes. - -“Bejabers, I’ll go yez ten betther on that, yez black ape,” cried -Barney, throwing down a handful of chips. “I’ll take me worrud it’s a -big bluff yez are playin’. Yez can’t fool me.” - -“Youse will jest find out dis nigger neber plays a bluff game,” retorted -Pomp with a chuckle. “Jest yo’ look out fo’ yo’sef, Pish.” - -“Begorra, I ain’t afraid av yez an’ I’ll go ye the tin,” cried Barney. - -There was a broad grin upon Pomp’s face. He quietly picked up ten chips -and then put in ten more. - -“Hold on, Pish, I’ll go youse ten better.” - -“Call yez, be hivens!” cried Barney, chucking in ten more. - -Then he threw down his hand. - -“Can yez bate that?” he cried, triumphantly. “Give us the pot, naygur. -Yez are no good.” - -But Pomp put one black paw over the pile of chips. - -“‘Jes’ wait one minnit, Pish.” - -“Whurro! Yez can’t bate it!” cried Barney, confidently. - -He had thrown a good hand containing four kings and two aces. But Pomp -quietly laid down four aces! - -The picture was one well worthy of an artist. For a moment the two card -players gazed at the six aces in amazement. It was a very curious -anomaly that there should be six aces in one pack of cards. - -Then Barney sprang up furiously. - -“Begorra, it’s a big cheat ye are!” he cried, angrily. “Whoever saw the -loikes av that? Be me sowl, the hull pile is mine!” - -“Don’ yo’ put yo’ hands on dem chips, Pish!” cried Pomp, angrily. - -“P’raps yo’ kin tell me wharfore youse got dem two aces, maybe youse -can?” - -“Bejabers, they war in the pack, but yez kin tell me perhaps where yez -got those four aces yez put down there?” - -“I tell yo’, Pish, dey was in de pack.” - -“Be jabers it’s the fust pack av cards I ever saw with six aces in it,” -retorted Barney. - -“Now don’ yo’ gib me any mo’ ob yo’ sass, Pish!” blustered Pomp. “I’ll -jes’ make yo’ sorry if yo’ does.” - -“Bejabers yez ain’t the size!” - -“Look out fo’ yo’self, Pish!” - -“Whurroo!” - -Over went the table leaf, down went the chips in the bottom of the -wagon, and the two angry poker players closed in a lively wrestle. - -For a moment Barney had the best of it, then Pomp tripped the Celt up -and both fell in a heap in the bottom of the wagon. - -They chanced to fall against the wire screen door in the rear of the -wagon. - -It was unlocked and gave way beneath the pressure, and the two practical -jokers went through it and out upon the hard floor of the prairie. - -They were rolled about in a cloud of dust, and had they not been of -something more than ordinary composition they would have suffered from -broken bones. - -But as it was both picked themselves up unhurt. - -The Steam Man had gone on fully one hundred yards before Frank Reade, -Jr., perceived that his companions were missing, and at once closed the -throttle and brought the Man to a halt. - -“Serves the rascals right,” muttered Frank, as he saw them pick -themselves up from the dust. “They are always skylarking, and no good -comes of it.” - -Frank had stopped the Steam Man. He waited for the two jokers to pick -themselves up and return to the wagon. - -But at that moment a thrilling thing occurred. - -Barney and Pomp had fallen near a clump of timber. - -From this with wild yells a band of mounted Sioux Indians now dashed. - -They were a war party—painted and bedecked with feathers, and in the -full paraphernalia of war. - -The peril which threatened the two jokers was one not to be despised. - -It was quite evident that the savages meant to cut off their rejoining -the Steam Man. In that case their fate would be sealed. - -But Barney was quick-witted, and saw the situation at a glance. - -With a wild howl he broke into a mad run for the Steam Man. It was a -question of life or death and he ran as he had never ran before. - -Pomp was not so lucky. While Barney was distancing his pursuers, and -actually succeeded in reaching the wagon, the darky suddenly found -himself cut off. - -Indian ponies were circling about him, the red riders whooping and -yelling like veritable demons. - -The poor darky was beside himself with terror and perplexity. - -“Golly sakes alibe!” he yelled, with his wool literally standing on end. -“Whatebber am dis yer nigger gwine fo’ to do? I’se a gone coon fo’ -suah.” - -It certainly looked that way. The savages circled nearer and half a -dozen of them dismounted and rushed upon Pomp. - -Now the darky was unarmed. - -He had not even a pistol or a knife. Of course he was at their mercy. - -In less time than it takes to tell it, the savages had closed in about -the terrified darky, and he was quickly thrown upon his back and bound. - -Then he was laid across the back of a pony and tied on securely. - -Then a lariat was attached to the pony’s bridle, and the savages with -their prisoner in their midst dashed away. - -Barney had reached the Steam Man and climbed into the wagon. - -Frank Reade, Jr., had seen the whole affair, and for a moment was too -astounded to act. - -Then as Barney came tumbling into the wagon, Frank turned the man around -and sent him flying toward the savages. - -This move was quickly made, and the Steam Man ran forward rapidly. But -quick as it had been, the savages had yet succeeded in making Pomp a -prisoner and getting away with him. - -“Be jabers, they’ve got the naygur bound to a horse,” cried Barney, -wildly. “Wud yez luk at the loikes, Misther Frank. We must catch the -omadhouns and give them a lessin of the right sort.” - -“I hope we may,” replied Frank, with great anxiety, “but I fear the red -fiends will get to cover before we can overtake them.” - -“Whurroo! It’s mesilf as will sphoil the loike av some av thim,” cried -Barney, as he picked up his rifle. - -The savages were racing like mad across the prairie. - -They had caught sight of the Steam Man, which was to them some fiend -incarnate, some evil spirit which would seek their certain destruction. - -Terror of the wildest sort made them whip their ponies to the utmost. - -It was a mad race. - -But the Steam Man was gaining. - -He took tremendous strides. Frank pulled the whistle valve, and the -shrieks sent up on the air were of a terrifying kind. - -The savages had all gazed with wonder upon the white man’s iron horse -that followed its steel track across their prairies. - -But this latest appearance, the Steam Man, was too much for their -nerves. They could not bear it, and fled. - -The Steam Man would certainly have overtaken them. - -But, not visible until one had turned the timber line and made a rise in -the prairie was a distant range of hills. - -Toward this the savages were going. If they reached them, they would -certainly succeed in eluding their pursuer. - -And the chances seemed good. - -Frank saw, with a peculiar chill, that they were really liable to reach -the point aimed at. - -He sent the man on at full speed. - -Barney placed himself at a loop-hole, and commenced firing as rapidly as -he could at the fleeing foe. - -The result was that many of them fell, and the others redoubled their -exertions to make an escape. - -On went the chase toward the distant range of hills. - -Nearer and nearer drew the ponies to the objective point. - -With sinking heart Frank saw that the Indians were likely to reach them -before the Steam Man could overtake them. - -Of course this would mean safety for the savages, for the Steam Man -could not hope to follow the ponies over the rough surfaces there -encountered. - -“Heavens, we are not going to save Pomp!” cried Frank, with a thrill of -despair in his voice. “What shall we do, Barney? Is it not awful?” - -Barney was busily engaged in placing fresh cartridges in his Winchester. - -“Begorra, it’s save the naygur I will if I sacrifice me own loife!” -cried the big-hearted Celt. “It’s me own fault, for sure, that he iver -fell troo the door and got picked up by the red min.” - -Frank put on all the steam he dared, and the man took tremendous strides -forward. - -“We will make a mighty effort,” he gritted, as he piled on the steam. - -“Bejabers, here goes for wan av the spalpeens!” cried Barney. - -Then the Irishman’s rifle cracked. - -One of the savages tumbled from his pony’s back. - -Barney continued to load and fire as fast as he could. But the -opportunity was not long granted him. - -Suddenly the cavalcade of savages dashed into the mouth of the pass. - -They were out of sight in a twinkling. The Steam Man was obliged to come -to a halt. - -There were huge bowlders and piles of stones to block the passage. -Barney and Frank Reade, Jr., exchanged glances of despair. - -“That is the end of Pomp,” declared the young inventor, with a chill. “I -have no doubt that is a part of Black Buffalo’s band, and he never -spares a life.” - - - - - CHAPTER IV. - THE COWBOYS. - - -Frank had spoken truthfully. The band of savages was really a part of -the tribe of which Black Buffalo was the chief. - -Throughout all the Kansas border this blood thirsty fiend was known and -feared. - -He had ravaged more wagon trains, burned more settlements, and committed -more massacres than any other Sioux chief in the Far West. - -His name was a synonym of terror among the settlers, from Dakota to the -boundary line of Texas. - -By many he was claimed to be a white man or renegade. Others averred -that he was a recreant Pawnee chief. - -However this was, certainly no red warrior was better known and feared -than Black Buffalo. - -And it was into his hands that Pomp had fallen. - -Small wonder then that Frank Reade, Jr., was much alarmed, and even -inclined to believe his faithful servitor’s life lost. - -The merciless Black Buffalo would not be likely to spare Pomp’s life. -The savages had captured him alive simply to drag him into the hills and -torture him to death. - -Barney began to bemoan the situation in violent terms. - -“Och hone, the poor soul,” he cried, “he was a black naygur but he had a -white heart jist that same. Be jabers av’ we cud only get near enough to -the red omadhouns I’d loike to shoot ivery mother’s son av thim.” - -“Well, I don’t see why the red fiends haven’t the best of us,” declared -Frank. - -“It luks that same, Misther Frank,” wailed Barney. - -“I don’t see how we can ever get through that pass. The Steam Man might -go there, but the wagon won’t.” - -This was true enough. - -The Steam Man on the level prairie was invincible, but on rough ground -like this wholly useless. - -Frank and Barney were beside themselves with solicitude and perplexity. - -Frank even thought of going forth on foot to try and overtake the -redskins. But of course the folly of such a course was quickly apparent -to him. - -Barney even attempted to carry out literally this plan. - -He went so far as to open the door in the wire screen and leap down to -the ground. - -But Frank cried sternly: - -“Barney, come back at once. You can gain nothing by such a course.” - -“Shure, Mr. Frank,” cried the Irishman, “if yez will only let me go——” - -“Come back,” was Frank’s terse command, which was reluctantly obeyed by -the Celt. - -Frank took a careful look at the hills. - -He chanced to see a smooth pathway up the height, and which seemed to -follow the course of the canyon or pass. - -Up this the Steam Man cautiously advanced. As they continued to ascend -higher a good broad view of the prairie was obtained. - -And suddenly reaching an elevation from which a southward view could be -obtained, Frank gave a sharp cry, and taking a glass from a locker, -sprung to a loop-hole in the netting. - -He scanned a number of objects upon the prairie far beyond. - -At that distance they looked like a herd of buffaloes. - -But with the glass Frank saw that they were mounted men and white men at -that. - -They looked like a roving band of cowboys. In any event they were white -men and it was quite enough for the young inventor to know this. - -“We can depend upon them to help rescue Pomp!” cried Frank, exuberantly. -“Luck is yet with us, Barney.” - -“Be jabers I hope so,” cried the excited Celt. “If they be white men and -have a heart they’ll shurely do it.” - -Frank instantly turned the wagon about and sent the Steam Man rapidly -down to the prairie. - -He blew shrill blasts upon the whistle to attract the attention of the -white men. - -In this he was successful. - -As the Steam Man reached the prairie floor, the cavalcade or cowboys -came dashing up. - -They did not seem surprised at sight of the Steam Man somewhat -singularly and drew up fifty yards distant while one of their number -rode forward. - -He was evidently the leader, and was a tall, dark, evil-looking fellow. -Frank Reade, Jr. was not favorably impressed with his appearance. - -As the young inventor noted that the whole gang had a forbidding -appearance and with a chill Frank realized that he could hardly expect -any assistance from such a cut-throat looking band. - -The tall, dark leader doffed his sombrero as he rode forward and made a -low bow. - -“Buenos Senors!” he said with a Spanish accent. “I wish you a fair day. -Do you travel far with your Iron Man?” - -“I am glad to meet you,” replied Frank, eagerly. “We come from the East -and we are here upon an important mission.” - -The stranger smiled and bowed again with a peculiar affectation of -politeness. - -“I am pleased to hear it. Are you not the gentleman called Frank Reade, -Jr.?” - -Frank gave a start of surprise. - -“I am,” he replied, quickly, “then you have heard of me.” - -“I have, Senor Reade,” replied the cowboy chief, with another -exaggerated bow and smile. - -“Perhaps you know of my mission here?” - -“I do,” was the reply. - -Frank was more amazed than words can express. What mystery was this? - -How had this fellow, who bore the stamp of a Spaniard, learned of his -mission to the Far West? The young inventor was staggered for a moment. - -“Your mission here,” replied the cowboy chief, politely, “is to hunt -down two men who you believe are guilty of a murder which they -skillfully foisted upon a certain man by the name of Jim Travers.” - -“You are right!” cried Frank. “But how in the name of wonder did you -know that?” - -“I prefer not to say. It is enough that I know it.” - -“It is strange that you should have learned it,” said Frank, “but I will -ask no more questions just now in the face of a terrible exigency.” - -“Ah!” - -“I want to ask your help.” - -“My help?” - -“Yes” - -“Pardon, senor, but I cannot see in what manner I can serve you.” - -“You must assist me. One of my men—a colored man—has fallen into the -hands of the Indians. They have made him prisoner and have just escaped -with him into these hills. I ask your assistance in effecting his -rescue.” - -A peculiar smile played about the cowboy’s lips. - -“Is he not the one you call Pomp?” he asked. - -“Yes.” - -“And that man with you in your cage there is called Barney?” - -“Yes.” - -“Ah, I see—Barney and Pomp. Well, Senor Reade, pray accept my -compliments and the wish that you may see civilization again alive, -which I do not believe will be the case. Ha—ha—ha! You have blundered -into a death-trap!” - -Something like a correct comprehension of affairs now began to dawn upon -Frank. - -“What do you mean?” he gasped in surprise. “Who are you?” - -“Well, since you ask me I will tell you,” replied the cowboy chief with -a laugh. “I am no Spaniard, as you might have thought. I am as good an -American as you, and you will have good cause to remember my name in the -near future, provided you escape from this trap. I am the man you are so -eagerly looking for—I am Artemas Cliff.” - -“Heavens!” gasped Frank Reade, Jr., “the man I am looking for!” - -“The same,” replied Cliff, mockingly. “You have undertaken quite a -daring deed, my fine inventor, but you will find that you have bitten -off a very much larger slice than you can masticate.” - -“We will see,” began Frank. - -“You see these men?” continued Cliff. “They are my followers, tried and -true. What is it to you whether my uncle, Jim Travis, should hang for -murder? You can never prove him innocent—at least, never will, for you -will never go from here alive.” - -“Scoundrel!” cried Frank. “You are the real murderer!” - -“Ha, ha, ha! Prove it if you can!” laughed the cowboy chief, derisively. - -“I will prove it, if I have to drag the confession from your lips!” -cried Frank, resolutely. - -“Pshaw! Talk is cheap. Attention, men! Grab the throttle rein of the -Steam Man and you can destroy him! Forward! Charge!” - -Frank Reade, Jr., heard the command and knew well the danger. He was at -a loss to account for Cliff’s knowledge of him and his invention. - -The young inventor was not aware of the fact that for weeks previous to -the starting forth of the Steam Man spies had been busy in Readestown. - -But such was the truth. - -Artemas Cliff had covered his tracks well. He knew that Frank Reade, the -young inventor’s father, was a friend of Travers and would see him -through, if possible. - -Therefore he had provided well for giving Frank Reade, Jr., and the new -Steam Man a hot reception on the plains. - -With hoarse cries the cowboys descended upon the Steam Man. They urged -their horses forward at a full gallop. - -Frank Reade, Jr., knew well that it was possible for them to greatly -injure his invention, so he made quick action to defeat their plans. - -He shouted to Barney: - -“Give it to them, Barney. Shoot every man you can.” - -Then Frank opened the throttle, and let the Steam Man out for all he was -worth. - -It was an easy matter to outstrip the horses, and the Steam Man kept -ahead, while the cowboys came thundering on in the rear. - -Then Frank slackened speed so as to keep up a uniform distance between -the Man and the horses. - -While Barney poured in shot after shot into the midst of the gang of -pursuers. - -The cowboys began to drop from their saddles one by one. It was a -destructive and telling fire. - -And they strained every nerve in vain in an effort to reach the Steam -Man. Frank kept the Man just far enough ahead to ensure safety and -enable Barney to pick off the cowboys with ease. - -It took Cliff some time to tumble to this little game. - -When he did, and realized that he was simply decimating numbers without -gaining ground, he called a halt. - -The cowboys were now near the banks of a wide river which was really the -Platte. Frank Reade, Jr. saw his advantage and brought the Steam Man to -a stop. Then he seized a rifle and joined Barney. - - - - - CHAPTER V. - POMP’S RESCUE. - - -But it was hardly likely that the cowboys would stand their ground long -under such a fire. - -As fast as they could Frank and Barney worked the repeaters. - -The result was that quite a number of the foe lay dead upon the prairie. - -But Artemas Cliff knew the fatality of remaining there. Being unable to -catch the man, he knew that their only hope now was in retreat. - -All of the cowboys fired at the Steam Man. The bullets rattled -harmlessly against the steel cage. - -Frank at once sprang to the reins and the brake and started the Steam -Man in pursuit. It was quite a turning of tables. - -The pursuers were now the pursued. - -So it continued until suddenly, by the orders of Cliff, the cowboys -turned their horses into the river and forded it. - -Once on the other side they were soon beyond the reach of the rifle -balls. The Steam Man of course could not follow. - -The encounter with the cowboys was at an end. - -They did not return to the attack, somewhat singularly, but kept on -until the rolling plains hid them from view. - -Cliff’s direful threat against the Steam Man and its inventor, had not -been carried out. But Frank did not, by any means, delude himself with -the belief that the villain would relinquish the attempt so easily. - -“Well, Barney,” he cried, cheerily, when satisfied that the scrimmage -was over. “We came out of that scrape a little the best of it. It has -all turned out as I expected. That Cliff is the real murderer.” - -“Begorra, it luks that way, Misther Frank,” agreed Barney. - -“So it does. We must plan to capture the villain, and wring a confession -from him.” - -“Be jabers that’s thrue. If I only had an opportunity I’d pretty quick -wring his loon neck for him.” - -“But that does not settle the question of Pomp’s fate,” declared Frank. -“He must be saved.” - -“Shure, Misther Frank.” - -“But how can we do it?” - -This was yet a conundrum. - -Frank and the faithful Irishman stood looking at each other. It was a -long time before either spoke. - -Finally Frank said: - -“There’s only one way, Barney.” - -“An’ phwat’s that?” - -“We’ve got to got into those hills in some way. I don’t like to leave -the Steam Man, but to save Pomp I’d——” - -The young inventor ceased speaking. A strange medley of sounds came from -the direction of the pass. - -There were wild yells and pistol shots, and then, out upon the prairie, -the two astonished travelers saw a motley crew of horses and savages -emerge. - -The savages were fighting furiously. Frank knew enough of the Indians of -that region to know what it all meant. - -A band of Sioux and a band of Pawnees, the deadliest of enemies, were -engaged in a terrific battle. - -Frank took in the scene at a glance. - -He at once understood all. - -The band which had captured Pomp was undoubtedly the one engaged in this -conflict. They had very likely met the Pawnees in the upper part of the -pass. - -When the Pawnees and Sioux met a fight always followed. Generally the -latter came off victorious. - -As it seemed now, however, the Pawnees had the best of it. - -They were worsting the Sioux in good fashion. Frank and Barney watched -the scene a moment until suddenly a sharp cry burst from Barney. - -“Begorra, Misther Frank, if there ain’t the naygur.” he cried, wildly. - -Barney was right. Frank glanced in the direction indicated and saw a -thrilling act. - -In the midst of the Sioux was Pomp bound to the back of a mustang. - -Suddenly in the midst of the melee the horse was seen to bolt from the -rest and dash out upon the prairie. - -Of course, Pomp had no control over the beast, having his hands tied -behind him. - -The mustang took his own course and ran like the wind. - -The Sioux did not dare to any of them attempt pursuit. The foe in their -front claimed their attention. - -“Bejabers, the horse is runnin’ away wid the naygur,” cried Barney. -“Phwat will we do, Misther Frank?” - -“Catch him if we can,” cried Frank, seizing the throttle rein. - -He opened the throttle and let the Steam Man go ahead; with long strides -the machine began to gain upon the mustang. - -Pomp was vainly endeavoring to free his hands. - -If he could have done so, and could have got hold of the reins once, he -could easily have stopped the horse. - -But this he was unable to do. - -As a result, the animal carried him along swiftly, and along the base of -the hills. - -Suddenly the mustang swerved and darted into a narrow pass. - -Barney, at the loop-holes of the wagon with rifle in hand, had been -sorely tempted to fire at the runaway. - -But the fear of hitting Pomp had restrained him. - -Now, however, the horse was out of range. But Frank headed the Steam Man -for the pass. - -Fortunately, it was unobstructed by bowlders, and had a good level -floor. The Steam Man was enabled to forge along with safety. - -But the mustang and his black rider had gone from sight. However the -pursuers kept on. - -Suddenly they came out upon a broad plateau with steep descent upon all -other sides. This extended among the hills for a distance of several -miles. - -A great cry of horror now went up from Frank and Barney. - -The mustang was seen racing along the edge of a mighty chasm. In a few -seconds he would be almost sure to take an impossible leap over a deep -gorge. - -If he should go to the bottom of that gorge it would be the end of Pomp -and the mustang. - -This was seen at a glance and with the most intense of horror Barney -cried: - -“Shall I fire, Misther Frank? It’s the only thing as will save the -naygur.” - -“You will have to do that,” replied Frank, sharply. “Look out for your -aim, Barney. God help Pomp!” - -Barney pulled the trigger. - -Crack! - -The bullet sped true to its mark. It struck the mustang in the side. - -The animal faltered, threw up its head, stumbled, and then pitched -forward in a heap. - -Pomp lay beneath the horse. It did not require but a few moments for the -Steam Man to reach him, however. - -In a twinkling Barney sprang out of the wagon and cut Pomp’s bonds. - -The darky was not in the least injured. He lay with one leg under the -mustang, but was easily extricated. - -The joy of the darky at his rescue cannot be expressed in words. - -He embraced Barney effusively. - -“Shure I thought yez kilt intoirely, naygur,” cried the big-hearted -Irishman. “It’s moighty glad I am to see yez aloive.” - -“Yo’ kin jest bet dis chile am glad fo’ to get out ob dem red debbils’ -hands,” cried Pomp, exuberantly. - -And then he dashed aboard the Steam Man and grasped Frank’s hand. - -“Oh, Marse Frank, I’se dretful glad to see yo’!” cried Pomp, excitedly. - -“I am glad to have you back, Pomp,” cried Frank. “And to know that you -are unharmed in any way. But it was a close shave for you.” - -“‘Deed it was dat, Marse Frank. But dis nigger am powerful hard for to -kill, an’ specs dat’s why I lib. But I’se got lots to tell you, Marse -Frank.” - -“You have?” exclaimed Frank. - -“‘Deed I has. P’raps yo’ kin find it valuable fo’ yo’. I’ll jes’ tell -yo’ dat when we went up troo dat pass we jes’ cum out pretty quick in a -valley. Dat ar’ valley was a scrumptious one, an’ dar was a trail -leadin’ down inter it. But afore the Injuns could ride down inter it -along cum six white men on hossback an’ a right pert young lady on a -hoss, too. - -“Sakes alibe I nebber seen so pretty a gal in all mah life. Well, dese -yer men, dey seemed like dey was ‘quainted wid der Injuns. Dey jes’ -talked as free like wid old Black Buffalo, an’ I jes’ opened my ears an’ -listened. - -“Dey said dat de gal was a prisoner an’ dey was takin’ her from a cave -in de hills to Ranch V. Dey mentioned de name ob Artemas Cliff. Den dey -rode on, sah, an’ mah sakes, jus’ den up from the valley dere came a -hull gang ob Ingines and pitched into us. Ob cose yo’ know all de res’.” - -Frank Reade, Jr., listened with the deepest amazement to this exciting -story. - -“A young girl!” he gasped. “Of course those men were Cliff’s, but where -on earth were they going?” - -“Dey done said it was to Ranch V. sah.” - -“Ranch V!” repeated Frank. “That is not very definite. But it must be -the headquarters of Cliff and his gang. You didn’t hear them say just -where that ranch was located, Pomp?” - -“No sah, but I jes’ took note ob de direckshun dey was goin’ an’ it was -to de souf-west.” - -“Well,” said the young inventor as he turned the Steam Man about, “I -cannot imagine who the young girl is or how she fell into the hands of -Cliff’s gang. But it is certain that she is in their power and we must -save her.” - -“Be jabers that’s roight, Misther Frank,” cried Barney, gallantly, “the -O’Sheas from Brian Boru down war always known as men av honor an’ -defenders av female virtue.” - -The Steam Man started on the return across the plateau. - -It was Frank Reade, Jr.’s intention to reach the prairie once more and -strike out to the southwest, in the hopes of locating the Ranch V. - -The Steam Man ran swiftly to the mouth of the pass which led down to the -prairie. - -Barney had filled the furnace with fresh coal, and the indicator showed -that there was plenty of water in the boiler. - -Frank was about to enter the pass when suddenly Pomp sprang up with a -wild cry. - -The darky sprang to Frank’s side and tried to grab the throttle rein. - -Frank was astounded. - -“Hold on there, Pomp. What are you trying to do?” he cried. - -“Ki dar, Marse Frank. Stop de Man, or fo’ de Lawd we am all done fo’, -suah as preachin’!” - -“What?” gasped Frank. - -“If yo’ don’t believe it, jes look up yonder?” - -Pomp pointed one finger upward to the canyon wall above the pass. The -sight which rewarded the startled gaze of the young inventor caused him -to reverse the throttle and bring the Steam Man to a halt. - -Two cowboys were crouching behind an enormous bowlder which they had -intended to roll down upon the Steam Man. - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - THE FIGHT IN THE PASS. - - -A more narrow escape could hardly be imagined. - -The precipitation of the huge bowlder upon the Steam Man would have -destroyed the invention and the lives of those on board. - -Just in time Pomp had seen the danger. Another moment and it would have -been too late. - -“Ki yi, don’ yo’ see now, Marse Frank?” cried Pomp, wildly. - -“I see,” replied Frank, in thrilled tones. “My God! that is a narrow -shave. We would have been crushed to atoms in another moment as I live.” - -“Whurroo! Give the spalpeens a good bit av cold lead!” shouted Barney, -rushing to one of the loop-holes with his rifle. - -“That’s right!” cried Frank, doing the same. - -“Golly, yo’ kin bet we will do dat!” chimed in Pomp. - -The two cowboys, seeing that their game was exposed, sprang up with wild -shouts of dismay. - -As they did so they were exposed to shots from below. The three rifles -spoke sharply in chorus. - -The two would be destroyers tumbled in a heap. Their fall was followed -by a wild chorus of yells from the thickets and bowlder piles above. - -A volley of bullets came from there and rattled harmlessly against the -steel netting, showing that the cowboys were there located in great -force. - -How they had chanced to be there at that critical moment our adventurers -could only guess. - -But Frank mentally concluded that at best they were but a division of -Cliff’s gang, and they had happened upon the spot by chance. - -Seeing the Steam Man they had seized what seemed to them a fine -opportunity to destroy it. - -How far short they came of it we have already seen. - -A red-hot contest now began between the cowboys and those in the steel -wagon. - -Of course our three friends had a vast advantage inasmuch as they were -protected from the shots of their foes. - -Of course the outlaws far outnumbered them, but it was not at all a -difficult matter to pick them off occasionally with a rifle bullet. - -Volley after volley the cowboys fired at the Steam Man. - -When at length it became patent to them that their shots were futile, -they made the air ring with yells of baffled rage. - -Then they ceased firing and silence ensued. Every cowboy had disappeared -seemingly from the canyon wall. - -But this did not deceive Frank Reade, Jr. - -He knew that this was only a game of the foe and that it would yet be -unsafe to try the pass. - -“Bejabers, ain’t there some other way av gettin’ out av this place?” -cried Barney, giving the plateau a sweeping glance. - -But the chain of hills surrounding it did not lend color to such a -possibility. - -“It don’t look like it,” said Frank, dubiously. - -“I jes’ fink dat am de only way out ob dis place,” said Pomp. - -“We are in a kind of trap,” declared Frank Reade, Jr. “We were not sharp -or we would have avoided this scrape.” - -As it was, however, the best they could do was to watch for an -opportunity to run the gauntlet through the Pass. - -But they had not long to wait for new and thrilling developments. -Suddenly Pomp gave a startled cry. - -“For massy sakes, Marse Frank, jes’ yo’ look out yonder. Whatebber am -dey up to now?” - -Over the edge of the plateau there was visible a line of men advancing -rapidly toward the Steam Man. - -They were deploying right and left as if to surround him. This was -certainly their purpose. - -“They’re thryin’ to surround us!” cried Barney. - -Frank watched the maneuver with deep interest. - -He smiled grimly. - -This was certainly the purpose of the foe. But the young inventor saw in -the move a betterment of his own chances. - -“They will not gain what they hope to,” he said, resolutely. - -Then he saw that a line of armed men had deployed across the mouth of -the Pass to prevent the Steam Man from escaping in that direction. - -In Frank’s judgment there were fully two hundred cowboys in the party. -This was tremendous odds, but the young inventor did not fear the -results. - -With a wild cheer the cowboys began to close their line in about the -Steam Man. - -Frank Reade, Jr., opened the whistle valve and let out several defiant -shrieks. - -Then he started the Steam Man in a straight line for the pass. - -Pomp and Barney with their repeaters began to fire upon the line of men -there. - -The repeaters did deadly work. - -It was a constant fusillade, and the cowboys dropped like sheep. The -error of their plan could now be seen. - -In dividing their forces to make the surrounding line, they had weakened -themselves. Frank had seen this. - -If they had been merely content with holding the pass, it would have -been extremely doubtful if the Steam Man could so easily have escaped. - -Just as fast as they could work the sixteen-shot Winchesters, Barney and -Pomp mowed down the opposing line of cowboys. - -The line was thin, and it would have required a very solid corps to have -withstood that scathing fire. - -Down went the Steam Man toward the Pass with fearful speed. - -Heaps of the dead and wounded cowboys lay upon the ground. As the Steam -Man reached the Pass, a number of the cowboys tried to grasp the -throttle reins and stop the machine. - -But the ponderous body of the Man knocked them aside like flies and the -wheels of the heavy wagon crushed them into death or insensibility. - -The Steam Man literally forged his way through the Pass like a rocket. - -Barney and Pomp cheered wildly and fired parting shots at the -discomfited foe. - -In a few moments the Steam Man ran out upon the prairie. - -Frank did not waste time but set his course at once to the Southwest. - -He was anxious to locate Ranch V. This he believed was his first and -most important duty. - -He was satisfied that nothing was to be gained by remaining in the -hills. - -He was confident that Cliff had gone to the Ranch V wherever it was. -More than all else, he was powerfully interested in the mysterious young -lady as described by Pomp. - -He was determined to know who she was, and what Cliff held her in -captivity for. - -The day was rapidly drawing to a close. - -After a short while the hills faded out of sight, and the rolling -prairie was visible upon every hand. - -Then, as the Steam Man look his long strides across the even plain, -Frank suddenly caught sight of a beaten path or trail. - -It was plainly a trail much used and bore a trifle east of south. Frank -brought the Man to a stop. - -“I would like to know where that trail goes to?” he declared. “I am not -sure but it is the route to Ranch V.” - -“Golly, Marse Frank!” cried Pomp, craning his neck and looking to the -southward a little ways. “What am dat jus’ ober dat roll in de perairy?? -Am not dat some berry sumspicious objec’?” - -Frank gazed in the direction indicated and saw a tall, black-looking -timber seeming to rise out of the roll in the prairie. But he knew that -it was beyond. - -Frank let the Steam Man go along for a quarter of a mile, and topping -the rise a startling sight was revealed. - -There, scattered over several acres of land were the blackened ruins and -charred timbers of some buildings. - -It was easy to see what these buildings had constituted. - -A large ranch with stockade, extensive cattle pens and yards, had once -stood upon this spot. Frank allowed the Steam Man to pass through the -ruins. - -Thrilling sights were accorded our adventurers. - -There were heaps of ashes, the bones of animals, and several charred -skeletons of human beings. - -There was every evidence that a fight had occurred at the place, and -that the ranch had been burned by either Indians or rival cowboys. As -chance had it the sign which, painted in broad letters, had once hung -over the yard gate, had not been destroyed, and lay upon the ground -near. - -Our explorers were enabled to read it plainly. - -“Rodman Ranch.” - -Barney and Pomp descended from the wagon, and spent some time in -exploring the ruins. - -“I jes’ fink de Ingines burned up dis yer place,” averred Pomp. - -“Begorra, it’s the divil’s own job they med av it,” declared Barney. - -But Frank said, with conviction: - -“Just as likely it was the work of Cliff and his gang. They are outlaws -at best, and if Rodman Ranch was a respectable place, they would be sure -to wish it destroyed.” - -Barney and Pomp re-entered the wagon now, and once more the quest for -Ranch V was begun. - -But night came on, and they had obtained no clew. - -A good place was found to camp, and it was decided to wait until morning -before pursuing the journey further. - -Accordingly everything was made comfortable with this end in view. - -No camp fire was made, for this was not deemed necessary. - -At night they always slept in the wagon, and Barney and Pomp served -turns in watching. - -The fires in the furnace were banked, and the Steam Man was given a rest -just the same as the others. - -One place was always as good as another in camping out thus, save that -it was necessary to be near a body of water, so that the boilers could -be filled with ease the next morning. - -The Steam Man was thus cared for, the fires banked, and everything made -shipshape when, after Barney had been on watch not more than two hours, -the first of a series of thrilling incidents occurred. - -The night was as dark as Erebus, not a star twinkled in the ether, for -heavy black clouds overhung all. - -Suddenly Barney saw a light glimmering far out on the prairie. - -It increased to quite a respectable size and continued to blaze for a -long time. - -The Celt watched it for a long while. Then his curiosity got the better -of him. - -“Bejabers, that’s quare,” he muttered. “I’ll make sure there’s something -wrong about that now.” - -Barney, acting upon impulse, leaned over and grasped Frank’s shoulder. -The young inventor awoke with a start. - - - - - CHAPTER VII. - THE VIGILANTS. - - -“W-what’s the matter?” gasped Frank, sleepily arousing himself. - -“Whist now, Misther Frank! There’s a quare loight out yonder on the -perairy, an’ I thought I’d jist call yure attintion to the same, sor.?” - -“A light?” muttered Frank, now fully awake. - -He got upon his feet, and rubbing his eyes, stared at the distant blaze. - -“That is odd,” he muttered. “It will do to investigate that.” - -“Sure, it may be a camp fire,” ventured Barney. - -“If so, then we must find out who the campers are,” declared Frank. - -It was but an instant’s work to arouse Pomp. - -Then the fires in the furnace were started, a line of hose was run to a -creek near, and the boiler was filled. - -In an incredible short space of time steam was got up, and the Steam Man -moved ahead. - -Frank held the throttle reins and directed the Steam Man’s course toward -the distant camp fire. - -For such it was, as became evident as they drew near. - -At first no movement was made by the camping party, and Frank fancied -that they had nobody on guard. - -But as the Steam Man with clanking tread came within one hundred yards -of the camp, a wild shout went up and a gun was discharged at the Steam -Man. - -Frank was now able to see the circle of the camp as revealed by the -firelight. - -Men had been rolled in blankets upon the ground to the number of a -score. - -But these were now upon their feet. Just beyond it could be seen that -mustangs were corralled. - -Frank Reade, Jr., had no way of knowing whether the campers were friends -or foes. - -He had fancied them a part of Cliff’s cowboys. Still there was a -possibility they were not. - -At any rate he could not treat them as foes until he learned positively -that they were such. - -So he brought the Steam Man to a stop just fifty yards from the camp. - -The scene in the camp now was a ludicrous one. - -The men were filled with mingled fear, amazement and stupefaction at the -sight of the Steam Man. - -The fiery eyes and nostrils and mammoth proportions of the man in the -darkness made him look like a monster from the infernal regions. - -The startled cries of the campers came to the amused hearing of those in -the wagon. - -“Great Jericho! What d’yer call that thing?” - -“It’s the devil hisself!” - -“He’s arter us!” - -“That last drink at ther cross trails was too much for us boys. We’ve -got ‘em bad.” - -“I reckon we’d better fix up a prayer. Ther old gentleman has cum to git -us.” - -Barney and Pomp exploded with laughter. It was very funny. - -But as soon as the pandemonium had for a moment subsided, Frank Reade, -Jr. hastened to shout: - -“We’re human beings the same as you. Have no fear. Who are you?” - -The words had an astounding effect upon the campers. After a moment of -stupefied silence the answer came back. - -“Who the dickens are you?” - -“I am Frank Reade, Jr., and this is my new invention, the Steam Man,” -replied Frank. “You have nothing to fear.” - -The campers now saw the three men in the wagon as Barney turned on the -light of the calcium and illuminated the vicinity. - -At once their fear fled and a comprehension of all dawned upon them. - -“A steam Man, by thunder, and built all of iron!” - -“Wall, that beats all!” - -“What’ll come next?” - -“That beats the iron hoss all holler!” - -The campers now came thronging about the wagon. As the number was -limited, Frank did not feel particularly uneasy, though he held the -throttle ready and Barney and Pomp had their repeaters at hand. - -But the fears of our three adventurers were quickly allayed. - -One of the men, a tall, powerful framed man, came forward, and said: - -“Wall, cap’en, we’re glad to meet you an’ yer Steam Man. My name is Sim -Harmon, an’ I’m captain of this band, who are all Vigilants from Poker -Gulch. We’re out on the trail of a gang of ruffians.” - -“Vigilants!” cried Frank Reade, Jr., with joy. “Then you are not members -of the Artemas Cliff gang?” - -“Artemas Cliff!” cried Harmon. “He is the chap we want. If we can lay -hands on him we’ll stretch his neck, you bet. D’yer know whar we kin -find him?” - -“I am on his trail myself.” - -“The deuce ye are?” - -“It’s the truth.” - -“What for?” - -Frank opened the door of the wagon, and descending shook hands with the -Vigilant captain. - -He told him explicitly of the mysterious murder of which Jim Travers had -been adjudged guilty, but which it was believed was the work of Cliff. - -Harmon listened with interest. - -“So that’s another game of ther cuss!” he cried. “Wall, that’s a bad -one, but I reckon we’ve a wuss count agin him, stranger.” - -“Indeed!” exclaimed Frank. - -“Did ye cum across ther ruins of a ranch out hyar on ther perairy some -miles?” - -“I did.” - -“Wall, that was onct Rodman Ranch, an’ Ralph Rodman was one of the best -men in this part of ther West. But that ornery cuss Cliff fell in love -with pretty Bessie Rodman, his darter, an’ when Ralph denied him the -right to come a-courtin’ her, ther scoundrel jest brought down a gang of -hoodlums an’ burned down the ranch, toted off ther gal, an’ killed all -ther rest about ther place.” - -“Horrible!” exclaimed Frank. “But you have not told me of Rodman. What -became of him?” - -“Wall, that illustrates ther villainy of ther cuss. Just previous to -burnin’ ther ranch, two men, Sid Bowen an’ Jem Ducey, hired by Cliff, -enticed Ralph to New York by bringin’ him a bogus message from a -brother, who was represented as bein’ in great distress. That’s the last -seen of Rodman. What they did with him we don’t know. But I’ve heard -that Bowen an’ Ducey have returned, an’ Rodman didn’t cum with ‘em. It’s -my belief he’s been done away with, an’ it’s all a game of Cliff’s to -get the gal Bessie into his possession.” - -A great cry broke from the lips of Frank Reade, Jr. - -This story of Harmon’s he had listened to eagerly, and, as it was -unfolded, bit by bit, a clear, concise comprehension of all now came to -him. - -He saw the hideous details, the cold, scheming construction of a deep -and awful plot, involving murder and abduction and terrible wrong. - -“Great heavens!” he gasped, wiping cold perspiration from his brow. -“Your story throws a great light upon the matter which I have in hand, -Mr. Harmon.” - -“The deuce you say!” gasped the captain of the Vigilantes. - -“It is the truth,” cried Frank. “I think I can tell you the true fate of -Ralph Rodman, and you will agree that Cliff is the projector of one of -the most awful double plots of crime that human being could be capable -of.” - -The Vigilantes all gathered around the young inventor, agog with -interest. - -“Ye don’t mean it?” gasped Harmon, with amazement. “Ye’re huntin’ Cliff -then ther same as we are?” - -“Yes.” - -“What fer?” - -“To force a confession or explanation from him of a mysterious murder of -which his own uncle, James Travers, of New York, has been adjuged guilty -and who is now in prison awaiting his sentence of hanging about a year -from now. - -“Oh, this villain is a deep one. But I have told you of that mysterious -murder and, as Heaven is my judge, I believe the victim of that murder -which was purposely thrown upon Travers was Rodman. You see Cliff’s -object in throwing the murder upon Travers was to see him hang and thus -inherit his vast wealth.” - -For a moment after this statement silence reigned. - -Appalled with the magnitude of the villain’s plot all remained silent. -But the mystery was cleared up at last. - -All understood now exactly the deep game of Artemas Cliff. - -But one sentiment reigned supreme in the breasts of all. Artemas Cliff -should be brought to justice. - -It was easy enough to see how the wretch in planning to win Bessie -Rodman had enticed Rodman to the East and there murdered him. Then to -kill two birds with one stone he had caused the awful crime by clever -circumstantial evidence to be thrown upon his wealthy uncle, James -Travers. - -Of course, with Travers’ death, he would inherit the millions left by -him. - -Ralph Rodman was dead. The ranch was a heap of ashes. - -For these crimes Artemas Cliff was responsible. But Bessie Rodman was -yet in his power. Travers was near the gallows. - -These two people must be saved. - -Frank Reade, Jr., saw the mission, as did Harmon. - -Instinctively they clasped hands. - -“I reckon we both know what to do,” declared the Vigilant captain -tersely. “P’r’aps we kin work together. I’ll help you all I kin.” - -“And I will help you,” replied Frank. “We will bring Cliff to justice if -the Steam Man can help us to do it.” - -“He will hang if I kin get my hands onto him.” - -“But we must make no mistake. He is strongly backed up. You have only -twenty-five men with you.” - -“But they air all men,” replied Harmon, pluckily. - -“I will not question that,” replied Frank, “but the weight of numbers -would defeat you. Cliff has several hundred men in his command.” - -“We’re not afraid of ‘em. Yet ye’re right enuff. It’s well fer us to go -easy.” - -“It is well to be careful,” said Frank. “I think that you had better -keep along with us for a time.” - -“All right!” - -“I think there is no doubt but that the young girl whom Pomp saw in the -hills was Bessie Rodman.” - -“In course it was her.” - -“They were taking her to Ranch V. Do you know where it is?” - -“Yas,” replied Harmon, quickly, “that’s on Stone River, an’ it’s a pesky -big place too. Thar’s a big stockade around it an’ armed men are allus -a-watchin’ for fear an outsider will git in. So that’s ther place, eh? -Wall, it will be hard to git Bessie out of Ranch V.” - -“She shall be got out or I will give my life in the attempt!” cried a -tall, handsome young plainsman with flashing eyes. - -He looked much in earnest. Frank gazed at him critically. A little later -he was introduced to him as Walter Barrows, a rising young stockman, and -the lover of pretty Bessie Rodman. - - - - - CHAPTER VIII. - ON TO RANCH V. - - -Plans were quickly made. - -It was decided to work upon strategical grounds, as their force was so -much lighter than Cliff’s. - -“You see, if we can strike Ranch V. at a time when Cliff and the -majority of his men are in the hills we can capture the place,” declared -Frank, shrewdly. - -“That’s bizness,” agreed Harmon, “but ye’re the boss. I kin see that -ye’ve got a better head piece nor I have, Mister Reade.” - -“We will not admit that,” said Frank, modestly, “but rather let us work -together, Mr. Harmon.” - -“All right, cap’en. I’m with ye.” - -Further plans were elaborated, then as only a few hours yet intervened -until dawn, it was decided to snatch a few brief hours of sleep. - -With the early dawn all were astir. The Vigilants saddled their mustangs -and all was soon ready for the start. - -The Steam Man was an object of great wonder to the plainsmen. - -“By Jinks!” exclaimed one of them, “the sight of that queer-lookin’ -critter oughter scare the life out of any number of Injuns.” - -“I think the Steam Man will aid us much in accomplishing our ends.” said -Frank, modestly. - -The start was made just after daybreak. The Vigilants rode alongside the -Steam Man on their mustangs. - -Of course Frank was compelled to go more slowly on this account. - -But the Vigilantes knew the way to Ranch V. and this was, after all, the -most important thing of all. - -Frank considered it a great piece of luck in having fallen in with the -Vigilantes. - -He now understood exactly how matters stood all around. - -It was near noon when a halt was called in a small basin near a lake of -water. - -Here camp was briefly made, and also at the same time an important -discovery came to hand. - -A broad trail made by a cavalcade of men and horses was discovered. - -It pointed to the north. - -Harmon examined it carefully and finally, with great exuberance, cried: - -“It’s good luck, friends. That thar trail I believe was made by ther -cowboys an’ it leads to ther hills. It’s over three days old, an’ they -haven’t come back this way. I should think that the most of their men -must be up there, in which case Ranch V. will be almost deserted. Cum -on, boys, let’s capture ther hull place.” - -With a cheer the Vigilants sprang to saddle. - -Soon they were once more galloping ever the prairie. - -Not two hours later, or in the middle of the afternoon, Harmon drew his -horse alongside the Steam Man and pointing to the south cried: - -“Look yonder, Mr. Reade. Do ye see them lines of high ground? Wall, jest -this side ar ther Ranch V.” - -A cheer went up from all. - -“Begorra, it’s Ranch Ours it’ll be, if iver we get there,” declared -Barney. - -“Golly, won’t dis be a big ‘sprise party fo’ dat vilyun Cliff,” cried -Pomp. - -Frank Reade, Jr., held the Steam Man at a steady stride, and very soon -the ranch came in sight. - -It was truly a most extensive establishment. - -The stockade and buildings covered acres of ground. A great herd of -cattle were feeding on the open plains. - -The main ranch itself was surrounded by a high stockade, which would -resist most any ordinary attack with small arms. - -As the Vigilants and the Steam Man came swiftly rushing down upon the -place, a great commotion was seen to take place. - -Men rushed out into the yards, horsemen went scurrying about, and down -came the stockade gate. - -But Harmon and his men rode boldly down to the gate, and began to assail -it with axes. - -While Frank Reade, Jr., kept the Steam Man on an elevation near, from -which he, with Barney and Pomp, covered the work of invasion by a hot -fire with their Winchesters. - -The cowboys could not get upon the stockade to fire at the assailants -for this reason. - -Harmon’s men therefore worked with perfect immunity. - -No more favorable time for an attack could have been chosen. - -There were but few of the cowboys in the ranch, and these were picked -off by the fire from the Steam Man as fast as they appeared on the -stockade. - -With lusty cries the vigilants chopped through the timbers of the gate. - -In a remarkably brief time a hole was cut through and the gate raised. - -The Steam Man rushed into the yard, and in less than ten minutes every -cowboy in the place was a prisoner, and Ranch V. was captured. - -Walter Barrows, the brave young stockman, was the first to enter the -main ranch. - -The instinct of a lover took him to the chamber in which Bessie Rodman -was kept a prisoner. - -He burst in the door and clasped the young girl in his arms. - -That was a joyous meeting. - -When they appeared in the yard the vigilants cheered wildly. It was a -brilliant victory. - -Ranch V. was captured. - -The stronghold of the outlaw Cliff, the den of villainy and vice, was -captured. It did not require much time for them to reach a decision as -to what to do. - -“Every building must be laid low!” cried Harmon. “Put the torch to every -accursed timber.” - -The cry was taken up and spread from lip to lip. - -In haste torches were procured. Harmon himself lit the first, and was -about to apply it to a building. - -But he did not do so. - -A thrilling incident stopped him. A loud cry went up. - -“The cowboys! they are coming! To arms everybody! There comes Cliff at -their head!” - -Every eye was turned to the plain beyond the stockade. - -There was no disputing the truth. Cliff and his gang returning from the -hills had come just in time. - -It would be folly now to burn the ranch. - -Harmon, seeing the desperate exigency dropped the torch, and cried: - -“To the stockade! It’s for life or death, boys. Fight to the last!” - -But the command was not necessary. Already the brave Vigilants were at -their posts. - -Cliff with his small army of followers came on at a swinging gallop. - -He could see that the ranch was in the possession of a foe. - -This inflamed his wrath, and, with loud curses and yells, he rode down -in the van of his followers. - -Frank Reade, Jr., had taken in the situation at a glance. - -He knew that it would be flatly impossible for the score of vigilants to -hold those three hundred desperadoes long at bay. - -It would mean the eventual massacre of every vigilant. This Frank wished -to avoid. - -The young inventor had induced Bessie Rodman to seek refuge in the -wagon. Otherwise, she would certainly fall into the hands of the foe -again. - -Frank started the Steam Man ahead, and went down to the stockade. He -made the vigilantes a hasty address. - -“Nothing will be gained by holding this place,” he declared, with force. -“You cannot do it. The odds are too great.” - -“But we cannot surrender,” cried Harmon, “and how can we retreat?” - -“Easily enough,” replied Frank, “there is a rear gate. Open it and cut -out upon the prairie.” - -“But they may overtake us?” - -“It is your only hope. You’ll have to work lively, for they are trying -to surround the stockade. I’ll cover your retreat easy enough.” - -Harmon saw that Frank was right. - -He did not pause to argue the point further. With quick commands he -caused his men to fall back. - -The stockade gate in the rear was opened just in time, and the vigilants -rushed out upon the prairie. - -They set out at a mad gallop for the distant hills. - -The cowboys with mad cries followed. But they met with quite a serious -obstacle in their pursuit. - -The Steam Man kept exasperatingly between them and the vigilants. - -From the rear loop-holes of the wagon Barney and Pomp kept up a steady -fire with the Winchesters. - -Nearly every shot emptied a saddle, and despite their superior numbers, -the cowboys soon found it better and safer to keep well out of range. - -The pursuit lasted for ten miles. Then the horses of both parties became -fagged and they were compelled to halt. - -But Harmon’s men, by dint of careful work, got their horses into the -fastnesses of the hills. Here they felt more secure. - -The Steam Man had well covered the retreat of the vigilants. But -darkness was now coming on and a serious question presented itself to -Frank Reade, Jr. - -To remain where they were for the night would be to incur the risk of a -midnight attack from the cowboys. - -This might result seriously. - -At least Frank was disposed to evade it. - -He consulted with Harmon, and the result was an arrangement which it was -believed would be better for all. - -In the fastnesses of the hills Harmon felt sanguine of holding his own -against the cowboys. - -Therefore it was decided that the Steam Man should leave the vicinity -and go far enough away over the prairie to make sure of safety for the -night. - -Accordingly Frank left the vicinity and sent the Man striding over the -plain in the dusk of evening. - -There was no visible indication that the cowboys intended to pursue. - -They had apparently gone into camp not five miles distant. - -Frank kept on with the Steam Man until twenty miles had been covered. - -Then he came to a halt. - -It seemed as if they must feel safe here. Accordingly, arrangements were -made for passing the night. - -A comfortable seat was arranged for Bessie Rodman and, much exhausted by -the fatigue of her experiences, she quickly fell asleep. - -But tears had wet her cheeks and trembled on her eyelashes. Frank had -told her of her father’s death. - -“Oh, I fear it is more than I can bear,” she declared, in agony of -spirit. “My dear, dear father. Oh, if I were a man, how I would avenge -him!” - -“There are plenty to do that,” replied Frank, cheeringly. “The villain -shall surely pay for his evil deeds.” - -“I hope it may come to pass,” she said, sincerely. - -Then she dropped off to sleep. But even as she slept, deadly peril hung -over her young and beautiful head. - - - - - CHAPTER IX. - POMP’S MISTAKE. - - -Frank Reade, Jr., felt comparatively safe as he rolled himself up in a -blanket and went to sleep. He did not believe that the villain, Cliff, -would be able to molest them that night. - -It was Barney’s first watch. - -The Hibernian, until midnight, kept a good lookout in the cage. Then he -called Pomp to succeed him. - -The darky kept a good lookout until the early morning hours. - -The darkness was most intense. - -At about this time Pomp experienced a deadly faintness at the pit of the -stomach and a great longing for water. - -His thirst became most consuming, and it seemed as if he must, at any -cost, gratify it. - -But he found, upon looking in the tank, that it was empty. - -There was not a gill of cold water in the wagon. Pomp grew sober with -this dampening reflection. - -“I jes’ fink if I had a bit of watah I would be a’ right,” he muttered; -“but how ebber am dis niggah gwine fo’ to get it, dat’s what I’d like to -know.” - -Pomp went to the steel screen and tried to penetrate the darkness. - -He knew that not ten yards distant were the waters of a small creek. He -could hear them rippling now. - -It was directly at variance with his orders to open the cage door. Yet -it seemed to Pomp as if he must do so. - -The risk did not seem great. - -There seemed little likelihood of the proximity of a foe. - -Pomp felt certain that he could reach the creek, get his drink, and get -back safely to the wagon. - -He was sorely tempted. The desire was most powerful. - -“Golly!” he muttered, with a wry face. “What am I gwine fo’ to do? I -don’ beliebe dar’s any danger ob going out dar, but if Marse Frank knew -it he’d fix me putty quick. Sakes alibe! but what am a chile gwine fo’ -to do? I am mos’ dyin’ fo’ a drink ob watah.” - -Pomp thought of awakening Barney and enlisting his aid. - -But he reflected that the Celt would be certain to disagree with his -scheme. - -There was no other way but to assume the responsibility himself. Pomp -drew a deep breath. - -Then he fell to listening. - -All was silent as the grave. - -“Sho!” he muttered. “Dar ain’t no danger at all. I’ll jest hab dat watah -as suah as I’m born.” - -He quickly slid back the bolt in the door and opened it. - -Then he stepped out of the wagon. In another moment he glided down to -the water’s edge. - -Pomp flung himself flat and began to drink of the creek water. - -But he had not taken one drink when he became aware of an appalling -sensation. He turned his head and glanced back at the Steam Man. - -The lantern hanging in the cage showed the open door and all as plain as -day. But, great heavens! What did he see? - -Dark forms were swarming about the machine. One was already in the -wagon. - -Pomp saw this much, and then his attention was claimed by another -matter. He suddenly felt a heavy body descend upon him and talon fingers -clutched his throat. - -In that flash of time Pomp had turned partly over. - -He was just in time to see the flash of a knife blade. He made a -convulsive upward blow, and grasped the wrist of his unknown assailant. - -By the merest chance the death blow had been averted. - -But it was a close call. - -Then with a herculean effort Pomp rolled over the edge of the bank, and -the next moment, with a powerful swing, he had brought himself and -assailant into the water of the creek. - -The sudden bath caused Pomp’s adversary to relax his grip. - -The darky had no further motive for continuing the struggle, and -striking out swam for the opposite bank. - -He clambered out of the water, and crawled into a thicket. - -There he lay shivering, and witnessed a thrilling scene upon the other -bank of the creek. - -The occupants of the wagon had all been aroused, and were every one -prisoners, in the power of Cliff and his cowboys. - -The outlaw had managed to cover the twenty miles, skillfully following -the trail by means of a dark lantern. - -He had been hovering with his minions about the Steam Man, just as Pomp -committed the indiscretion of leaving the door open. - -Of course it was an easy matter for the cowboys to board the wagon and -make prisoners of all on board. - -The glee of Cliff was beyond expression. - -He danced and clapped his hands with fiendish joy. He pinched Bessie’s -arms until she screamed with agony, and with brutal laughter roared: - -“Oh, I’ll make ye all dance. Ye thought ye’d git away from me, did ye, -gal? I’ll show ye that ye can’t get away from Artemas Cliff. Ha, ha, ha! -What a good joke.” - -He laughed uproariously. - -“All mine,” he continued, “And this Steam Man, this wonderful invention, -is just what I want. I can travel around in great style. Oh, Mr. Frank -Reade, Jr., I’ll dance on your grave yet.” - -“Monster!” cried Frank, writhing in his bonds. “You’ll never succeed. A -righteous God will never permit it.” - -The villain gave his men carte blanche to make camp and indulge in a -carousal. - -They did so until daybreak, and then Cliff stated that it was his -purpose to go back to Ranch V. - -It did not lake him long to understand the mechanism of the Steam Man. - -He quickly found out how to use the throttle reins. He was aided by the -fact that he had once been a locomotive engineer. - -With the early morning light the start for Ranch V. was made. - -And Pomp, wet and shivering and horrified, crouched in the thicket upon -the bank of the creek, saw the Steam Man and his friends, all in the -power of the foe, take departure. - -When they had gone Pomp came out of his hiding-place. - -“Golly!” he muttered, with distended eyeballs, “I jes’ fink dis nigger -hab done de berry awfulest fing eber known. Dar am only one way fo’ Pomp -to sabe his honor, an’ dat am to fix some way to rescue Marse Frank an’ -all ob de odders, an’ I’ll do it if I can.” - -Pomp was very much in earnest. - -He was a brave and generous fellow, and willing at any time to sacrifice -his life for his master. - -In some manner he must certainly vindicate himself. He crossed the creek -again and stood upon the spot where the Steam Man had been. - -Of course the machine was out of sight by this time, but nevertheless, -Pomp took the trail and proceeded to follow it. - -For some hours he trudged on over the prairie. All the while the darky -was revolving in his mind some plan for the relief of his friends. - -He was bound to admit that it was a puzzle. Yet he did not lose hope. - -The hills were every moment becoming plainer. Already Pomp had covered -five of the twenty miles. - -The darky was a good walker, and no distance was too great for his -trained muscles. - -The sun was beginning to run high in the heavens, and a brisk breeze -blew across the prairie. - -Pomp kept on steadily. - -The trail kept on toward the hills, and the sagacious darky reflected -that Cliff was likely going to join the main body of his men. - -“I jes’ fink I can see what dat rascal am up to,” muttered Pomp. “He am -jus’ too sharp to let de game slip him once he gits his clutches onto -it. He am jus’ goin’ fo’ to take de Steam Man to his Ranch V., and dar’s -whar dis darky must go an’ try fo’ to work some leetle plan fo’ to -rescue Frank Reade, Jr., an’ de odders. Dat am a fac’.” - -With this logical conclusion Pomp trudged on. - -He was now on the last five miles of his journey to the hills. The sun -was long past the noon hour when Pomp, by dint of rapid walking, had -made the hills. - -There was no sign visible of the Steam Man or of the cowboys. - -But Pomp saw that the trail continued around the base of the hills. - -This puzzled the darkey a moment. - -He paused and scratched his head in deep thought. - -“Dat am a dretful queer thing,” he muttered. “Dat ain’t de way to go to -Ranch V, if I’se right in mah conjeckshun.” - -Then he paused, and a light of comprehension broke across his face. - -A distant sound had come to his hearing. It was the faint rattle of -firearms far up in the hills. - -“Golly!” he ejaculated. “I see de trick ob dat berry sharp fox, Artemus -Cliff. He am gwine fo’ to gib de Vigilants a good lickin’ afore he goes -to Ranch V. Dat am jus’ my bes’ way for to jine Marse Harmon an’ his -men, an’ help dem trash the cowboys.” - -Pomp’s mind was made up. - -He would join the vigilants and do his best to give the cowboys a good -drubbing. He at once struck into the hills. - -But alas for Pomp! - -Luck seemed against the darky for the time being. He had not more than -fairly entered a narrow pass when an appalling incident occurred. - -The air was suddenly broken by wild yells, and in an instant he was -surrounded by half a hundred painted savages, who burst from niches and -crevices in the rocks about. - -They pounced upon him, and before Pomp had even time to think of -resistance he was a prisoner. - -The savages swarmed about him like bees. Words cannot express Pump’s -dismay at this turn. - -His eyes bulged, and his knees shook as with the ague. - -“Fo’ de good Lor’ dis am dretful!” he groaned. “I’se done fo’ dis time, -an’ dar am nobody to rescue Marse Frank!” - - * * * * * - -It was truly a dubious outlook. The savages were of Black Buffalo’s gang -of Sioux, and they seemed much elated at getting the prisoner once more -into their clutches. - -They chattered and gesticulated like a flock of magpies, and some of -them approached Pomp with their tomahawks as though they would fain make -an end of him then and there. - -But the others held them back and an excited wrangle followed. - -All this while Pomp was writhing in his bonds. In vain he tried to break -them. - -For some while the savages wrangled. Then a compromise was made and Pomp -was picked up bodily, and carried through the pass and into a small -glade among some trees. - -Here he was tied to a tree and a great heap of fagots were piled at his -feet. - -With a chill of horror, the darky saw that the savages meant to take his -life in a horrible manner. - -He was to suffer death in the flames. Pomp felt sick and faint. But even -in that moment he thought not of himself, brave fellow, but of Frank -Reade, Jr., and the others. - -“Golly sakes, whoebber am gwine fo’ to sabe Marse Frank, now?” he -groaned. - - - - - CHAPTER X. - IN THE ENEMY’S POWER. - - -Artemus Cliff shouted in evil glee and triumph as he manipulated the -Steam Man and let him out for a swift run across the prairie. - -He amused himself by racing with his followers who were on horseback. - -“By jingo!” he roared, “this is more fun than I ever had before. Why -this beats the steam-cars all to smash. And it’s all mine. Why I can -travel like a prince now. Ha-ha-ha! I’m the luckiest man on earth.” - -He turned and fixed a glowering gaze upon Bessie Rodman. - -“And ye’re mine too,” he cried, “the lily of the prairie. The happy life -companion of Artemus Cliff. When I get my hands onto Uncle Jim Travers’ -millions, we’ll travel the world over, my daisy.” - -Bessie did not appear to heed his words, though her face increased a -trifle in its pallor. - -“Monster!” cried Frank Reade, Jr., with intensity. “You will never -succeed. Heaven will not permit it.” - -“Heaven don’t have much to do with me,” cried the villain, with a lurid -oath. “The devil has been a good friend of mine, and I ain’t afraid of -his place either.” - -“Begorra, they wudn’t have ye even there,” cried Barney. “Yez are too -wicked for avin that place.” - -“Oh, ho, Irish, you’ve got your tongue, eh?” cried Cliff, with a vicious -laugh. “So ye think I’m too bad, eh?” - -“Be me sowl, thar cudn’t be a place too bad for yez!” - -“I’ll have a nice little hades fixed fer yer right on this earth an’ -I’ll give ye a fair taste of it in advance, too,” said the villain, -vengefully. - -“Arrah, yez can’t scare me at all, at all,” he retorted. “Yer threats -are jist the same as a puppy dog’s bark.” - -“You’ll find that I’m the kind of a dog that bites,” averred the -villain. - -“It’s not me that cares fer yer bites.” - -“We’ll see about that. Don’t blow your horn too soon.” - -“Begorra, that’s good advice fer yersilf, ye blatherskite! Av I on’y had -me two hands to use now I’d baste the rascality out av yez or I’d make a -good job fer ther undhertaker.” - -“Talk is cheap,” sneered the villain. “Ye’d better save yer wind.” - -“It’s yersilf as nades it most,” said Barney, bound to have the last -word. - -Cliff evidently found Barney’s tongue equal to his own, for he abandoned -the conversation in a sullen fashion. - -Bessie Rodman made no attempt at speech. - -She sat silently in one corner of the wagon. - -Frank Reade, Jr., also remained silent. - -The twenty miles were quickly covered by the Steam Man. It was yet far -from the noon hour when they arrived at the camp of the previous night. - -The cowboys in full force were there, and as Cliff appeared with the -Steam Man, they made the welkin ring with yells of delight and -satisfaction. - -All crowded around to examine the steam wonder and inspect its -mechanism. - -The prisoners looked out upon a sea of faces. They were not kindly -regarded by the cowboys. - -“Take ‘em out and shoot ‘em, Cliff!” cried a voice in the crowd. - -“Give ‘em twenty paces and a grave seven feet deep.” - -But Cliff refused to do this. - -“Leave it to me!” he cried. “I’ve got a better plan.” - -“What is it?” was the cry. - -“I want ye all to be ready in half an hour to go into the hills an’ -corner Harmon an’ his gang. There must not one of the vigilants go out -of here alive.” - -“Hurrah!” yelled the cowboys. - -“We can give them the worst thrashin’ they ever had.” - -“Of course we can.” - -“In regard to these prisoners, the gal is going to be my wife. The -others I’m going to have some fun with down to the ranch. We’ll have a -rabbit chase with ‘em, or something of the kind.” - -“Good!” yelled the mob, carried away with the plan. - -Thus the fate of the prisoners was decided by their captors. But the -question of attack upon the vigilants was now the one in order. - -Preparations were at once made for cornering Harmon and his heroic -little band. - -Several parties of cowboys were dispatched to head off any possible -attempt at escape from the hills. - -Harmon’s men were certainly hemmed in on all sides, and it was a most -dubious outlook for them. - -The exultation of the cowboys was beyond expression. - -“We’ve got ‘em dead sure!” cried Cliff, triumphantly. “Not a one on ‘em -can possibly escape.” - -The cowboys now began to close the line in about their prey. - -A pass was found through which the Steam Man was taken, and to a point -within easy range of the position held by the Vigilants. - -Harmon had chosen an elevated position on a kind of small tableland or -plateau. - -Here behind bowlders he had concentrated his forces. The position was -not a bad one to defend. - -To charge upon it the cowboys would have to ascend a height of fifty -feet or more in the face of a strong fire. - -But this sacrifice of men Cliff did not intend to make, at least not at -once. - -There were other points of vantage about, which the cowboys quickly took -possession of. - -From these a desultory fire was kept up with the Vigilants with some -loss upon both sides. - -But Harmon’s men could not very well withstand any loss whatever. This -the cowboys could stand better. - -The Steam Man, however, could advance to very close proximity with the -Vigilants, and those on board were safe from any shots of retaliation. - -This made it bad for Harmon for he had no way of checking this most -destructive fire. - -It was a most galling thing for Frank Reade, Jr., to remain idle and see -his invention used in such a manner. - -He groaned aloud with horror and dismay. Barney did the same. - -“Oh, if I could only free myself,” declared the young inventor. - -“Begorra, I wish I cud do that same,” muttered Barney. - -Cliff and the three cowboys with him in the cage were doing their best -to shoot every Vigilant who exposed himself. - -They were thus so deeply engrossed that they paid no special heed to the -prisoners for the time. - -Barney, quick-witted Irishman, noted this fact. - -At a favorable moment he leaned over and whispered to Frank: - -“Bejabers, Misther Frank, I think I know av a way to turn the tables on -them blasted omadhouns.” - -“The deuce!” gasped Frank. “What is it, Barney?” - -“Whisht now an’ work quiet, me gossoon!” whispered Barney. “I’ll lay -down ferninst the side here an’ yez kin turn yer wrists toward me mouth -an’ me teeth are no good av I don’t cut them in two before so very -long.” - -Frank experienced a thrill. - -“Can you do it, Barney?” - -“Av course I kin.” - -“But if they see us——” - -“They’ll niver do that. Be aisy now, me gossoon, an’ roight on the shelf -there there’s a knoife an’ yez kin cut my bonds at the same toime. Thin -we kin take care av ther four av thim. I’ll take two mesilf.” - -“And I’m good for the other two or I’ll die!” muttered Frank. “All -right, Barney, do your best.” - -“I will that.” - -But at this moment Bessie Rodman leaned forward, and in a soft whisper -said: - -“Wait! There is a quicker way.” - -Frank and Barney were astonished. - -“What?” exclaimed the young inventor. - -By way of reply Bessie drew both hands from behind her. - -They were free. There were livid lines upon the fair wrists, where the -cruel throngs had cut in. - -But the shapely hands were so small that Bessie had been enabled to slip -them through the bonds and free them. - -Up to this moment neither Frank nor Barney had looked upon the young -girl as more than the ordinary weak woman. - -That is to say, they had not given her credit for the amount of nerve -she possessed. - -But they were given ample evidence of it now. - -Quick as a flash, and with commendable resolution, she reached over and -seized the knife upon the shelf. - -It was but a moment’s work for her to cut Frank’s bonds. As they -snapped, the young Inventor took the knife and quickly cut Barney’s. - -Their captors were at the loop-holes firing, and had not seen this move. - -Nothing could have worked better. - -Frank picked up a club, and Barney an iron bar. Nobody can handle a -weapon of the sort better than an Irishman. - -“Whurroo! bad cess to yez fer a pack av omadhouns,” cried Barney, -dealing one of the cowboys a crushing blow on the head. - -Before one could think, the iron bar came down upon the head of another. -Both sank senseless to the floor of the wagon. - -Frank Reade, Jr., had knocked Cliff senseless. Only one of the foe was -left, and he was quickly knocked out. - -In a twinkling, as it were, the tables were turned. - -Barney and Frank Reade, Jr., were now masters of the Steam Man once -more. The irrepressible Irishman pulled the whistle valve and sent up a -shriek of defiance and triumph. - -Then Frank Reade, Jr., swung open the wagon door. - -“Throw them out!” he cried; “all but Cliff.” - -Barney obeyed the command. The three cowboys were quickly dumped out -upon the ground. - -But Cliff was allowed to remain. The villain lay insensible in the -bottom of the wagon. - -Frank was about to bind him, when an imminent peril claiming his -immediate attention prevented him. - -The cowboys were aware of the turning of the tables in the wagon. - -With mad yells they were rushing forward in a body to surround the Steam -Man. Unless immediate action was made they would succeed. - -Frank knew well the danger of this move. - -It would be an easy matter for the cowboys to ruin the invention by a -single blow. There was but one way, and that was to beat a retreat. - -Barney seized his repeater and began firing into the crowd of cowboys. -Frank opened the throttle and sent the Steam Man up the incline toward -the stronghold of the vigilants. - -Of course the latter had seen and understood all. - -They embraced the opportunity to pour a flank fire into the ranks of the -cowboys. It was a moment of thrilling sort, but the Steam Man seemed to -have the best of it when a thrilling incident happened. - - - - - CHAPTER XI. - WITH THE VIGILANTS. - - -In another moment the Steam Man would have been in the ranks of the -vigilants. - -It would have been a great point scored, for Cliff would then be a -prisoner and the way to save Jim Travers from the gallows would have -been paved. - -But it was not to be. - -The villain had come to in the meanwhile, but cunning rascal that he -was, had laid inanimate in the bottom of the wagon. - -He had seen all that was going on, and when he saw that the Steam Man -was certain to escape he knew that only desperate action upon his part -would save him now. - -Accordingly while Frank and Barney were occupied at their posts, he made -a sudden lightning leap for the door in the cage. - -Unfortunately Barney had not fastened it. - -A little scream of warning came from Bessie, but it was too late. - -The villain flung open the door and sprung out. - -He tumbled heels over head down the decline. - -This was partly done on purpose to avoid any bullets sent after him. But -none struck him, and he was the next moment in the ranks of his men. - -Frank turned just in time to see the daring escape. - -The young inventor’s disappointment was so great that he came near -leaving the wagon to pursue the villain. - -“Begorra, av ther divil ain’t got clane away entoirely!” cried Barney in -dismay. - -“I’m sorry,” returned Frank. “But take the precaution now, Barney, to -bolt that door.” - -Barney complied with alacrity. - -Then he was obliged to return to his post, for the enemy were thick in -the rear. - -But the next moment the Steam Man topped the rise. - -A volley from the Vigilants drove the cowboys back for the time. - -Then Frank Reade, Jr., brought the machine to a halt upon the plateau. - -The Vigilants were wild with delight, and crowded about the Steam Man. -Frank Reade, Jr., opened the door and descended among them. - -In an instant Harmon was by his side and had gripped his hand. - -“God bless ye, Mr. Reade!” cried the whole-souled plainsman. “It’s like -takin’ the paw of one brought back from the dead. Dogdast it, but I’d -given ye up entirely when I see that your Steam Man was in the hands or -that coyote. It’s all like a kind of miracle.” - -“I think we may congratulate ourselves,” said Frank, “but do you know -that we are in a tight box?” - -“Nobody knows it better,” declared Harmon. - -“I doubt if we pull out of it.” - -“What kin we do?” - -“Is there no avenue open for retreat?” asked Frank. - -“Not a one.” - -“Then we can only stay here and fight to the last. Of course I might be -able to elude them with the Steam Man, but I’d never try that while any -of your band are left.” - -“P’raps it would be ther best way.” said Harmon, generously. “At least -you could save the gal. It don’t matter so much about us. We’re only -rough men, and not a one of us afeared to die.” - -“You are heroes!” cried Frank, with fervor, “and if I should desert you, -I would forswear my honor as a man. No, the Steam Man, will stay here -and fight for you until the last, depend on it.” - -“In course we need your help,” replied Harmon. “Mebbe we’ll whip ther -skunks yet.” - -“We’ll try it.” - -“Begorra, that we will,” cried Barney. “Whurroo! av’ I only had a good -whack at that baste av’ a Cliff now I’d sphoil his beauty foriver.” - -Walter Barrows and Bessie had been holding a joyful conference. But now -the order went up: - -“Every man to his post. The enemy are coming.” - -There were no delinquents. Not one in that heroic little band hung back. - -It was true that the foe were coming again to the attack. - -With Cliff leading them they were charging furiously up the hill. But -the Vigilants stood firm and gave them a raking volley. - -For a moment they wavered. Then once more they came on. - -Cliff’s voice could be heard as he rallied them. - -“Curse ye, go on up thar and kill the hull crew of ‘em!” he yelled. -“Don’t let one of them escape alive! Kill ‘em, every one, and don’t give -any quarter!” - -“We’ll see about that,” muttered Frank Reade, Jr. “It may not be so easy -to do all that, Mr. Cliff.” - -Frank and Barney, from their position aboard the Steam Man, could pour a -terrible fire into the ranks of the foe. - -It was a terrible battle! - -The cowboys were mowed down like grain before the sickle; yet they did -not waver, but came on faster. - -Every moment they drew nearer the top of the rise. If they surrounded it -the sequel would be brief. - -Overpowering muscles would quickly tell the story, and the little band -of vigilants would be wiped out of existence. - -It was, without doubt, Cliff’s purpose to give no quarter. A wholesale -massacre would be the result. - -The Vigilants were now fighting for their lives. As well die facing the -foe as with back turned. Every man was resolute in this. - -But the tremendous body of men swept over the rise and gained the -plateau. In a twinkling the Vigilants were surrounded, and it seemed as -if no power would intervene to save them from sure and total extinction. - -Frank Reade, Jr., took in the situation at a glance, and cried -despairingly: - -“Barney, we are lost! Our end has come, and we are as good as dead men -already!” - - * * * * * - -Poor Pomp saw no way out of the awful situation in which he was placed. - -Death in its most awful form was upon him. - -A worse fate could not be imagined. - -The savages piled the brushwood about him, and danced with demoniac -yells about the pile. - -If Pomp could have turned pale, he would have been whiter than chalk at -that moment. - -But for all this, the darky’s fears were even now more for his friends -than for himself. - -“Golly Massy!” he chattered, shivering like one with the ague. -“Whatebber will be de end ob all dis. Yere Ise gwine fo’ to be burned to -death, and Marse Frank in de clutches ob dat rascal Cliff, an’ nobody to -rescue him. Oh, good Lor’ it am dretful.” - -It was indeed a dreadful thing. - -But Pomp was certainly powerless. Higher the brushwood was heaped, and -then one of the savages advanced with a torch. - -In a moment he had applied it to the pile. - -The dry wood burned like tinder. In an instant great flames sprang up. - -But they were at the edge of the pile. However, Pomp felt their heat and -they would soon reach him. - -The poor darky was nearly insane with a frenzy of desperation. - -The savages now began a fiendish dance about the pile. They leaped and -ran, and swung their tomahawks and made hideous faces at their victim. - -But fate had not ordained that this was to be Pomp’s end. - -Even while death seemed certain, rescue was close at hand. - -Suddenly there smote upon the air the ring of horses’ hoofs, and a quick -sharp order, followed by the crash of carbines. - -Indians fell in heaps before that volley. A panic resulted and the next -moment through the smoke Pomp saw the gleam of uniforms, and knew that a -body of United States cavalry had happened upon the spot just in the -nick of time. - -The darky was beside himself with the realization. - -He tried to break his bonds, and cried: - -“Sabe me, sogers—sabe Pomp! He am gwine fo’ suah to burn to death ef yo’ -don’ sabe him!” - -But the call was not necessary. - -Through the smoke sprang two dismounted soldiers. In a twinkling the -burning brush was kicked aside, and Pomp’s bonds were cut. - -Then the darky was face to face with a tall, handsome young officer. - -The Indians had been dispersed and the fight was over. - -“I am Col. Clark, of the United States Seventh Cavalry,” said the young -officer. “Who are you?” - -“I am Pomp!” was the darky’s prompt reply. - -The officer smiled. - -“Well, who do you belong to?” - -“I belongs to Marse Frank Reade, Jr.,” replied Pomp, with emphasis. -“I’se a free nigger, but I goes wherebber Marse Frank goes jest de -same.” - -“Oh, I see,” replied the officer; “well, where is your master just now?” - -“Golly, for goodness!” cried Pomp, excitedly. “He am in a heap ob -trubble, an’ yo’ kin help him out of it.” - -With this Pomp told Clark all about the Steam Man and their mission in -the West. - -The young colonel listened with deep interest, and then when apprised of -the fact that the Steam Man and its passengers were in the hands of -Cliff, he cried, excitedly: - -“By Jupiter! that man Cliff is just the chap I am after. Word was -brought to the fort some time ago of a den of thieves up here with a -rendezvous called Ranch V. Do you know of it?” - -“Golly sakes, Marse colonel,” cried Pomp, excitedly, “yo’ kin jest bet I -does! Jes’ yo’ find de cowboys and rescue Marse Frank and he done show -yo’ where de Ranch V. are.” - -“It shall be done if we are able,” said Colonel Clark. - -He turned to his men who were scattered about the vicinity, having been -engaged in driving the savages out of the valley. - -But the bugle quickly recalled them. - -A spare horse was brought forward for Pomp and then the cavalrymen in -solid body rode out of the valley. - -As they struck the prairie below, the distant sounds of firing came to -their ears. - -It was the din of the conflict between the Vigilants and the cowboys. -Aided by the sounds Colonel Clark was able to gallop straight to the -scene. - -Through a pass in the hills they reached the plateau. They burst upon -the cowboys in the rear just at the critical moment when it seemed as if -Harmon’s heroic little band was doomed. - -It required but a glance for Clark to take in the situation. - -Whirling his sabre aloft he spurred his horse forward with the thrilling -command: - -“Forward! Charge!” - - - - - CHAPTER XII. - THE FORTUNES OF WAR. - - -Just at that moment when utter destruction threatened the brave little -band of vigilants the U. S. soldiers came upon the scene. - -Nothing could have been more opportune. - -It was the saving of the day. The emotions of all at sight of the -glittering uniforms may be imagined. - -A great shout of triumph went up. A yell of dismay came from the -cowboys. - -Then followed the rattling of steel and the flash of sabre blades. -Before that charge what force could stand? - -Backward the followers of Artemus Cliff were forced. - -In vain the villain tried to rally them. They would not respond. - -The odds were too great and they broke and fled in wild confusion. The -next moment Pomp dashed up the incline and dropped from his horse almost -at Frank Reade, Jr’s, feet. - -“Bress de Lor’, Marse Frank,” he cried ecstatically. “Yo’ am alibe an’ -well, an’ dis nigger hab brought yo’ a rescue aftah all. P’raps yo’ -forgib me fo’ leabin’ de Steam Man when I hadn’t ought?” - -“You are forgiven, Pomp!” cried Frank, lightly. “I might have done the -same thing myself. I am glad no harm came to you. I had given you up.” - -“‘Deed no, Marse Frank!” cried the delighted darky. “I is too bad fo’ to -die. Hi dar, Pish, I is glad to see you!” - -“Well, if it ain’t the naygur!” cried Barney, with a wild rush at Pomp. -“Whurroo, it’s glad I am to see yez onct more alive an’ well! Bejabers -that’s so!” - -The two friends embraced warmly. Then Colonel Clark rode up and saluted -all. - -“It seems that you’ve been having a bit of a squall here,” he declared, -“but at any rate you’ve vanquished the enemy.” - -“With your timely assistance,” replied Frank. “But I believe we are not -strangers, colonel.” - -“Frank Reade, Jr., the inventor!” cried Clark, springing from the saddle -and seizing Frank’s hand. “Well, now, I’m glad to see you. But come to -think of it, your colored man mentioned the name of Frank Reade, but I -never dreamed that it was you.” - -“It is nobody else,” replied Frank with a laugh. “And I well remember -you.” - -“And I do you,” replied Clark. “I was once one of an army commission to -visit you and make you an offer for one of your inventions on a gun.” - -“You are right.” - -“You would not sell it.” - -“No,” replied Frank. “I do not care to sell any of my inventions. They -are for my own use. I will always, however, put them at the disposal of -the weak and oppressed.” - -“Truly a noble sentiment,” agreed the colonel, “but I am anxious to -capture this man Cliff. Hello! what have you there? A giant in iron? One -of your new inventions is it? Well, that beats all.” - -With this Clark proceeded to make an inspection of the Steam Man. A -great crowd of the newcomers were doing the same. - -It was an object of great wonderment. Frank showed its working to the -entertainment of all. - -But Cliff’s men had not been so easily beaten as the savages. - -They had dispersed into the passes and were somewhat scattered, but here -they made a stand and resisted stubbornly. - -It was necessary to dislodge them as quickly as possible. - -At any moment they might avail themselves of the fortunes of war and -turn victory into defeat. - -So Clark quickly called his men together. - -Only a brief rest was all that he would accord them. - -The bugle sounded “boots and saddles,” and every man was quickly -mounted. - -A plan was quickly outlined between Frank Reade, Jr., and Col. Clark. - -This was that the cavalry should pursue and thoroughly rout the cowboys, -even going down to Ranch V to effect its destruction. - -The vigilants were to return home, and the cavalry would see to the -punishment of Artemas Cliff. - -But the Steam Man was to remain at a point below until the return of the -cavalry. - -If possible Cliff was to be captured alive and a confession wrung from -his lips. - -This plan had been agreed upon. - -The vigilants were not wholly satisfied, yet did not demur. - -Clark and his command dashed away into the hills. - -The vigilants and the Steam Man started for the open prairie. - -This division of forces very soon proved to be an unwise and unfortunate -thing. - -The fortunes of war are proverbial for changes. - -Strongly intrenched in the hills, Cliff’s gang gave the soldiers a -disastrous battle. - -In vain the plucky young colonel tried to dislodge them. - -They fought like tigers, and having the advantage of location, actually -decimated the cavalry one half in number. - -Until nightfall, Col. Clark kept persistently waging the battle. - -Then he began to think of retreat. - -But, to his horror, he found that this was by no means as easy a matter -as he had fancied. - -The foe had actually closed in upon him, and nearly every avenue of -retreat was closed. - -He was literally surrounded by the foe. - -“My soul!” he muttered, in deep surprise; “this is not very good -generalship on my part.” - -What was to be done? - -It was plainly impossible to dislodge the foe. - -The little band of cavalrymen were now hardly adequate to cope with the -foe in their front. - -It really seemed as if Cliff had received reinforcements. The number of -his band had in some mysterious manner been increased. - -Darkness was coming on rapidly. - -Something must be done, and at once. Col. Clark racked his brain for an -expedient. - -Certainly they must extricate themselves from this position, and without -delay. Men were falling every moment about them, and the enemy’s line, -like a cordon of death, was every moment drawing tighter about them. - -Cold sweat broke out upon the intrepid colonel’s brow. - -“My God!” he muttered. “What is to be done?” - -It was a terrible question. They were literally in a trap of death. - -Cliff was aware of this, and his men made the air hideous with their -yells. Closer they crowded the line. - -In this extremity Clark regretted having separated himself from the -Vigilants and the Steam Man. - -But this error had been made, and it was too late to correct it. - -But the brave colonel was not long without an expedient. - -He called out one of his pluckiest privates, and said: - -“Jason, do you want to undertake a ticklish job?” - -“I’m ready, sir,” replied the private, with a salute. - -“You know we are in a tight box?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“We must have reinforcements or the enemy will surely get the best of -us.” - -“It looks that way, sir.” - -“Now, I want you to try to get through the enemy’s line. Look for the -Vigilants and the Steam Man and tell them to come to our aid. Then ride -to the fort as fast as you can for a fresh squad. Tell the officer in -charge to send two hundred mounted men.” - -“Very well, sir.” - -“Do you think you can do this?” - -“I will do it or I will not come back.” - -Clark knew that Jason meant just what he said. - -A few moments later the courier for relief slipped carefully into the -shadows and was gone. - -A prayer trembled on Clark’s lips. - -“I don’t care for myself,” he muttered, “but I cannot bear to see my -brave boys slaughtered like sheep.” - -Darkness now thickly settled down. Of course no fighting could be done -until the break of day. - -But the cavalrymen were not in a position to guarantee them much rest. - -Few of them dared to sleep, and then it was upon their arms. - -As the night hours dragged by, Clark paced the ground upon the outskirts -of the camp and listened for some sign of the return of Jason. - -He knew that it was not possible for the faithful courier to return from -the fort under two days. - -But if the cavalry division was reinforced by the Vigilants and the -Steam Man they might be able to keep the foe at bay until the fresh -squad should arrive. - -Thus the plucky young colonel clung to hope. - -Time passed. It seemed an age to Clark before a silent shadowy form -slipped out of the gloom and into the camp. - -As it drew nearer he recognized the courier Jason. - -“Well, my man!” he said, sharply. “You are back.” - -Jason saluted quickly. - -“Where are the reinforcements?” - -“I did not find them.” - -“But—did I not tell you to find them?” began the colonel, angrily. - -“Easy, colonel,” said Jason, respectfully. “I think I have done a better -thing, sir.” - -“What do you mean?” - -“It’s a good ways to the fort. You might be cut to pieces before I could -return. I have found an avenue by which I think we can escape.” - -Clark’s manner changed instantly. - -“You don’t mean it?” he exclaimed, excitedly. “What is it?” - -Jason drew nearer and lowered his voice in a mysterious manner. - -“Just over that pile of bowlders,” he whispered, “I found a narrow -passage through the mountain side. It is almost a cavern, for the top is -so closely overhung with bushes. It’s a close squeeze for the horses, -but I think we can all get through and out upon the prairie before -daybreak.” - -Col. Clark was intensely excited. - -“Good for you, Jason!” he cried, in a joyful manner. “Arouse the camp, -but do it quietly. Put every man in his saddle within ten minutes. You -have solved our salvation, and you shall be promoted.” - -Jason hurried away to do the bidding of the colonel. - -In a brief space of time the camp was aroused. - -The weary soldiers, worn out with fighting, were only too glad to learn -of the possibility of an escape. - -At once preparations were made to steal a march upon the enemy. - -The passage described by Jason was found. It was necessary to first pry -aside a huge bowlder before passage could be made. - -Into the passage the little band went, and one by one filed out into the -valley beyond. - -So skillfully was the move executed that the foe never dreamed of it. -Daybreak came, and Cliff was furious to find that his intended victims -had given him the slip during the night. - -The cavalrymen had reached the prairie in safety, and galloped away from -the hills. - -Clark knew that his only and best move now was to return to the fort for -reinforcements. - -He could not hope to do anything with the foe with such a mere handful -of men. - -Accordingly, just as the sun appeared above the horizon, the little -cavalcade, with its shattered ranks, galloped away across the plain. - -No effort was made to search for the Vigilants. - -Clark knew that even with their aid it would not be feasible to give -battle to the cowboys. - -Clearly it was necessary to have two hundred more men. The colonel set -his lips vengefully. - -“I will teach that desperado a lesson,” he muttered. “He shall be swept -out of existence together with his rascally crew, and before another -week.” - -On over the prairie they galloped toward the fort. - -And as they rode, thrilling adventures were the lot of Frank Reade, Jr., -and his friends on board the Steam Man. - -Let us, therefore, for a time, deviate here and follow their fortunes. - - - - - CHAPTER XIII. - THE ABDUCTION. - - -Chief Harmon of the Vigilants was not wholly content to abandon the -trail of the cowboys, just here. - -He indulged in quite an argument with Frank Reade, Jr. - -His remarks were not without logic. - -“Why, only look at the sense of the thing,” he declared, “It is by no -means possible that the soldiers are going to have an easy time with -Cliff and his men. They may turn the tables on them yet. I tell you it -was a premature thing for that colonel to do, to set us adrift so -quickly.” - -“Yet he ought to know his own strength,” said Frank. - -“I don’t believe he does.” - -“I cannot but feel that he is doing the right thing.” - -“I don’t feel that way.” - -“Well, in case of defeat the stigma will not fall upon you.” - -“Ah, but that is not the idea. We must not let Cliff defeat them. If he -does, he will defeat us.” - -“What do you propose?” - -“I am not going back home yet. We will make a camp down here on Willow -Creek. When we learn for a fact that Cliff has been done up, then we -will go home. Until then we are on duty.” - -Frank saw that Harmon was right. He extended his hand and said: - -“I agree with you.” - -“I knew ye would,” replied the Vigilant leader. “We can do this upon our -own responsibility. You are to wait for Clark at a point below here, I -believe?” - -“Yes.” - -“Very good. That point is on Willow Creek. We will accompany you there.” - -It was nightfall before Willow Creek was reached. - -In a convenient spot camp was made. The darkness became most intense in -the vicinity. - -Camp-fires were made and guards posted. - -The fires in the furnace of the Steam Man were banked, and the occupants -descended and mixed with the Vigilants. - -The men gathered around the fires, and told stories and cracked jokes. - -Walter Barrows, the young Vigilant who was so deeply in love with Bessie -Rodman, had waited upon her at the wagon step, and together they took a -lover-like walk down the bank of the creek. - -Nobody saw them go, and it is doubtful if any one would have sought to -restrain them. - -But they were committing unwittingly an act of great risk and folly. - -For unknown to any in the camp a coterie of dusky savages lurked in the -tall prairie grass about. - -Barney and Pomp were entertaining the camp with some of their -Munchhausen stories. - -The plainsmen roared with laughter until their sides ached. - -Both were comical mokes and were continually playing roots upon each -other. Barney had just worked a gag upon Pomp when suddenly the distant -crack of a pistol was heard. - -Instantly every man in the camp was upon his feet. - -The most intense of excitement reigned. All was confusion. - -Then one of the guards came rushing in. - -“There’s a hull lot of Apaches down yonder,” he cried, “ther grass is -full of ‘em and I reckon they’ve surrounded the camp.” - -“Steady all!” thundered Harmon, the Vigilant leader. “Who fired that -pistol shot?” - -“I don’t know,” replied the guard. - -“Is anybody outside the line?” - -“Yes.” - -“Who?” - -“Walter Barrows and the young lady passed me not an hour ago. They went -on down the creek.” - -“My soul!” gasped Harmon, with white face, “that was Barrows pistol -without doubt. He an’ the gal have certainly fallen into the grip of -ther Injuns. We must make lively work to save ‘em.” - -Frank Reade, Jr., had listened to this report with a sensation of -horror. - -Barney and Pomp had at once desisted in their fun-making, and Barney -proceeded to open the Steam Man’s furnace. - -The crack of rifles now sounded all around the camp. - -The savages, without doubt, were drawing their line closer, and meant if -possible to exterminate the little band of Vigilants. - -But a line of defense was then thrown out, and the skulking savages were -held at bay. - -But a desultory and very unsatisfactory species of warfare was kept up -in the darkness. - -It was impossible to tell how to move or where. - -The enemy fired from all directions and practically at random. - -Many of the Vigilants were wounded, and Captain Harmon was angry. - -“Confound an Injun!” he muttered, in disgust. “They have sich a sneakin’ -way of fighting. They allus attack one after dark, an’ hain’t got the -pluck to come out in the open an’ fight.” - -Everybody was bound to acknowledge the logic of this. - -But the savages kept up the same mode of attack until Frank Reade, Jr., -made a diversion. - -Barney had succeeded in getting up steam once more in the Steam Man, and -now Frank Reade, Jr., approached Harmon. - -“Give me five men,” he declared, “and I will whip the foe for you.” - -“Five men!” gasped Harmon. “Why, they’re ten to one out there.” - -“I don’t care if they are.” - -“But——” - -“Will you give me the men?” - -“Oh yes, but——” - -“There’s no time for questions, Captain Harmon. Leave it all to me.” - -“All right, Mr. Reade.” - -By Harmon’s orders five of The Vigilants joined Frank Reade. - -He led them aboard the steam wagon. Then he closed the door and seized -the reins which connected with the throttle. - -The Steam Man gave a shriek loud enough to perforate the ear drums of -any one in the vicinity. - -Then it dashed out upon the prairie. - -The effect may be imagined. - -The monster with fiery eyes and all flame and smoke, with clanking -thunderous tread plunging into the midst of the foe, was an apparition -well to be feared. - -Right into the midst of the savages the Steam Man ran. - -While the armed men in the screened wagon poured destructive volleys -into the midst of the red foe. - -Pen cannot adequately describe the situation. - -For a moment the Apaches held their ground. Then, with wild, baffled -yells they fled before the conqueror. - -In less than twenty minutes the vicinity had been practically cleared of -savages. - -They retreated to a point below where their ponies were corralled. - -Mounting, they dashed away to the westward. The Steam Man pursued until -finding a creek, they escaped for good. - -Then the Steam Man returned to camp. - -But although the foe had been repulsed, matters were still bad enough. - -Walter Barrows and Bessie Rodman were missing. - -That they were captives was a forlorn hope. That they had been murdered -was a dreadful fear. - -Delay was almost fatal in this case. Without loss of time a good trailer -was put upon the trail of the lovers. - -Daylight was breaking in the east, and this enabled him to easily follow -the trail. - -Along the banks of the creek it ran for nearly a fifth of a mile. - -Then the trailer paused. - -Here without doubt was the spot where Barrows had been attacked by the -Apaches. - -There were footprints and marks of a struggle. A rifle, with broken -stock, was picked up, - -“It is Barrows’ gun,” said one of the Vigilants. - -Blood was found upon the ground, but no trace of the bodies. - -“They have been taken away as captives,” declared Harmon, positively. -“There is no doubt of that.” - -“Or thrown into the creek,” suggested one of the Vigilants. - -Investigation for a moment gave the pursuers a thrill of horror. - -There were footprints down to the water’s edge, and the marks of some -heavy body dragged thither. - -In the shallow water, protected by reeds, was a body. - -For a moment all expected to recognize Barrows. But all drew a breath of -relief. - -It was not him. - -The body was that of one of the Apaches. Doubtless it was one shot by -Barrows, and his body had been thrown into this place to escape the -notice of the white pursuers. - -“That’s an Injun trick,” declared Harmon, positively. “I’m mighty well -satisfied that the captives are alive.” - -“I hope you are right,” said one man. - -“Ditto!” said another. - -“Then let us take the trail,” cried Frank Reade, Jr. “If possible, we -must rescue them.” - -The question was settled at once. All sprung to saddle, and the trail, -which was quite plain, was followed. - -Across the prairies went the Steam Man, with the Vigilants behind. - -Of course their horses could not compete with the Man on a level -stretch, but Frank did not try to run away from them. - -The Indians bore away to a southwesterly course, and soon a range of -hills became visible above the horizon. - -Harmon made them out as the Black Bear range. - -“If they get into those hills with the captives,” he declared, “we’ll -have mighty hard work diggin’ ‘em out.” - -“Why?” asked one of his men. - -“Bekase, there’s more holes and out of the way dens there than you could -shake a stick at.” - -Barney and Pomp crouched down in the wagon, and kept their rifles in -readiness for business. - -Frank Reade, Jr., watched the plain ahead with eager eye, but though the -trail was plain there was yet no signs of overtaking the red foe. - -As they drew nearer the hills it became almost a certainty that the -savages had sought refuge there. - -A long stretch of plain intervened to the hills. - -This was easily to be inspected with a glass, and Frank did so. There -was no sign whatever of the Indians. - -All hope was thus given up of overtaking the redskins before reaching -the hills. - -It seemed a certainty that they had reached their caves, and the only -alternative left was to scour them thoroughly. - -But when quite near an entrance between high hills, suddenly the -pursuers topped a rise in the prairie and were rewarded with a startling -sight. - -Just below, in a depression, was the band of savages, seemingly engaged -in making camp. - -A small creek ran through this depression, - -As is well known, Indians always encamp upon the banks of a stream. Yet -it was a surprise to the pursuers that they should venture to camp in -this open spot. - -At sight of their foes the astonished redskins were thrown into a -tumult. - -Instantly a mad retreat was begun for the mountains. - -A wild cheer pealed from the lips of the vigilants. - -Harman settled himself in his saddle and shouted: - -“Forward, all! Charge!” - -With a yell the Vigilants put spurs to their horses and made for the -Indian encampment. - -Frank Reade, Jr., started the Steam Man on a circuit to head off the -savages. - -But as he did so Pomp clutched his arm. - -“Hi dar, Marse Frank!” cried the darky. “Does yo’ see dat little party -ober dar making fo’ de hills?” - -Frank did see them. - -“Yes,” he replied. - -“Well, dat am Missy Bessie an’ her lover jes’ as suah as yo’ am bo’n, -Marse Frank, an’ dar am half a dozen Injuns jes’ holding onto de bridles -ob der hosses. I makes it out, sah, dat dey fink dey kin reach de hills -afo’ de Steam Man, sah.” - -“By Jupiter, you’re right, Pomp!” cried Frank, with inspiration. “But -we’ll try and spoil that little game.” - -“Dat’s right, Marse Frank!” cried the darkey. “I jes’ fink de Man kin -obertake dem hosses suah enuff.” - -Frank seized the reins and pulled open the throttle. - -As the Steam Man went forward with his mighty stride Frank opened the -whistle valve and let out a mighty shriek of such loudness that the -echoes were repeated a hundred fold in the recesses of the hills. - - - - - CHAPTER XIV. - IN HOT PURSUIT. - - -The party of savages with the two captives in their midst, evidently -intended to reach the hills, if possible, before being overtaken by the -Steam Man. - -At first Frank had fancied it easy to cut them off. - -But there were several depressions in the prairie which the Man had to -circuit, and the distance was greater than Frank had really dreamed of. - -Like a runaway locomotive the Steam Man raced over the plain. - -The vigilants were having a running fight with the savages. - -But Frank Reade, Jr., was doomed to disappointment. - -He failed to cut off the band of abductors, and they vanished from sight -in a deep pass. - -It was too rocky a trail for the Steam Man to follow. Thus far the -villains had the best of it. - -“Golly sakes, Marse Frank!” cried Pomp, “dey done git away wif dem -prisoners fo’ suah.” - -“It looks like it,” agreed Frank, in a baffled tone, “but there ought to -be some way to cut them off.” - -“Begorra, there’s only won way,” declared Barney. - -“What is that?” - -“Let the naygur sthay with the man, an’ you an’ I will go afther the -divils a-foot,” said the Celt. - -For a moment Frank entertained no hopes of the success of such a plan. - -Then he glanced back to the prairie where the vigilants and the Indians -were having their Battle. - -It was nip and tuck between them, but Frank saw that the vigilants were -fast getting the best of it. - -Not more than half a dozen of the savages had the captives in charge. - -To be sure, the odds were three to one, yet Frank believed that with the -plucky Barney’s help, they could defeat them. - -To think with Frank Reade, Jr., was to act. - -He did not waste time, but seizing a rifle, cried: - -“Your idea is a good one, Barney. We will act upon it. Pomp, keep a -sharp eye out for danger untill we return.” - -“A’right Marse Frank,” replied the faithful darky. - -Barney, delighted that Frank had seen fit to adopt his plan, was quickly -ready and they left the wagon. - -The Indians, to be sure, had the start of them, but the pass was rocky -and it was hardly likely that they would succeed in getting a great -lead. - -Swiftly the two rescuers pressed forward. - -They climbed over piles of bowlders, crept through narrow defiles, and -climbed high steeps. - -It seemed that progress must be slow for the ponies of the Indians, and -they should be overtaken before long. - -Suddenly Barney paused with a sharp cry. - -He seized Frank by the arm and pulled him back into the cover of an -angle in the mountain wall. - -He was none too soon. - -The crack of rifles smote upon the air and the shower of bullets came -down into the pass. - -“Bejabers, I saw the spalpeens just in the nick av time!” declared -Barney, peering around the edge of the cliff wall. “Av I hadn’t we’d -have been dead gossoons as sure as me name is Barney.” - -“You’re right there!” cried Frank, slipping extra cartridges into his -rifle; “that was a close call.” - -“Indade it was.” - -“I had no idea we were so near the rascals.” - -“Bejabers, I didn’t mesilf till I see the top-knot av wan of thim over -that ridge yonder.” - -“They are ready for us, then.” - -“Bejabers, and we’re ready too. If I iver get a bead on any wan av them -there’ll be a job for the coroner, bad cess to thim.” - -“Where are they? I can’t see their position very well.” - -“Aisy, Misther Frank,” said Barney, “they’re hiding up yonder jist -ferninst that big scrub av an oak on the edge of the cliff.” - -Frank looked in that direction. Suddenly Barney gave a sharp cry. - -“Whurro!” he yelled. - -Quick as a flash his rifle went to his shoulder. - -Crack! - -A yell of agony rang through the gorge. Then down over the cliff tumbled -an Indian almost at the Celt’s feet. - -The bullet had pierced his skull and his final account was settled. - -“Good shot, Barney!” cried Frank, “that only leaves five for us to -tackle.” - -Then quick as a flash the young inventor threw his rifle to his -shoulder. - -Crack! - -Another yell, a death cry went up on the air of the defile. - -“Bejabers, that’s only four av the divils left,” chuckled Barney. “It’s -only two to wan, Misther Frank.” - -“You’re right, Barney!” cried Frank, with enthusiasm, “but the odds are -yet too great.” - -The outlook now was certainly encouraging for the rescue of the -prisoners. - -But the two rescuers knew better than to essay an open attack. - -The Indian method of warfare was in this case far the best. They -remained strictly under cover. - -All was quiet on the bluff above. - -But it was not by any means likely that the foe were inactive. - -The great danger now was that they would continue to slip away deeper -into the hills and reach some inaccessible hiding place. - -Our rescuers waited as long as seemed consistent with safety. - -Then Frank said: - -“I think we’d better make a break, Barney.” - -“All roight, sorr,” replied the Celt. “Do yez think it safe?” - -“We must use caution. It may be possible that they are trying to draw us -from our hiding place.” - -“So I thought, sorr.” - -“Again, they may be far into the hills by this time. We will gain -nothing by staying here.” - -“All roight, sorr.” - -Barney begun to scan the side of the cliff. A path was not visible -anywhere. Yet the Celt did not believe it impossible to climb to the -top. - -If this could be done they might then succeed in getting upon level -ground with the foe and escape the risk of their bullets. - -Frank divined Barney’s purpose and said: - -“I think we can climb it, Barney.” - -“Bejabers we’ll thry.” - -Barney had just got his hands and feet into niches in the cliff when a -startling sound came up the pass. - -“Hark!” - -“What is it?” - -The tramp of ponies’ feet could be heard and the distant baffled yells -of savages were wafted up on the breeze. - -“The Indians are coming up the pass,” cried Frank, with dismay. “Barney, -there’s not an instant to lose.” - -“Begorra, yez are roight,” cried the Celt, beginning to make his way up -the cliff. - -It was a smart climb up the steep wall, but it was safely made at -length. - -They were now on level ground with the four captors. But a careful -reconnoitering of the vicinity showed that they had left. - -In the lull in the conflict they had slipped away into the hills. - -But Barney took the trail and they went forward again in pursuit. - -The sounds of the foe coming up the pass in their rear, however, every -moment became plainer. - -But fortunately, just at a point where the trail diverged deeper into -the hills, the foe must have turned in another direction for very soon -the sounds died out. - -“We have nothing to fear from them,” cried Frank, with a breath of -relief. “They have gone in another direction.” - -Very soon the hills began to merge into a deep valley. Through this -there ran a swift stream. - -As Frank and Barney entered the valley Barney shouted: - -“Be me sowl, there be the spalpeens now.” - -“Where?” asked Frank. - -“Jist down there ferninst that grove of trees, Misther Frank.” - -“Sure enough.” - -The four savages and their captors were plainly seen on the banks of the -creek. - -They were just in the act of embarking in a canoe. - -Frank saw that he must act quick if he would prevent this. - -So he said, sharply: - -“Go to the right, Barney, I will go to the left, and we must head them -off.” - -“All right, sorr.” - -Away went Barney on the mad run. The savages had already got the canoe -into the water. - -They saw him coming and a yell was the signal. The captives were hustled -into the light craft and it was pushed out from the shore. - -Down into the current it went. There was no time to lose. - -Frank Reade, Jr., came to a stop and raised his rifle. It was a -desperate chance but he took it. - -A quick aim, a bead skillfully drawn on one of the paddlers and—— - -Crack! - -A wild Indian yell went up and the prow of the canoe swung around. - -Over into the water went the doomed savage. The shot had been a good -one. - -But the canoe was at the moment at the head of some swift rapids. - -The next moment it was racing down them, and turning a bend in the -stream, vanished from view. - -Frank had not time to draw another bead before it was out of sight, and -when it reached the lower level and came into view again it was out of -range. - -Barney came along now and shouted: - -“Be jabers, yez did well, Misther Frank. That was a beautiful shot. -There’s only three av ther red divils left.” - -This was true, but the three savages seemed likely to elude their -pursuers after all. - -The canoe was racing down the stream, and fast nearing a defile in the -hills. - -If it should enter this, there was little doubt but that the fugitives -would make their escape. - -Frank and Barney saw this in the same moment. - -“Begorra, Mother Frank, we must cut the divils off!” cried the Celt. - -“Forward, then!” cried Frank. “Is there not a short cut?” - -Both looked for this. In the same instant they espied it. - -The creek took a long turn, and by cutting directly across a meadow the -two pursuers saw that they would be likely to cut off the savages. - -Accordingly they started forward on the run. - -The Indian captors saw their move at once, and an angry yell went up -from them. - -One of them rose in the canoe and took quick aim and fired. - -The bullet whistled close to Barney’s ear. The Celt stopped and cocked -his rifle. - -“Be jabers, I’ll spoil that fellow!” he cried, “Have at yez, ye -blatherskite!” - -Barney’s rifle spoke. - -But the motion of the canoe very likely destroyed the aim, for the -bullet did not take effect. - -At this point the canoe took a swift course, and in the twinkling of an -eye seemed to have overcome the skilled hand at the paddles. - -In a flash it went over and the entire party were dumped into the waters -of the creek. - -A great cry went up from Frank Reade, Jr. - -“My God! they will be drowned!” - -Forward the brave young inventor rushed. He thought of poor Barrows with -his hands tied. - -Thrown into the waters of the creek, it did not seem as if any power on -earth could save him. - -But two of the savages had seized the prisoners. The canoe had -overturned in close proximity to the shore. - -The third savage gave assistance, and as the water did not chance to be -deep, all got ashore. - -“Now we have them!” cried Frank, confidently. - -But his statement was premature. - -Even as it seemed that the rescue was certain, an incident occurred to -prevent. - -From behind a small hillock appeared Red Bear’s gang of Apaches, full -half a hundred strong. - - - - - CHAPTER XV. - THE VIGILANTES TO THE RESCUE. - - -The appearance of the savages was most inopportune. - -Mounted on their fleet ponies, with wild yells they swept down upon the -party. - -The three Indian captors yelled with delight. - -Frank and Barney of course came to a halt. Of course it was folly to -tempt fate. - -To attempt to stand against that gang was folly. - -“By Jupiter!” gasped the young inventor. “It’s all up with us, Barney! -We are badly beaten!” - -“Tare an’ ‘ounds!” grumbled the angry Celt. “That beats all me woife’s -relations! Phwativer shall we do now, Misther Frank?” - -“Beat a retreat,” declared the young inventor. “Come on, Barney!” - -“It’s mesilf as hates to retreat,” said Barney, stubbornly. “Oh, if we -only had the Steam Man an’ the naygur here now we’d moighty soon turn -the thing about.” - -The two rescuers now turned about and hastily beat a retreat across the -valley. - -But they had not gone far when the Indians began to ford the creek for -the purpose of giving pursuit. - -Barney saw the move and called Frank’s attention to it. - -“Be me sowl, Misther Frank!” cried the Irishman, excitedly, “we’ve got -to make quick toime, or they’ll have our scalps.” - -“You are right, Barney.” - -But at that moment Frank Reade, Jr., lifted his gaze, and a mighty cry -escaped his lips. - -Directly in front of them, a body of armed men swept into the valley. - -They were the Vigilants, and at their head rode Harmon. At sight of -Frank and Barney they urged their horses on faster with a loud cheer. - -This was answered by the two fugitives, with a will. - -The savages, seeing the Vigilants, now changed their tactics. They -turned their horses about and rode swiftly on the back trail. - -Frank could hardly wait for Harmon and his men to come up. - -Enthusiastic greetings were exchanged, and also experiences. - -The Vigilants had driven the Apaches before them into the hills. - -But upon entering the fastnesses, with which they were not familiar, the -Indians had given them the slip. - -In the search, they had come upon the scene at an opportune moment. - -There seemed no better thing to do than to give pursuit to the savages -at once. - -Accordingly a couple of spare horses were provided for Frank and Barney, -and they rode forward on the charge. - -The delay had been brief, but it had enabled the savages to cross the -creek and start for the defile beyond, - -Down thundered the vigilants in hot pursuit. - -The creek was quickly forded and the pursuers seemed to be gaining at -every bound. - -But of a sudden the savages executed a peculiar and inexplicable -maneuver. - -Suddenly and without warning they split in two sections, one going to -the right and the other to the left. - -In one division was the girl captive, Bessie Rodman, and in the other -Walter Barrows. - -The party who had the girl in charge started for the defile. - -The other made directly across the valley. In a flash of time the -purpose of the savages was made apparent. - -The vigilants could not go both ways with splitting up. - -As they were much less in number than the Apaches the result of this -would be to greatly weaken them, if not actually place them at the mercy -of the red foe. - -On the other hand it was a problem as to which direction to pursue or -which party to follow. - -Harmon drew a slight rein upon his horse and wavered a moment. - -The vigilants naturally were inclined to go to the rescue of their -comrade, but Frank Reade, Jr., comprehending the folly of this, cried: - -“The girl first. We can rescue the man later.” - -“Yes!” cried Harmon, in a voice of thunder; “that is our duty! The girl -first, boys; then we will try and save Barrows.” - -The vigilants cheered, and away thundered the troop toward the defile. - -A few moments later they reached it and entered it. - -High walls of black, forbidding rock arose on either side to a mighty -height. The bed of the defile was rough and strewn with bowlders. - -It was harder for the horses of the vigilants to pick their way through -here than the fleet-footed ponies of the savages. - -Accordingly the Indians gained quite a lead. But after a quarter of a -mile of the defile had been traversed the vigilants were brought to a -halt in an unceremonious manner. - -The defile seemed suddenly to take an upward trend here, and high piles -of bowlders made a barrier of some height. - -Suddenly from behind this barrier there came the flash of rifle muzzles, -and a volley of bullets came rattling down through the defile. - -Two of the vigilants were wounded, and Harmon instantly called a halt. - -Cover was quickly sought behind rocks and corners near. - -It was evident that the Indians had here made a stand. The Vigilant -leader was puzzled. - -But suddenly Frank Reade, Jr., gave a sharp cry: - -“Listen!” - -His acute ear had caught the sound of horses’ hoofs coming up the defile -in their rear. - -“By thunder!” ejaculated Harmon, with sudden terrible comprehension, “we -are trapped!” - -The men gazed blankly at each other. - -Nothing was more apparent. The Apaches under the shrewd Red Bear had -certainly very cleverly outgeneraled them. - -Led into the defile by one division of the Apaches, the other had -proceeded to block up the outlet, and thus literally the Vigilants were -in a trap. - -There was not the advantage in facing a foe in this manner that there -was in having him wholly in the front. - -To be attacked both front and rear would demoralize even the largest and -bravest of armies. Harmon was completely taken aback. - -“Wall, I swan!” he exclaimed, with earnestness, “I never believed an -Injun could beat me in any such way as that. But we are in for it, boys, -and no mistake. We’ve got to fight hard.” - -The savages in front were keeping up a raking fire. - -Those in the rear had now drawn near enough to also open fire. The fun -had begun. - -But the brave band of white men had no thought of fear or of retreat. - -They at once, by Harmon’s direction, sought safe places of cover and -proceeded to return the fire. - -Every time an Indian’s top-knot showed above the fringe of rocks, it was -made a target of. - -Thus, the battle was kept up for over an hour. - -Then an idea occurred to the inventive mind of Frank Reade, Jr. - -He had carefully examined the face of the pass. In doing so he had -discovered what looked like a feasible foot path over the cliff. - -At once he called Harmon aside and explained a plan to him. - -“I think we can defeat the savages easily in this manner,” he declared. -“Give me five men and I will guarantee a surprise for them.” - -“Mr. Reade, take what force you need,” declared the vigilant leader. “I -have full confidence in your ability to do as you say. May you succeed.” - -Frank at once selected five men from the troop. - -Then with Barney he led the way cautiously up the path. - -Fortunately, it was overhung with foliage to a large extent, so that -they were hidden from the view of those in their rear. - -In a few moments a position near the brow of the cliff had been reached. -Then Frank’s surmise was verified. - -The little party could look down upon the heads of the savages. It was -an easy matter to pour a volley amongst them with most demoralizing -effect. - -Frank sent one of the men back down the cliff, to give Harmon the cue -when to make a charge. - -Then at a favorable moment Frank gave the order to fire. - -Six repeating rifles were turned upon the savages, and as fast as they -could be worked, they were engaged in firing a volley down upon the -heads of the exposed savages. - -The effect was startling. - -The savage is never the one to stand in open field and fight. At once a -panic seized them. - -It was the moment for the charge, and Harmon’s men rushed forward. - -Up over the rocks they went. In a twinkling the savages were driven from -their entrenchments and utterly routed, and completely dispersed. - -Frank Reade, Jr., and Barney saw their opportunity, and rushed upon two -of the savages who had Bessie Rodman in charge. - -In a moment the girl captive was free once more and among friends. The -two guards fled for their lives. - -All this had happened in a twinkling of an eye, comparatively speaking. -But the fight was not over. - -The force in the rear were coming to the attack. - -But Harmon’s men were now in a position to command the defile. - -A quick, sharp conflict ensued, and the Apaches were driven back with -great slaughter. - -The vigilants had thus far the best of it. - -The enemy had been routed, and Bessie Rodman rescued. - -Only one other thing now remained to be accomplished, and this was the -rescue of Walter Barrows. - -But even as the question was being discussed a loud cry arose, and the -next moment a hatless, blood-stained young man came dashing down over -the cliff and fell half fainting in the midst of the vigilants. - -It was Barrows. - -In the midst of the fight the plucky young plainsman had succeeded in -breaking his bonds, and after a desperate fight with two of his captors, -had made his escape. - -Everybody extended congratulations to the young couple, and then plans -for the future were discussed. - -It was not certain that the savages would not return to the attack. - -But a report was brought in by a number of scouts sent out that the -Apaches had withdrawn from the field entirely. - -It was therefore decided to go back to Willow Creek. - -It was not known whether Col. Clark had been victorious with the cowboys -or nor. - -Until this question was settled Harmon had no idea of returning home. - -“Until Cliff and his gang have been wiped out of existence,” he -declared, “I shall not give up ther chase.” - -Frank and Barney were anxious to return at once to the Steam Man and -Pomp. - -They were, by no means, assured that the darky was safe or that he might -not have got into trouble. - -Accordingly the start was at once made for the prairie. - -Down one of the defiles the vigilants rode. Coming out into the little -valley they crossed this and entered the pass. - -But they had not proceeded a hundred yards into the pass when one of the -advance scouts came rushing back and gave a thrilling report. - -“Ther cowboys are coming up ther pass!” he cried. “Thar’s a host of ‘em, -and Art Cliff is at the head of ‘em.” - -“The cowboys!” gasped Harmon. - -The greatest excitement ensued. - -“My soul!” exclaimed Frank Reade, Jr., in dismay. “Clark has been -defeated!” - -“Bad luck to the omadhouns!” - -“But what of Pomp?” exclaimed Frank with alarm. “Barney, we ought at -once to ascertain where he is.” - -“To be shure, Misther Frank,” agreed the Celt, “but how in the name av -all the saints are yez goin’ to do it? Be jabers, these cowboys have got -us cornered.” - -In a very few moments a large sized battle was in progress in the pass. - - - - - CHAPTER XVI. - POMP MAKES ACTION. - - -Now let us return to Pomp and the Steam Man, whom in the detail of the -thrilling adventures just chronicled we have neglected. - -The darkey entertained nothing like fear at being left alone on board -the Steam Man. - -Indeed, he rather enjoyed the responsibility thus put upon him. - -He could occasionally hear rifle shots from the hills, which assured him -that Frank and Barney were making it hot for the savages. - -“Golly!” he muttered, “I jes’ reckon dem Injines git de worstest ob dat -fight. Ki dar, if dey amn’t comin’ dis yer way. I spec’s I better move.” - -This was true. - -The Indians had been driven before the vigilants, and starting for the -hills were coming straight toward the Steam Man. - -It was evident that they meant to enter the hills at this point. - -Pomp knew that it would be folly to remain where he was with the Steam -Man. - -The savages might ruin the machine as he could not hope alone to hold -them at bay. - -So he opened the throttle and started away with the Man. - -He kept on until satisfied that he had reached a safe point. - -Meanwhile the Indians reached the pass and entered it. - -The vigilants, however, did not seem in a hurry to pursue. They remained -on the battle ground for some while looking after their dead and -wounded. - -When they did start for the pass Pomp had returned and was there -stationed. - -As they came up the darky put his head out of the screen door and -shouted: - -“Good fo’ yo’, Marse Harmon. Jes yo’ gib dem Injuns a good lickin’ fo’ -luck. I reckon yo’ kin do it.” - -“I reckon we can, Pomp,” replied Harmon. “At least we’ll try it.” - -“If yo’ sees Marse Frank, jes tole him fo’ me, dat his carriage am -waitin’ fo’ him. Will yo’?” - -Harmon replied that he would and rode away laughing immoderately. - -The vigilants all vanished up the pass. It seemed ages after they had -gone, when Pomp received another great surprise. - -Suddenly, hearing the clatter of hoofs he turned his head, and -scrutinized the prairie. - -A thrilling sight met his gaze. - -There, coming over a swell in the plain was a body of horsemen. - -It required but a glance for the darky to recognize them. - -They were the cowboys with Artemus Cliff at their head. They were riding -directly down upon the Steam Man. - -They were just coming from the scene of their victory over Clark. Pomp’s -eyes stuck out like agates and he sprung to his feet. - -“Glory fo’ goodness!” he gasped. “Dat am Cliff and his debbils. I jes’ -reckon I get out dere way.” - -In an instant he opened the throttle and let the Steam Man race out upon -the prairie. - -The cowboys gave a wild yell, and attempted pursuit. - -But they could not keep anywhere near the Man, and finally abandoned it. -With baffled yells they returned and disappeared in the pass. - -“Golly, dat am a berry bad fing for Marse Frank an’ de oders,” muttered -Pomp. “Dey will neber be anticipating de comin’ ob dem rapscallions, an’ -dat will make tings berry bad, indeed.” - -The darky at once began to wax anxious as to the fate of his friends. - -He began to feel as if it was very much his duty to enter the hills and -render what assistance he could. - -But what was to be done with the Steam Man? - -Pomp reflected that he might take it with him if he could only find some -way of doing so. - -To attempt to traverse the rocky Pass was out of the question. - -The darky was in a quandary. - -Soon he heard the sounds of firing. The battle was on, and at no great -distance, either. - -Pomp could hardly contain himself. He walked up and down in the cage -like a prisoner in his cell. - -“Ob co’se, I has Marse Frank’s ordahs to stay yere,” he muttered, “but -it am evident dat Marse Frank needs all de help dat he can get. -Whatebber I kin do, I jes’ don’ know what.” - -The darky sat down and began sober reflection. - -He was a shrewd fellow, and as a result he was not long in formulating a -plan. - -He sprang up finally. - -“By golly, I’ll jes’ do dat fing!” he cried, finally. “It am de bes’ -fing I kin do.” - -He opened the throttle and started the Steam Man along the base of the -hills. With keen eye he studied the possibility of entering them. - -By the pass it was impossible. But he imagined that it would not be -difficult to find another means. - -Nor was he disappointed. - -At a certain point the hillside was shorn of trees and bowlders. It made -a smooth surface even over the brow of the height. - -As the Steam Man was provided with power to climb any height of this -sort, Pomp at once set his course up the height. - -Up went the Steam Man with prodigious strides. - -Nearer the top he drew. Pomp had no means of knowing whether it would be -possible to go further or not. - -But his best hopes were realized upon reaching the summit. - -Down a gentle incline the Steam Man went, and through a scattered grove -of trees, and came out into a valley deep in the hills. - -The sound of firing was now quite plain. - -Indeed, as Pomp guided the Man down into the valley, he saw the powder -smoke of the conflict in the pass, just a short way up the valley. - -“By golly!” muttered the darky, joyfully, “I reckon dat I get dar jes’ -in de bes’ time. Won’t Marse Frank be glad fo’ to see me!” - -But at that moment a startling thing occurred. - -The Man was traveling slowly, when just as the bottom of the incline was -reached, two powerful savages sprung out of the grass and seized the -throttle rein. - -Pomp was so taken by surprise that for a moment he could not act. - -The pulling of the rein closed the throttle, and the Man came to a halt. - -Pomp could not use the rein to open it again, and had there been more of -the red foe, the Steam Man would have been at their mercy. - -But there were only two of them, and while one held the rein the other -essayed to hack his way into the wagon with his tomahawk. - -Pomp acted with the rapidity of thought. - -“G’way from dar yo’ red imp!” he yelled, picking up a revolver. “If you -don’t I’ll jes’ bore a hole in yo’.” - -But the red man did not desist, and Pomp, springing to a loop-hole fired -at him. - -The bullet went true to its aim, and the Indian fell dead. - -The other savage seeing the fate of his companion let out a baffled -yell, and relaxing his grip on the valve rein fled precipitately. - -Pomp did not take the pains to fire at him, but coolly picked up the -valve rein, opened the throttle and the Steam Man went on. - -Straight for the scene of the conflict at the mouth of the Pass Pomp -went. - -When he came upon the scene he found a thrilling and sanguine conflict -in progress. - -At sight of the Steam Man a cheer went up from the Vigilants. - -In a moment Frank and Barney were aboard and shaking hands with Pomp. - -The situation was quickly explained. - -“I thought mos’ likely yo’ would want de Steam Man, Marse Frank,” said -the faithful darky. “So I jes’ fetched him ober to yo’.” - -“You have done well, Pomp,” said Frank, joyfully. “Of course, this -insures our safety. With the Steam Man we would easily escape the -cowboys. But it will never do to leave these brave Vigilants to their -mercy.” - -“Ob co’se not, Marse Frank,” cried Pomp, seizing his rifle. “Jes’ yo’ -let dis chile draw a bead on dem rapscallions. I’ll show dem dat Pomp -kin use a rifle.” - -The Steam Man was placed in the van of the line of battle. - -Protected as they were by the impervious screen, those on board could -fire with advantage at the cowboys. - -The battle was a hot one, but every moment the cowboys slowly gained -ground. - -What was worse, the ammunition of the Vigilants seemed to be giving out. - -With plenty of ammunition, it was possible that the Vigilants could have -held them at bay for a long while. - -But, of course, when the ammunition should give out, the battle would be -ended. - -White-faced, but determined, the brave plainsmen stood their ground. - -Not a man of them thought of retreat. All were prepared to give up their -lives like heroes. - -There seemed no way of getting out of their present desperate situation. - -To retreat was about equal to an impossibility, for it would be out upon -the open plain where they would be shot down like sheep. - -The situation was an awful one. - -“Durn it, I don’t keer for myself,” said bluff Harmon, the vigilant -leader, “but some of the boys have families dependent on ‘em. Ah, that -dog of a Cliff has sins to answer fer.” - -“You are right,” agreed Frank Reade, Jr. “But there must be some way of -getting out of this scrape.” - -“How?” - -“Ah, that is a sticker. There is no hope of reinforcements near?” - -“None whatever.” - -“The Steam Man could be sent for them in quick time, if such a thing -were possible.” - -“But it is not. The nearest place is Ranch V, and that is Cliff’s own -den. We know that.” - -“Certainly.” - -“The fort is too far off. There is just one forlorn hope.” - -“Ah!” - -“The cavalry.” - -“But they may have been all wiped out.” - -“Very true. Well, we must die then like men. But, Mr. Reade, there is no -reason why you should not take the girl in your Steam Man and make your -escape.” - -Frank placed a hand upon the vigilant captain’s shoulder. - -“Yes!” he said, briefly. “I could do that.” - -“Then do it. We will hold the foe at bay until——” - -“Stop!” - -Harmon looked his surprise. - -“You do not know me,” said Frank Reade, Jr., determinedly, “do you think -I would desert you in this hour of need?” - -“But——” - -“Never! If you die so do we. Until the last the Steam Man will stand his -ground.” - -With tears of emotion in his eyes Harmon gripped Frank’s hand. - -“God bless you!” was all he could say. - -At this moment one of the vigilants came up excitedly. - -“We are just firing the last cartridges,” he declared. “What shall we -do? Is it a retreat, Harmon?” - -“Retreat!” cried the vigilant leader, clubbing his rifle. “Never! Come -on one and all. The crisis has come. Now let us show them how brave men -can die.” - -The cowboys with their wild cheers were forcing the crippled vigilants -back. - -But even in the moment of their victory a strange sound came from the -rear and a mighty cry went up from the throats of the vigilants. - -“Hurrah! We are saved! Rescue has come at last.” - - - - - CHAPTER XVII. - ONCE MORE IN THE ENEMY’S POWER. - - -It had been Col. Clark’s firm intention to return to the fort for -reinforcements. - -It was a long ways, but he did not reckon this. He thought only of -securing a sufficient body of men to cope successfully with the cowboys. - -So on they rode the little remnant of the squad for the far distant -fort. - -But after a night had been spent in camp, just as the bugle called -“boots and saddles,” one of the guard sighted a body of horsemen just -coming over a swell in the prairie. - -The alarm was given and Clark rode out to investigate. - -One glance was enough and a cry of joy escaped his lips. - -“Hurrah!” he cried. “We are in luck. It is Romaine’s company of one -hundred men. Forward all!” - -With cheers the little band rode out to meet the reinforcements. - -The command had been sent out under Captain Romaine to search for Clark -and his men. - -The two officers shook hands and explanations were made. - -“You have come just in the nick of time, Romaine,” declared Clark. “We -can now return and whip the cowboys.” - -“We are with you, colonel!” declared the captain with a salute. “The -boys are itching for some hot work.” - -“Well, I will promise it to them,” laughed Clark, as he took command. - -At once the cavalry set out at full gallop for the hills. - -It seemed like a strange fate that guided them almost to the very scene -of the conflict. - -The firing was heard long before the pass was reached, and Clark hurried -his men forward. - -He at once threw them into the pass in the rear of Cliff’s gang. - -It was an opportune moment, too. - -Just as the last cartridge of the vigilants was used the cavalry struck -the rear of the cowboy gang. - -Instantly a panic seized Cliff’s men. They made a brief stand, and then -were driven up a side defile into the hills. - -Here they made a stubborn stand. - -The cavalry literally cleared the pass, and riding through came into the -midst of the vigilants. - -The scene which followed baffles description. - -In a moment Clark and big Harmon were shaking hands with the deepest -emotion. - -“Ye came jest in the nick of time, Clark,” declared the vigilant chief. -“In ten minutes more we might have all been dead men.” - -“Then we are in luck,” cried the colonel, “for which I am very glad. Ah, -Mr. Reade, I am glad to see you.” - -“The same,” replied Frank, as he gripped hands with the colonel. - -Then Clark rode away up the defile to see what was going on there. - -He found the fiercest kind of a battle in progress. The cowboys had -intrenched themselves once more and were making a bold stand. - -The cavalry outnumbered them, but they were in a very advantageous -position. - -The best efforts of Clark’s men would not suffice to dislodge them. - -For a long while the sanguine battle went on. - -In vain Clark tried to eject them from their position. His bravest -efforts met with failure. - -The intrepid colonel knew that if he could get the foe into the open he -could hope to whip them. - -But as it was it looked certainly as if his plucky little band would be -badly decimated in the accomplishment of the desired end. - -In this quandary Frank Reade, Jr., appeared upon the spot. - -The young inventor had borrowed a horse of one of the vigilants and rode -up to see how the fight was going on. - -“Well, colonel,” he said, greeting Clark, “how are you making out?” - -“Not as well as I could desire,” replied the colonel in a dejected -manner. - -“What is the matter?” - -“Why, I can’t drive the rascals.” - -“Why not?” - -“They have a position up there in the hills which is unassailable.” - -“I disagree with you,” said Frank, quietly. “I am not a military -engineer, but I am a land surveyor and I tell you their position on that -hill is not of the best.” - -Clark was staggered. - -“Why, it is the best position about here,” he declared. - -“No,” said Frank, gravely. “Yonder is a much better position.” - -He pointed to a hill to the right, and which the one upon which the -cowboys were seemed to overlook. - -“What—try to command the foe from that hill?” cried Clark, scornfully. -“We would only expose ourselves, and they would sweep us from it like -chaff before the wind.” - -“No, they wouldn’t.” - -“Now, Mr. Reade, what is the use for you to talk that way? The hill upon -which they are is higher than this one.” - -“It may be higher in the number of feet,” replied Frank, “but not in -advantage of position.” - -“How do you make that out?” - -“It is easy enough to see. The top of this hill is smooth, is it not?” - -“Yes.” - -“The top of theirs is craggy and they cannot climb up to it. Their -position is far from the top. A position on the top of yonder hill will -easily look down into their camp.” - -Clark was surprised, but he saw the logic of Frank’s remark. - -“By Jove!” he cried. “Perhaps you are right.” - -“I think you will find that I am.” - -“But I would have taken my oath that they had the highest position -around here.” - -“Well, that would seem to be really so, for the hill itself is higher. -Yet it is but an optical delusion.” - -Clark extended his hand to Frank. - -“Mr. Reade,” he cried warmly. “You are right. I acknowledge my mistake. -Perhaps your opportune suggestion may enable us to whip the foe.” - -“If it is of any value, I am highly pleased!” said Frank, modestly. - -“I feel that it is, and I shall at once proceed to take the hill.” - -Clark at once proceeded to do this. By his command his men moved up the -back side of the hill. - -This protected them from the bullets of the cowboys. - -Arrived at the top of the smooth hill, it was found that Frank Reade, -Jr., was right. - -They were enabled to look right down upon the cowboys in their position. - -“Hurrah!” cried Clark, jubilantly, “that means victory.” - -A volley was given the astonished cowboys. They returned with ill -effect. - -The tables were exactly turned upon them, and they were not slow to see -the point. - -A red-hot fire was kept up for some little time, but the cowboys no -longer held the advantage. - -Indeed it began to look muchly as if they were to be driven from their -position. - -Suddenly all firing ceased. - -The cowboy gang were not in sight, nor did they fire another shot. - -Clark feared a stratagem or some fatal decoy, and dared not at once -order a charge. - -But finally he became convinced that the cowboys had evacuated their -position and had made a retreat. - -Flushed with victory Clark ordered his men to charge. - -Up the slope they went with fixed bayonets. But when they cleared the -top of the intrenchments, hastily thrown up by the cowboys, it was found -that they had gone. - -They had departed quite unceremoniously and completely. - -Not an article of any kind was left behind. - -Indeed it also became a mystery as to the course taken by them. Not a -sign of a trail could be found. - -It baffled the cavalrymen. - -“By Jupiter!” exclaimed Clark, in disgust, “how are you going to fight -such a shadowy foe. If they would only come out like men and fight it -out it would be all right. But they don’t dare do it.” - -“You would whip them,” said Frank Reade, Jr., with a laugh. “That is why -they are playing hide and seek.” - -“I suppose so, but it makes it pretty hard for me. I suppose the best -course now is to send out scouts and scour the hills.” - -“Exactly.” - -“All right. I will do it.” - -“I hope you will succeed.” - -“Thank you. I will do it or die.” - -“That is a good resolution.” - -“Well, I mean it, every word of it.” - -With this Clark ordered his men to horse, and the quest at once began. - -Frank did not believe that he could be of further service just now, so -he decided to return to the Steam Man. - -Mounting his horse he rode down through the defile. In a few moments he -reached the spot where the remnant of the brave Vigilant band were. - -There was the Steam Man intact, but Frank saw at a glance that something -was wrong about the camp. - -Everybody appeared to be deeply excited. Young Barrows was seen wringing -his hands and rushing about madly. - -Frank sent his horse forward rapidly. - -Barney saw him coming and ran out to meet him. - -“Och hone, Misther Frank!” he cried. - -“Well!” exclaimed Frank, reining up his horse, “what is the matter?” - -“Sure, somethin’ terrible has happened since ye went away.” - -“Well, what is it?” - -“Shure, sor, the young lady, Bessie, has gone, sor, an’ divil a wan av -us kin foind her anywhere.” - -“Bessie Rodman gone?” gasped Frank. “Can that be possible?” - -“Shure, sor, it is, an’ faix they all do believe that the divils av -cowboys, be the orders av Artemus Cliff, have got her agin.” - -“Great heavens!” cried Frank, with horror, “how on earth could they have -done that? Is there not enough of you here to prevent?” - -“Shure, sor, that is thrue enough,” cried Barney. “But it’s the girrul’s -fault hersilf, as ivery wan believes.” - -“Her fault!” cried Frank, in surprise. “How could that be?” - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - THE LOVERS QUEST. - - -“I’ll tell ye how it was, Mister Reade,” cried bluff Harmon; the -vigilant, as he came us. “Ye see the gal took big chances. Thar’s a -spring in that bit av bushes there an’ she went over to git a drink of -water. Nobody has seen her since.” - -“Have you made a good search?” asked Frank, sharply. - -“An all fired good one.” - -“But how do you know that Cliff’s gang have got her?” - -“Because we know that it could not be Injuns, for the ground was marked -with prints of the cowboys’ shoes.” - -Frank received this information with sinking heart. - -He knew that it must be too true that Bessie Rodman had again fallen -into the hands of Cliff. - -It was a dismaying reflection. - -To effect her rescue would prove no easy task. - -Just how to go to work to do it was a problem to Frank. - -But he was not long in deciding upon a plan of action. - -Meanwhile young Barrows, desperate over the thought that his girl love -was once more in Cliff’s power, had made a daring move. - -Alone he rode away into the hills. - -He was determined to rescue Bessie or sacrifice his life in the attempt. - -Barrows was a youth of rare pluck and great determination. - -In this quest he was aided by his blind love for Bessie Rodman. For her -he would gladly give up his life. - -Striking into the hills he sought to follow the trail of the abductors. - -But it was soon lost in the flinty ground, and his best efforts to -recover it were in vain. - -However, he kept on with feverish resolution. It was now a blind quest, -but this did not deter him in the least. - -Soon Barrows had penetrated deep into the hills. - -He heard the distant sounds of firing and knew that the soldiers and -Cliff’s men were yet having it out. - -“God give me strength to rescue Bessie Rodman!” he prayed, as he rode -on. - -It had occurred to Barrows that the young girl might have been taken to -Ranch V by her captors. - -He had half made up his mind to proceed thither when a thrilling thing -occurred. - -Suddenly the sharp crack of a rifle smote upon the air. - -Barrows reeled in the saddle and his horse gave a plunge. - -A line of red blood trickled down over his face. The bullet had grazed -his cheek bone. - -It was a narrow escape. - -The fraction of an inch in another direction, and the bullet might have -penetrated his brain. - -Young Barrows had faced danger and death times enough to know quite well -what to do. - -He instantly dropped from his horse and spoke a word of command to the -animal. - -The faithful and well-trained steed wheeled and galloped away into the -cover of timber near. - -Barrows himself sank down behind a pile of rocks. - -All this was done in the twinkling of an eye. - -The trained westerner whose life is in danger knows well the value of -quick action. - -It was this which saved the life of Barrows, for half a dozen bullets -came whistling down the mountain side the next moment. - -He had run unconsciously upon his foes. He experienced a thrill as it -occurred to him that this was most likely the party who had Bessie -Rodman in their charge. - -“Heaven help me now!” he muttered, fervently. “I must save her or die!” - -From his position he could safely scrutinize the mountain side. - -He saw that far up on its side there was a rude cabin made of bark and -logs. - -From this the storm of bullets had come. - -Nothing could be seen of those within the cabin. - -But Barrows believed that not only was the foe within, but also Bessie -Rodman. - -He was somewhat at a loss now to know just what move to make. - -To advance openly to the attack would have been an act of folly. - -He would certainly have met his death in a summary fashion. - -So while pondering on the subject he continued to watch the cabin -windows. - -He held his rifle in readiness for instant use. - -Suddenly a face appeared for an instant at one of the windows. - -It was quickly withdrawn, and Barrows had not time to fire. He -recognized it, however, as the face of one of the outlaws. - -The young plainsman’s nerves were steel, and he watched his chance again -with nervous anxiety. - -Suddenly the opportunity came. Once more the face appeared. - -Barrows raised his rifle quick as thought. - -Crack! - -A wild cry went up, the sound of a falling body was heard, and then the -tramping of feet and bitter curses. - -Barrows knew that his shot had taken effect. - -Then he changed his position. But not a sound or a sign of life came -from the mysterious cabin. - -“If they are in the cabin they are keeping mighty dark,” he muttered. -“They surely must be there, for I have not seen them come out as yet.” - -A great length of time had elapsed. - -Certainly an hour and a half of waiting had passed, and Barrows felt -that he must do something and at once. - -“I shall die of worriment if I stay here,” he muttered. “Perhaps——” - -He paused. A thrilling thought had struck him. - -It was more than likely that he had been waiting all this while for -nothing. - -It would have been not by any means a difficult matter for the foe to -have slipped out by a rear exit, and by this time be far from the spot. - -But how was he to determine this fact. - -It could only be done by approaching the hut boldly and searching it. - -To do this was to incur the risk of a bullet from the outlaws. - -This might be only a clever trick of theirs to draw him from his covert. - -All these thoughts passed kaleidoscope-like through Barrow’s brain. - -He was satisfied that the foe could be but a half dozen in number. - -If he could have kept up a desultory battle with them in his present -position he believed that he could have picked off a number of them, and -thus reducing their numbers eventually bring the fight to a focus with a -fair chance of winning. - -But the outlook now was by no means so prepossessing. - -It was more than likely that he would have great difficulty in cutting -off the abductors before they should join the main body of the cowboys. - -In this case it would be more difficult to rescue Bessie Rodman. - -Barrows now realized his folly in starting out single handed to pursue -the abductors. - -If he had now several of his companions with him the hut could have been -surrounded and there would have been little trouble in making the -rescue. - -But time was speeding and something had got to be done at once. - -Barrows proceeded to act. - -He began to cautiously climb up the mountain side keeping in the cover -of rocks and trees. - -He was very careful not to expose himself to a shot and in this way had -soon reached a point from which he believed he could see the rear end of -the cabin. - -There it stood lonely and silent. - -“Was it really deserted or were the foe yet within its walls?” - -To all appearances it was deserted. - -Barrows hesitated a moment and then took the desperate chance. - -He emerged boldly from the woods and approached the cabin. - -On he went until within ten yards of the door. Yet there was no sign of -life. - -The next moment he reached the door. - -It yielded to his touch and he entered. The place was deserted. - -There were evidences that the foe had been there. - -Also Barrows made a thrilling discovery. In the soft dirt of the floor -he discovered the footprints of Bessie Rodman. - -At least it was safe to presume that they were hers, for there was no -likelihood that the region for many miles held another of her gentle -sex. - -Feverishly Barrows examined the trail and followed it out through a rear -door of the cabin. - -It led into a narrow gulch and up the mountain. - -It was quickly lost in the gravelly soil, but Barrows kept on up the -mountain. - -He now censured himself for not having acted with greater dispatch. - -He believed that had he changed his position earlier he would have -become aware sooner of the change of base of the abductors. - -This was undoubtedly true, but on the other hand there had been the -great risk of exposure to a bullet. - -On the whole the lover felt that he had reason to be grateful for his -success in so promptly striking the trail of the foe. - -He kept on up the mountain with increasing hopes. - -If he could once more overtake the abductors under more favorable -circumstances he believed that he could effect the rescue of Bessie -Rodman. - -He still kept on up the mountain. - -Then he suddenly halted at a point from which he had a good view of the -country about. - -He looked down upon a level plain below some distance which was fringed -with trees. - -In the verge of this timber line Barrows saw a number of moving figures. - -He was satisfied that they were the party of abductors and he even -fancied he could see the form of Bessie Rodman. - -With deadly resolution Barrows started in pursuit. - -Down the mountain he went and soon reached the level of the plain. - -The party was now out of sight but Barrows believed that he could -overtake them. - -So he set out at a rapid pace along the verge of the timber. Exciting -experiences were in store for him. - - - - - CHAPTER XIX. - FRANK’S NARROW ESCAPE. - - -Frank Reade, Jr., had decided to go at once in quest of the abductors of -Bessie Rodman. - -He called Pomp and Barney aboard the Steam Man, and the start was made. - -Of course they were not aware that Barrows had started out upon the same -mission. - -It was decided to proceed up the Death Gulch, for Frank fancied that the -abductors had likely struck out over the mountain range. - -The gulch could be traversed by the Steam Man easily, and Frank deemed -it safer to travel that way. - -Up the gulch the Steam Man went. - -For some distance all went well, and no incident worthy of note -occurred. - -But finally a branch of the canyon was reached, and here a halt was -called. - -This extended to the southward. - -Frank knew that the outlaws could not have crossed this without a wide -detour. - -The ground was high above the walls of the canyon, and the young -Inventor decided upon a different move. - -The Steam Man proceeded up this canyon for some ways. - -Then Frank called a halt. - -“We will stop here,” he said. - -“Shure, Misther Frank,” cried Barney, “phwat iver do yez want to do that -fer? It’s a clear course ahead.” - -“I am well aware of that, Barney,” replied Frank, “but I am not sure -that we are following the right course.” - -“Indade, sor.” - -“I mean to climb to the top of the canyon wall here and take a look off -at the country.” - -“Shure enough, sor!” - -“Golly, Marse Frank, amn’t youse gwine to let dis chile go wif yo’?” - -“Begorra, not a bit av it!” cried Barney. “Shure, yez may stay wid the -Stheam Man, naygur.” - -“Yo’ g’long, I’ish! I reckon Marse Frank take me dis time.” - -Frank smiled and said: - -“Yes, it is no more than fair, Pomp, for you to go this time. You will -remain with the Man, Barney.” - -Barney did not demur, for he knew that it would be of no use. - -But he had been with Frank on excursions many times, and perhaps felt -that it was no more than fair that Pomp should have this chance. - -No time was lost. - -Armed with rifles and revolvers, the two explorers left the Steam Man. - -A good path up the canyon wall was selected, and after an arduous climb -they finally reached the summit. - -From here a mighty view of the country about was obtained. - -As far as the eye could reach to the eastward was the level expanse of -plain. - -In the other direction mountain peaks rose above them to a great -altitude. - -Frank had a powerful glass, and with this proceeded to scrutinize the -country below. - -But he could see nothing of the cowboys, nor was he able to tell what -direction Clark’s men had gone. - -He descried at once what he believed to be smoke ascending from behind -distant trees, and fancied that this might be from the guns of the -military and the cowboys. - -But of this he was not sufficiently positive to venture to go thither. - -“Well, Pomp!” he said dubiously, as he closed the glass, “I don’t see -that we can locate the abductors of Bessie Rodman from here I declare I -am befogged.” - -“Golly, Marse Frank,” cried Pomp, with dilated eyeballs, “what eber yo’ -tink we bettah do now?” - -“I declare I don’t know.” - -“I’se done reckon dat de cowboys hab gone back to dat ranch ob dere’d -wid dat lily gal.” - -Frank gave a start. - -It had not before occurred to him that the abductors might have taken -their captive to Ranch V. - -Indeed, so strongly did he become impressed with the possibility that he -was half inclined to start at once for the ranch. - -But sober second thought impelled him first to think of searching the -hills. - -If she could not be found in them then it would be time enough to think -of paying Ranch V a visit. - -An incident happened at the moment also that for a time prevented any -move of the sort. - -Pomp had begun to scale a small peak near. - -“P’ra’ps I kin get a bettah look from up yere, Marse Frank!” cried the -darky. “Jes’ de same, I tries it fo’ yo’.” - -“All right, Pomp,” replied Frank. “Tell me if you see anything of -importance and I will come up.” - -“A’right, sah.” - -Pomp went up the peak. - -He reached the top and began to look over the country, when suddenly he -beheld a thrilling scene below. - -Frank had gone to the edge of the canyon to look over and see what the -Steam Man was about. - -As he leaned over the edge of the deep gorge he did not see a giant form -suddenly glide from a crevice in the cliff behind him. - -It was, in reality, an enormous black bear. - -The brute had caught sight of Frank, and being in an ugly mood, started -for him. - -The bear advanced so quickly and noiselessly that Frank was all unaware -of his presence until the brute was upon him. - -Then a terrific blow from the bear’s paw sent him reeling over the edge -of the cliff. - -Over the edge went the young inventor, and a yell of horror and pain -went up from Pomp’s lips. - -“Golly sakes, Marse Frank, hab yo’ fallen down to yo’ death?” cried the -affrighted darky, as he came tumbling down the peak like a madman. - -Frank had certainly gone over the edge. - -The bear stood upon the verge of the precipice growling savagely. - -Pomp was in a frenzy of fear and horror. He could not see what was to -prevent his beloved master from going down to his death. - -He would have rushed to the spot where Frank had stood but the bear was -there. - -At this moment the stillness of the gorge was broken by the shrill -whistle of the Steam Man. - -This was enough for Pomp. - -In a moment he raised his rifle and fired at the bear. - -Ordinarily, he would have been compelled to fire many times, but as -chance had it, this single shot proved fatal. - -It struck the bear full in the eye and went crashing through his brain. - -The big brute went over the edge of the precipice and crashing down into -the gorge. - -Pomp heard plainly the crash of the bear’s body as it struck the bottom -of the pass. - -Then he rushed to the edge and looked over. - -He saw the bottom of the gorge plainly enough. There lay the inanimate -form of the bear. - -The Steam Man stood not twenty yards distant from this spot, and Pomp -saw Barney far below, yelling and waving his hands. - -The darky answered, and then caught sight of something which thrilled -him. - -Clinging to a jutting bit of rock in the canyon wall he saw Frank Reade, -Jr., hanging between heaven and earth. - -The astonished darky fell upon his stomach and leaned far over the edge -of the gorge. - -“Golly, Marse Frank!” he cried, excitedly, “I done fought yo’ was -a-goner fo’ suah. Hab yo’ got a stronghold dar?” - -“Pomp!” cried Frank, in sharp tones, “I am nearly exhausted. I fear I -shall lose my hoid here soon!” - -“Fo’ Hehben’s sake,” cried the affrighted darky, “don’ yo’ say dat, -Marse Frank. If yo’ fell down to de cornah ob dat gorge yo’ would be -killed fo’ suah. Yo’ jes’ wait an’ dis chile will help yo’.” - -“You’ll have to hurry, Pomp!” cried Frank, in an exhausted manner. - -“Yo’ kin jest bet I will.” - -“Whurroo, there naygur!” cried Barney from below. “Wud yez be afther -letting down a rope to Misther Frank. Quick, now, or yez won’t have the -toime.” - -Pomp acted quickly. - -The darky carried constantly a lariat at his waste. - -This he lowered over the edge and down to the point where Frank was -hanging suspended between earth and sky. - -Pomp had acted with great dispatch, but even as the rope went over the -edge, a warning cry went up from Barney below. - -“My God! I am falling!” cried Frank, with horror. - -His hands were slipping over the edge of the jutting bit of rock to -which he clung. - -The next moment they released their grip entirely and down he went. - -But, as good fortune had it, just below him was a stump growing out of -the cliff. - -Against this he fell and his clothing caught upon a jagged root. - -It held him firmly, and there he hung safe and secure. - -A cry of joy went up from Pomp and Barney. - -“Jes’ yo’ hang right on, Marse Frank!” cried the darky, earnestly. “Don’ -yo’ gib way at all, an’ dis chile he done pull you up a’right.” - -“All right, Pomp,” cried Frank, regaining his coolness so habitual to -him. “I think I am safe here.” - -“Praise de Lor’ fo’ dat?” cried the elated darky. “Jes’ hol’ right on.” - -Down went the lariat. - -In a moment more it settled over Frank’s shoulders. - -As Pomp drew on it, Frank made it secure under his arms. - -Then the darky began to draw up on the rope. It required some exertion -of strength, but in a few moments Frank cleared the edge. - -But at this moment a loud shout came up from the gorge below. - -It was Barney’s voice raised in a note of alarm. - -“My soul!” cried Frank, excitedly. “What can have happened?” - -Both rushed to the edge of the canyon and looked over. - - - - - CHAPTER XX. - THE FLOOD—CORNERING THE FOE. - - -It was a thrilling sight which met their gaze. - -They saw Barney leaping up and down and gesticulating wildly. - -“What is the matter?” cried Frank. - -But before the words had fairly left his lips he saw what was the -trouble. - -Along the bottom of the gorge a thin stream of water was flowing. - -Every moment it was increasing. - -“Bejabers, Misther Frank, is there much more wather comin’?” cried -Barney. “Shure if so, I’m thinkin’ we’d better be after getting out of -here.” - -“Right?” cried the young inventor, excitedly, “but where can it come -from?” - -He ran to an eminence near and from which a good view of the upper -canyon could be had. - -And there Frank beheld a thrilling sight. - -At the upper end of the canyon was a large lake made by an accumulation -of logs and debris across the source of the canyon. - -Here half a score of men with axes and iron bars were engaged in -breaking the dam so as to let the whole lake down into the gorge. - -It would mean a flood of awful sort if they succeeded. - -It would surely sweep the canyon clear, and the position of Barney was a -most perilous one. - -Frank saw this with horror. - -He knew at once that the workmen were of the cowboy gang. - -Already the dam could be seen to be giving way. - -In a very few moments the flood must come. No time must be lost. - -Into the canyon the water would plunge and engulf everything in their -path. - -Frank waited no longer. - -He sprung to the edge of the canyon and shouted to Barney: - -“Go, for your life, Barney. Run for the plain. We will take care of -ourselves.” - -“All right, sar!” - -Barney sprung into the cage and away went the Steam Man with a shriek -down the canyon. - -The next moment a terrible roar came from the headwaters of the gorge, -and then Frank and Pomp saw the mighty flood coming. - -Like a race horse it surged down through the canyon. - -It was now a mad race between the Steam Man and the flood. - -It was a long ways to the plain below, and Frank groaned with horror as -he realized the uncertainty of the Steam Man’s reaching it. - -There were places where the Steam Man must go slowly, and this would -mean overtaking by the flood. - -But Barney, with his shrewd Irish wit, had realized this. - -He knew that it would so impossible for him to reach the plain before -the flood. - -So he decided upon a wise move. - -He reached the junction of this canyon with the other. - -There was not a moment to spare. - -Looking back, he could see the water coming in mountainous billows. - -The Steam Man had to be checked a trifle in order to turn into the other -canyon. - -But Barney made the turn all safely, and the Steam Man shot up the -canyon far enough to avoid the back current of the flood. - -“Bejabers, I’m in luck this toime!” cried the Celt, jubilantly, as he -opened the whistle valve. - -The note of safety was heard by Frank and Pomp with a sensation of great -relief and joy. - -They understood at once the move made by Barney. - -“That was a capital thought of Barney’s,” cried Frank. “It is lucky that -he did not keep on the plains. He would have been overtaken.” - -“I jes’ reckon dat am a fac’!” cried Pomp. “Well, I fink we’d bettah get -back to de Steam Man as quick as eber we can.” - -“You are right, Pomp,” declared Frank. “Our position here will be hardly -a safe one now.” - -“Youse right, sah.” - -The flood in the canyon was now rapidly subsiding. - -The great lake had quickly emptied itself into the canyon. - -In a short while the bed of the canyon was once more dry. - -Barney then ran the Steam Man back into the main canyon, and Frank and -Pomp hailed him. - -“You did well, Barney!” cried the young inventor, joyfully. - -“You made the best possible move.” - -“Begorra, I knew well enough that I had to git out of the way of the -wathers, sor,” replied Barney. “But shure, are yez comin’ down soon?” - -“We are comin’ right down,” replied Frank. - -Down the canyon wall they scrambled and safely reached the gorge. - -Then they greeted Barney with joy and clambered aboard. - -“Shure, phwativer will yez do now, Misther Frank?” cried Barney, -eagerly. - -“I shall follow the canyon up and try to dislodge the outlaws,” replied -Frank. - -“Very good, sir?” cried Barney, with readiness. “We’ll go ahead thin?” - -“Yes.” - -Barney took the reins and the Steam Man went on up the gorge. - -In a short while they had reached the dam which had held back the lake. - -Here a course was found directly out upon a vast plain. - -Frank was about to direct the man’s course thither when an incident -occurred to for a moment delay them. - -A loud and harsh voice came from the cliff above. - -“Hello, down there!” - -The speaker could not be seen. The Steam Man came to a halt. - -“Well?” cried Frank. - -“Ye’re Frank Reade, Jr., eh?” - -“That is my name.” - -“Wall, I’m Artemas Cliff. I give ye fair warnin’ to surrender. Ye’re in -a death trap.” - -“Thank you for informing us,” retorted Frank, “but I don’t believe I’ll -surrender yet.” - -“Ye won’t then?” - -“No.” - -“Then take the consequences.” - -“I can do that.” - -A savage curse come down upon the air. Then the crack of rifles was -heard and bullets pattered against the steel netting. - -Of course no harm was done, and Frank only smiled grimly. - -He sent the Steam Man up the gorge, and in a few moments came out upon -the plain, which was deep among the hills and hemmed in with a line of -timber. - -The cowboys continued to pour volley after volley into the Steam Man. - -Frank waited until he had reached a favorable position. - -Then he stopped the Steam Man, and picking up his rifle, said: - -“Come, boys! let’s give them as good as they send.” - -Of course Pomp and Barney were ready and eager. - -A destructive fire was sent into the covert of the cowboys. - -In a few moments it grew so hot that they could not remain there and had -to get out. - -With baffled yells they retreated deeper into the hills. - -“Whurroo!” yelled Barney jubilantly. “Shure it’s aisy enough to whip -such omadhouns as they be!” - -“Golly! don’ yo’ be too suah, I’ish,” remonstrated Pomp. - -“What do yez know about it, naygur?” - -“Suah, I know jes’ as much as yo’ does, I’ish.” - -“G’long! Yez are a big stuff.” - -“I amn’t so big a wan as yo’ am.” - -“Say that agin, an’ I’ll break the face av yez.” - -“Huh! Yo’ can’t do it.” - -The two rogues would have had a friendly set-to then and there but Frank -interposed. - -“None of that,” he cried, sternly; “there is serious work before us.” - -This was a quietus upon the two rascals, and they ceased their -skylarking. - -The cowboys had been driven back, but now a thrilling sound came from -the distant hills. - -It was the heavy volleying of many rifles. There could be but one -explanation. - -Evidently the cavalry had come into conflict with the cowboys. - -A good sized battle was in progress. An impulse seized Frank. - -He realized that he ought to join that conflict. There was doubt but -that the Steam Man could do much to aid the cavalry. - -So he started the Man across the plain, looking for an opening into the -hills in the direction of the firing. - -This it, however, seemed not easy to find. - -But as the Man was skirting the line of timber, a thrilling sound was -suddenly brought to view. - -In a small clearing in the verge of the timber two men were striving to -down one. It was a terrific and deadly struggle which was in progress. - -The single fighter was holding his own well. - -Near by, with arms tied behind her, was a young girl. - -It was Bessie Rodman. - -“My God!” cried Frank. “Quick, for your life, boys! We must put an end -to that struggle. Don’t you see it is young Barney and he is fighting to -rescue the girl.” - -“Golly, dat am a fac’!” cried Pomp, excitedly. “Jes’ gib me a chance at -dem rapscallions.” - -Up to the spot the Steam Man swiftly ran. - -A cry of wildest joy and hope welled up from Bessie Rodman’s lips. - -Young Barrows also saw that rescue was at hand and made extra exertions -to overcome his foes. - -The cowboys, however, seeing that succor had come tried to break away. - -As Barrows was too exhausted to restrain them they succeeded and dashed -away at full speed. - -Reaching their ponies they mounted and were out of sight in a twinkling. - -The next moment Barrows had clasped Bessie in his arms, first cutting -her bonds. - -“Thank Heaven!” he cried. “We are united once more, and this time let us -hope never to part.?” - -Those aboard the Steam Man pretended to be busy during the affecting -meeting. - -But soon the lovers came to the cage and a general welcome followed. - -An explanation of all followed, and then plans for the future were -quickly decided upon. - - - - - CHAPTER XXI. - WHICH IS THE END. - - -The sound of firing now came from the hills quite plainly. - -It was evident that Clark’s men were having a hard battle. - -Barrows detailed his experiences as we have recorded in a previous -chapter. - -Then it was decided at once if possible to join the cavalry. - -“If I can place Miss Rodman in your charge, Mr. Reade,” said young -Barrows, gallantly, “I will gladly join the soldiers and aid in the -repulse of the foe.” - -“You may do that,” replied Frank, readily. “In fact, I think it safer -for the lady to remain in the wagon hereafter.” - -“You are very kind.” - -“It is nothing.” - -Accordingly Bessie was given a seat in the wagon. - -Then Barrows mounted one of the ponies left by the cowboys. - -“I will see you later,” he said lifting his hat to Bessie. - -Then he rode away to join the cavalry in their battle. - -The Steam Man, of course, could not hope to follow so quickly. - -The fleet pony could go through narrow paths, and of course Barrows -reached the scene of action long before the others. - -But Frank Reade sent the Steam Man along at a good pace. - -After some search a pass was found, and the Man made its way carefully -through, and suddenly came out upon the field of action. - -The cowboys were strongly intrenched in the hills, and seemed disposed -to make a final stand. - -Col. Clark’s men were making desperate attempts to drive them from their -position. - -As the Steam Man came dashing up to the spot a great cheer went up from -the soldiers. - -Frank answered it by pulling the whistle valve of the Man and sending up -a sharp note. - -The Man could not hope to reach the position of the outlaws, for the -ground was too uneven. - -But a position was taken up from where the battle could be easily -watched. - -Then Col. Clark came up to the wagon. - -Warm greetings followed, and Frank said: - -“Is there anything I could do to help you, colonel?” - -“I think not,” replied the gallant officer. “I believe we shall drive -them out very soon now.” - -“I hope so.” - -“If I am not mistaken the day of Cliff and his gang are numbered.” - -“That is joyful news.” - -“Yes.” - -“I hope you will succeed.” - -“Thank you.” - -The colonel rode away and the voyagers watched the contest with -interest. - -One watching the beautiful face of Bessie Rodman could have seen that -she was inwardly praying for her lover’s safety. - -But fortune was with the troops, though they had experienced a hard -battle. - -The position of the outlaws was a very strong one and almost -unassailable. - -High walls of rock were there for them to use as a breastwork. - -It was not easy to dislodge them except at great loss of life. - -But Clark was not a man to be defeated. - -He urged his men on and slowly but surely drove the foe before him. -Frank Reade, Jr., now with Barney and Pomp and Bessie Rodman on board, -took the Steam Man out on to the prairie. - -For over an hour a kind of desultory conflict was kept up in the hills. - -Then Col. Clark suddenly came dashing up to the wagon. - -“We have got them dislodged,” he cried. “And I think they have struck -out for Ranch V. Now if you will show us the way, Mr. Reade, we will try -and exterminate this poisonous gang.” - -“With pleasure!” cried Frank. - -He started the Steam Man at once for Ranch V. - -Across the prairie the machine ran rapidly, and the cavalry galloped in -the rear. - -It was in the latter part of the day that all came out upon a rise -overlooking the stockade of Ranch V. - -But the cowboys had got there in advance and had made ready for an -attack. - -Col. Clark was a man of immediate resources. - -Without hesitation or a moment’s delay he threw his men forward on the -charge. At almost the first attack the gate was carried and the soldiers -entered the yard. - -But step by step Artemus Cliff contested the way. - -His men by divisions surrendered half a dozen or more at a time. - -Being thus made prisoners, they were sent to the rear. In this manner -the numbers of the cowboy gang were decimated. - -Suddenly a thrilling cry went up. - -“Fire! Fire!” - -The stockade and ranch proper had been fired, and great columns of flame -now arose. - -The scene was fast becoming a thrilling one. Darkness was coming on, and -the rattle of firearms the dark shadows of night partially dispelled by -the flames, gave a weird aspect to everything. - -Slow but sure was the conquest of Cliff and his gang. - -Now he was driven to his last resort, the corner of the stockade nearest -the river. Scarce a score of his followers now remained. - -It was utterly no use for him to resist longer. The villain saw it but -yet kept on fighting doggedly. - -“Surrender, or die!” cried the lieutenant who led the squad. “It is your -only chance.” - -The remaining cowboys threw up their hands. But Cliff pitched forward in -a heap upon the ground, struck by a pistol ball. - -There he was found later under a heap of dead men. He was removed to the -camp near and his wounds examined. - -Ranch V was a thing of the past. - -Not a stick was left standing, and of the cowboy gang fully a hundred -had rendered up their final account. - -Possibly twenty of the cavalrymen had been killed. - -It had been quite a severe battle, but Frank Reade, Jr., and his -companions could not help but feel overjoyed at the result. - -Barney and Pomp had an old time set-to over the victory, this time Pomp -coming off victorious. - -The night was passed quietly. Early the next morning a surgeon came to -the Steam Man and called for Frank. - -He announced that Cliff was dying, and wanted to make a confession but -would make it to nobody else. - -Frank hurried to the dying couch of the villain. Cliff’s filmy gaze was -fixed upon him eagerly, and he said, huskily: - -“Reade, I’m done for. I made a good fight but I’ve lost. The game’s up. -I might as well make a clean breast of it. Uncle Jim is innocent of -Rodman’s death. Sid Bowen and Jim Ducey, my trusted pals, killed Rodman -and worked the whole game. That’s all. I reckon I can die better now.” - -“You have done a good deed, Artemus Cliff,” said Frank, kindly. “And may -God forgive you your sins.” - -But the villain did not answer. Already his eyes were set. The Master -had called him. He had cheated the gallows after all. - -A grave was dug on the prairie and Frank saw that he was properly -buried. - -The confession was put in writing and duly witnessed. The mission of the -new Steam Man to the far west was ended. - - * * * * * - -The spirits of all were bright and cheerful, now that the end had come. - -The extermination of the Cliff gang was certainly a blessing to that -part of the State, and no one regretted the villain’s demise. - -Preparations were now made for the return home. - -Of course, Col. Clark and his command would return to the fort, but -Frank now thought of Bessie Rodman. - -“By Jupiter!” he muttered, “something must be done for her. Poor girl! -she is without a friend in the world now.” - -Barney and Pomp winked at each other, and Barney cried: - -“Bejabers, Misther Frank, have yez lost yer powers av penetration?” - -“I reckon yo’ am way off, Marse Frank,” rejoined Pomp. - -“What are you fellows driving at?” asked Frank, in surprise. - -“Why, dat ar’ gal, she am got one ob de bes’ friends in de worl’. Jes’ -yo’ cast yo’ eye ober dar an’ see dat spruce young feller what am -walkin’ wid her.” - -Frank did “cast his eye” in the direction indicated, and saw Bessie and -young Walter Barrows approaching. - -There was a particularly happy light upon the faces of both. - -“Pshaw!” muttered Frank. “That young fellow can’t marry her yet. She’s -got to have a home in the meanwhile. Miss Rodman, one moment, please.” - -The lovers paused, and Frank said brusquely: - -“I can understand your position, Bessie, very well, and I know that you -need a home. I can only offer to take you to Readestown with me, and my -wife will do all in her power——” - -“One moment, sir,” said Barrows, with burning face. “You are very kind, -but let me first explain. I am this lady’s natural protector for life.” - -“What?” gasped Frank. - -“Yes, she is my wife.” - -Pomp and Barney collapsed at the expression upon Frank’s face. - -“Your wife?” gasped the young inventor. “When were you married?” - -“Just now, and the ceremony was performed by the chaplain of the -regiment.” - -Frank thrust forth his right hand, and gave Barrows a grip which made -him wince. - -“You must pardon my conduct,” he cried, “but it was such a surprise. I -wish you both worlds of happiness.” - -Some hours later the new Steam Man was on its way homeward. A week later -it was in Omaha, Nebraska, and not long thereafter was at home in -Readestown. - -The young inventor was received at home with an ovation, and his father, -the distinguished Reade Senior, was overjoyed to learn that the evidence -had been procured to clear Travers. - -As for the latter he came from prison like one coming into a new life -and from that time on regarded Frank Reade, Jr. as his greatest earthly -benefactor. - -The new Steam Man and his wonderful western trip was the talk of the -country. - -People came from near and far to see the invention and it was not long -before the young inventor suddenly found himself involved in another -daring project. - -The new Steam Man was destined to make another trip, and become involved -in adventures even more thrilling than these just recorded, and a full -and detailed account of the second trip may be found in - - - No. 2. of the FRANK READE LIBRARY, - - ENTITLED - - Frank Reade, Jr., With His New Steam Man in No Man’s Land; - - OR, - - ON A MYSTERIOUS TRAIL, - - By “NONAME.” - - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - -Transcriber’s note: - - 1. Silently corrected typographical errors. - - 2. Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed. - - 3. Retained inconsistent spelling of dialect as printed. - - 4. Changed ‘gate’ to ‘gait’ on p. 4. - - 5. Changed ‘They’ to ‘The’ on p. 4. - - 6. Changed ‘In’ to ‘Of’ on p. 11. - - 7. changed ‘she’ to ‘the’ on p. 16. - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANK READE, JR., AND HIS NEW STEAM -MAN, OR, THE YOUNG INVENTOR'S TRIP TO THE FAR WEST*** - - -******* This file should be named 53932-0.txt or 53932-0.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/5/3/9/3/53932 - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. 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