Frank Reade Library No. 12: Frank Reade and His Steam Man of the Plains — page 18: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

18 THE STEAM MAN OF THE PLAINS. then he saw to the water in the tank, tried every examined all eatoh, 8 , and brace, paris minutely, and decided that his steam friend was ready to travel a hundred and odd miles at good , Without stopping to take breath. After that be attended to all the parts of the wagon that needed oiling or bracing, for the con- cern was put LogtnEr by means of slides and braces, and then Frank was out of work. eee puta iste more coal into Se momeck of e giant, regu ) pers, an every- thing in readiness to start off at the shortest notice. a to do with himself the boy really did not ow. He had books, but not enough light to read them by, unless he cou'd get within exact ruauge of the half-closed stream of light which came from beneath the lids of the monster, and a big tree prevented him from taking the ition. **T can't stand this,” solilloqu Frank. “I feel just like reading, so I guess I’ll turn the old fellow around a little.” He mounted the box, and Jeaned forward to grasp the driving reins. By some mischance, probably owing to the {m- a ht, he got hold cf the cord attuched to whistle. Whoop, shriek, whoop! The little grove resounded with the loud cry of the monster. Frank was used to the whistle, but then he had not expected to hear it just then, and it startled him so much that he fell over backwards, still re- taining his hold on the cord as he tumbled into the bottom of the wagon. Of course, while he held on to the cord the old fellow yelled. Frank mighty soon let go his hold, and the horrid din ceased as suddenly as it commenced. The hills seemed to echo back the sounds from their far away cliffs, und the boy felt very un- easy. The thought of danger to himself did not occur to him, but he conjectured that his friends would eonsider the whistle asa signal for them to re- turn. “I really don’t know what to do,” muttered Frank. ‘‘I suppose they are half-way on the road by this time, and yet if they heard thoée whistles, they would be sure and come back, and that r Englishman would be left to misery and dangtr among those red and white devils. I should have looked out for just such an accident as this. A good set of si , understood by Charley, would enable me & communicate with him even if he were ays miles Ney: aa aa thing is as good as atelegreph. Toot would te him to come in; toot—toot, would make him understand that I had changed my mind and did not want him, and just by spacing the w es I could fairly talk with him.” He looked up at the steam man in a very dis- consolate manner. *“Tt’s no use,” he said to himself; “I must ions leaped into the wagon, and the boy was firm- ° l by three 8 hands. 7 eee this cooneen in thenans of the breth- ren of the plains,” cried Beales. ‘Obey my or- ders, young man, or I’ll put a bullet through you (” CHAPTER XXI. AT THREE ISLANDS. Cracg ! “‘ Help I” First the loud peal of the rifle, then the ehrill agonized appeal! of a voico—the voice of a man. These successive sounds rolled through the space of Three Islands, startling the feuthered enizens of the trees, and bringing every man of the cmilgrant party to his feet with a bound. Snap 8 command rang out like the note of a bugle. “*Surround the wagons !” The brave guardians of the helpless women and children quickly thronged around the vehicles. Never was there a braver cordon of true hearts. ** Silonce,” commanded the guide. A perfect hush succeeded the order, and the old plainameit bent his ears to catch the slightest sound. It came again. ** Halp!” The voice was weaker now, and to the old guide it seemed that the person in need of help was fast expiring. His noble heart responded quickly to such a He touched two of the emigrants on the arm, and bade them follow him. “ Thar's a human critter in distress,” said the re muuntaineer. ‘I’m going to rescue him, so oller.” He moved in the direction from which the sound came, The eeger emigrants followed after him with cocked rifles. The guide moved cautiously, and yet with some speed. The emigrants followed in single file, steppin directly in the track of their leader. ~~ The sound had seemed to emanate from that pomon of the grove fronting on the east, and ither Snap Carter bent his stepe. He stopped at length, for it was dangerous to go walking blindly forward in the night when there might be a score of enemies in his path. He called aloud: “* Stranger !” For a moment there was no reply. ‘**Guees he’s giv up the ghost,” said Snap. But his fears were removed by a very weak NOEL saying : ** Here. me quickly; I have killed a savage, bat ue hae wounded es a about ¢ P e voice appeared about twen ‘ect distant. v ‘‘Come on,” cried Snap Carter. ‘The cusses are all gone, and we'll soon take this poor chap to the camp. He plunged heedlesaly forward, his friends at either go after them and meet them or have the brave fellows tramping back here for nothing, | his h T’ll throw on a full h ht and push away.” He turned back the eyelids of the giant traveler, and the powerful light streamed out fully, caus- ing strange, weird shades and lights among the branches and leaves of the trees. He got apon the seat, and reached forward for the reins. He was very careful this time not to touch the broad whistle string. . He turned on steam very carefully, for the grove was rather dense, and he knew he ran some risk of uring his man if he [niled to use the utmost caution. As it is with locomotion and balance in the hu- | g man form, so it was with the body and limbs of the Steam Man. In the human form there is always one | weaker than the other, and the stronger limb wil always swing around to the weaker; our genius knew this, and made one leg of his man stronger, by throwing more steam power into the joints. It would then swing around to the leas powerful limb, and thus a curve could be described. Just as he mounted the seut, three dark forms flitted through the trees near at hand, and slowly crept near. k pulled his left rein in order to move around to the right, and the man slowly lifted his The shadowy forms leaped through the flicker- bars of light, and approached the machine. 6 long, iron ltmbs slowly rose and fell, and the man of metal moved around in the direction that Frank desired to go. The forms rapidly drew near, and now darted swiftly forward. Frank was about to throw on a head of gteam, when Jack Beales and two o compan- eels. ‘* Here,” directed the voice. ‘* We’re kimmin’,” cheerily said Carter. ‘“ Lord love yer, stranger, we h’ain’t the kind——” He had just got that far in his comforting as- surances when several forms Jeaped upon him from the darkness. His companions were struck down like logs, and asweeping blow with a rifle-butt was made at the head of the guide. sae Carter realized instantly the nature of the situalion. He had been decoyed away from the train by the enemies who were ng to! strike him making swift, heavy blows at the hardy The old guide defended himself with desper- ate energy, for he felt that the salvation of the train depended upon his getting back to the wagons: is long rifle, wielded by the muscles of his powerful arms, swept 9 circle around him. Foes went down under the whistling stock like | M grass before the scytho. The old tiger was thoroughly aroused, and he felt that he could not afford to die or allow him- self to be taken prisoner just then. He slashed away like a giant, and his foes leaped away from him. It wasn't healthy tocomewithin the wide sweep of the heavy butt. Opposing tomahawks and rifles went down like chaff before the strong sweep of Snap Car- ter’s rifle. A voice rang out. It was the same as that which had called for help, and it said : “Take that man alive. Don’t fire on him.” But Snap had made up his mind that he would not be taken alive. He put forth all his great strength. Like a meteor the rifle flew around his head, his foes retreated, and, suddenly turning, the old guide “*ilis Limbe had not forgotten their speed. m not fo 3 Bushes, logs and rocks were cleared with im- mense leaps. His foes rushed after him with a shout. bale old man sent back an answering cry, and continued on in ying course, A few moments later he reached the surprised guard and buried the countersign at him, and ut the sametime ordered him to retruat to the wagoao after firing the signal of danger. The sentinel obeyed. Together they rushed within the lines of the brave defer‘ers. The sounds of pursuit had ceased. ; down upon the ground ex- eater ide from the mighty His limba were tremblin serene they had mude, and he was unahie to stand. The men crowded arourd him with eager faces. ‘ Are you burt?” asked one. “ Ng. gasped Carter, ‘‘only winded. D—n it, man, cone strike a light unless you want tv lose your p.” For one of the men had tried to light a match in order to see whether the guide was hurt. ‘* Where's Smith and Burns?” asked several of the emigrants. They referred to the two brave fellows who had been laid low by the cruel trickery of the enemy. “Gone under,” said Carter. ‘Who's got any whisky?” “Here,” said several, and a dozen flasks were held out to him. ‘* Has there been a fight?” asked one. “The liveliest bit of a scrimmage that this chicken has had for nigh onto fifteen years,” said Carter, slowly getting upon his feet and stopping to pay attention to the flask of whisky be Deld in his hand. ‘I had the nicest kind of work for jest about two minutes—couldn’t been much longer. I s’pose I must have knocked over a dozen chaps with the butt-end of my old gun. Smith and Burns was jest behind me; but for all that they was both knocked over. Pro bably they didn't see what hit ‘em, even.” ‘‘And how did you escape?” ‘**Cussed if I know,” said the guide. taracthee I must have knocked things fiyin’ ata live- ly rate to git clear o’ that hs ‘‘ But what are we to do?” The question came from several ‘* Keep quiet and watch,” said Snap. ‘None o” yonare plainsmen, or else I could send yer out to y in wait, but ten to one you greenies would lose yer ha’r. A man’s ears must be trained for that business. Be careful not to show the least spark of light.” The men disposed themselves around the wag- ons, watching and waiting w‘th their weapons in their hands, ready to defend their loved ones te the last breath from the crue] marauders. Snap Carter would have liked to wander out be- yond the wagons to fill the post of an advance , and warn of the approach of the enomy, ut his late experience told him that he had to deal with men as skilled as himself. ‘‘ And,” soliloquized the hardy guide, “what can these pect fellers do alone? They've got good grit, ey fight like catamounte under any good leader, but if I should happen to get my windpipe slit it would be a gone case with them. They can’t be expected to know an about such fighting as this, and they’d scooped in no time.” The experienced old plainsman rested his form against a wheel, and with his rifle lightly as the ke held in his grasp peered out as ness would permit him. ** I wish I could throw a light way out there,” he muttered, trying vainly to look into the trees of the furthest grove. ‘Ah, that was a pesky good idea of that youngster what's got the m an. He can see foes and they can’t see him.” He referred to the powerful head-light of the Steam Man, which, while it was sure to dazzle the eyes of those it flashed upon, revealed them to rank while he remained unseen. — Only the stars lit up the darkness, and thelr pale gleams could not dissipate the gloom caused y the heavy foliaged trees of the groves. A faint chirping sort of sound, somewhat like the noise made by a cricket, reached the trained ears of the guide. To him, accustomed his life long to all sorts of signals made in imitation of birds, beasts, and in- sects, such sounds were suspicious. The chirping came from a point directly in ad- vance of him, and perhaps twenty vards t. The old guide ened intently. GOMILGIOO SS o(CO)