Frank Reade Library No. 12: Frank Reade and His Steam Man of the Plains — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

THE STEAM MAN OF THE PLAINS. 19 Again came that sound, but now from a pomt equally distant, on the extreme right hand, al- most on a line with the of the wagons. *“They’re closin’ in, I think,” muttered Snap Carter. | “*T think I’! wait until I hearthem upon Just at that moment the chirp came from the extreme left, and then Carter spoke to the men: a Boys," he said, speaking low, and betraying on. ** Yos,” said the men. **Don’t get flustered,”’ said Snap;” but the truth of the matter is, that our enemies are on the right and left hand, and directly in front of us. How many of ’em there is, no one knows, and We can't tell how nesky soon they may work around to the back and have us surrounded— above al) ti gs, I caution yer to speak low.” ‘“* What is te be done?” ** Watch and wait,” said Snap. ‘“ There is no better words to live and die by. I’d cruwi out and try to scout around a bit, but then I might get scooped, and then it would be all day with you fellers. I must stand bere and give my orders, or we'll never leave this grove alive. Pass the question around the crowd: ‘Is eve man fully armed and got enough ammunition?” The question went around, and the reply as- sured r that the emigrants were in good fighting order. Again that signal-like chirping broke the still- ness. As before, it came from the front, and was in- stantly answered from right and left, and a mo- ment later came a faint chirp from the rear. The train was surrounded ! What number of enemies were o them they did not know, but could a light have been thrown ath wart the faces of the emigrants pale. of them would have been found deadl¥ e. There is something terrible in being hemmed in on all sides by foes. If your enemy is before you, then you can brace against some firm sup- port, perhaps, aod strike with the confident feel- g that your rear is safe, but when your foes are on all sides, then you feel shaky. You know not where to look for blows, and feel that you aro destined to be struck down from one quarter while defending yourself from another. A deep silence succeeded the chirping, and the emigrants listered so intently for the next sound that they scarcely seemed to breathe. They were soon startled from the attitudes of | lif arr: on. on oe and clear rang out the command on the t had it sounded, before Carter’s voice hurled back a deflant shout. ‘It’s Captain Slasher,” he cried ; ‘‘ we've whip- ped him before and we can do it again.” Then there was a mighty rushing sound, as the red and white robbers poured down upon the From all sidee they came, yelling like a horde of unchained ee t the old guid “Steady men |” rang out the o! e, ‘Face front an’ vight an’ left. Fire!” The order was obeyed. Crash The rifles out in 8 prolonged din; the bullets whistled and shrieked among the trees, and the hoarse cries of the wounded, the death ls of the slain, and the loud commands of the ers to continue the advance, told very plainly that Snap Carter had given a wise order. Still the horde of rufflans poured down upon em. a6 Fire y” This time the command was shouted out by Captain Slasher. doarce had it left bis lipe, ere Carter had yelled eut sharply : ‘Drop! The men for the moet part comprehended the , and understanding the erder, fell quickly to ground. Many lives were saved by the quick order, but many a8 life was lost, nevertheless. The fire had only come from one quarter, and had been directed low, so that the allies on the ether quarters should not suffer from the bullets of their friends. On came the robbers. The four divisions of the enemy could not close im upon the emigrants while the wagons inter- vened, but that was what troubled the pioneers most. They feared for their wives and little ones, while they were forced to do battle against the nearer portion of the enemy. a e hard!” yelled Snap Carter, whose eyes were cat-like ia the darkness. ‘Strike for yer wives and little uns, and never say die!” His heavy rifle was twisted around his head as Han as a dandy might twirl a cane. e leaped boidly away from his men, and went into the thickest of the enemy’s ranks. Skulls were crashed like eath the mighty sweep of that skilifully-wielded rifle, and his foes went down before him like mere puppets. Shouts and yells, cries and shrieks, loud com- mands and pistol shots seemed fairly to clash to- gether in the air. Blows were desperately struck and were des- perately parried even in the darkness that hung over the grove, The marauding bands fought for plunder; the emigrants fortheir wives, children and lives. A rumbling sound pierced the air, and made it- self audible above the roa. and din of the des- perate ba‘‘le. The thundering sound of many iron-shod hoofs battering the ground came to the ears of the fighting guide, and a moment later the flashing g of a score of torches revealed the approach of a mounted band of armed men. Like a resistiess torrent they swept down upon the outer ranks of the enemy, their wild western cheer peeling out on the breeze. CHAPTER XXII. DASH BALLETT’S LAST SHOT. WuHewx Frank Reade was clutched by Beales and his two comrades, he struggled desperately to free himself from their grasp. However, the boy was powerless in their strong hands, and he svon found that he was exerting to | himself in vain. ‘Hold still, you whelp!” cried Beales. “Stop your sunisi ing Os I will draw my twothpick across your throat! Have you got any idea that you can get away?” “What right have you to hold me?” cried Frank. ‘“‘The only right that is rocognized on the plains,” said Beales, ‘tho right of might; and that’s the ticket that wins.” “‘T never injured you,” said the boy. “‘That don’t make any odds,” said the brutal Beales. I need this concern of yours, and if it wasn’t for the fact that I need you to run tt, I'd cut your throat!” This made Frank understand that he was in the power ofa man who would not hesitate to shed blood if occasion demanded the taking of e. The Stenm Man had come toa perfect stand-still, for the driver had only let on sufficient steam to turn the ponderous old fellow around. The prairie racer stood motionless, his fiery eyes gleaming out brightly into the dark night. a oares were hissing, showing the steam to well up. Everything was in readiness for a swift and long run, but for all that Frank Reade would have refe stopping just where he was, to traveling n such evil compeny. ** Are you going to knuckle under?” asked Jack He half drew a murderous-looking knife from his belt, as heasked the question, and he glared at the boy in such a cruel, merciless manner that Frank's blood ran cold. ‘* What do you want me to do?” he asked. ‘Run this machine.” ‘* Where to?” ‘‘ Three Islands.” ‘*T don’t know where that is,” said Frank. ‘*T'll show you the way,” said Beales., ‘ Will you do it?” ‘I suppose I must,” said the boy. ‘*Now you're talking,” said the deserter. ‘‘ Can you start now?” ‘“‘ ks soon as I see that my man is in right order,” said Frank. He wanted to get out of the clutcheg of his foes, hoping that some chance might come up which would enable him to get the best of them. How he longed td have on his steel shirt, and the two pocket batteries. With these death-dealing wires crossing his breast, they could not retain their hold upon him @ second. If he could only met to his all-containing trunk for two minutes he could scare the three ruffilans out of their wits, Jack Beales did not liketho idea of letting the young genius be free fora moment. He resepect- ed the brains which had conceived the wonderful Steam Man, and he made up his mind not to give up his grip on the boy while tue latter was out of @ wagon. Accordingly he lifted Frank from the body of the vehicle to the gronnd, and with his huge hand on the boy’s collar, led him up to the eam Man. “There,” he said, ‘‘ make all the examination you want, but don t get loose to cut any of your does on me. You'll get along with me well enough so long as you travel straight and ordeys, but just as soon as you try to fool w me you'll die. I’mac rough customer to fool with, now, I tell you, so mind youreye.” Frank saw it wus no use to work any dodge just then, so, after fumbling about the ves and draughts for a few moments, he said that all was correct. Jack Beales hoisted him up into the again, witich was pretty well crowded with four pereous and the many traps Frank carried witn m. ‘* How fast can you go?” asked Beales. aye of speed?” 66 es,” ‘IT could go fifty miles an hour.” ‘That's too thundering fast for such a night as this,” said Beales. ‘In I dont wart to half as fast. Just clap on enough steam to 8 us about fifteen or twenty, and that will suit me.” ‘‘ AH right,” said Frank, who hoped to throw them Somewhat off their guard by seeming cheer- fulness in complying with theircommands. “In what dizection? ** Do you see that star?” asked Beales. He potnted toa large and very bright body in ) aky. ** 1 do,” said. Frank. ** Then travel towards it,” sald Beales. Frank turned on the steam carefully, and the man moved off at nbout the pace Jack es bad uested. he driver was perched upon his seat with his reing in his handa. 4 Behind him stood the three brutes, weapons rawn., Frank understood that any attempt to prove = would be the signal for a bullet in his rain, Many and many atime did he curse that little mishap which had brought the three brutal rob- bers down upon him. A mile sped by, and half of another was finish ed, when a shot rang out, and a piercing shriek went up to the sky. ® s t e & e Dash Hallett and his two comrades had gone about three miles on their journey towards the Indian villuge, when the shrill whietle of the Steam Man came plainly to their ears, borne on tho still night air. They halted instantly. “ That was the Steam Man,” said Chay ey. ‘‘ Right ye are,” said Barney. ‘‘ What did he holler for?” demanded Dash. ‘‘T really don’t know, unless Frank wanted us to come back for sumething,” said Charley Gorse, **T think Frank must be in some kind of trouble, and sounded the whietle to recall us.” ‘‘Faith an’ must we go back?” groaned the Irishman. ‘“ Och, tare an’ ouns! here was mesilf laughing to think of the illegant shindy that we moight be after findin’ in the village beyant, an’ now we've got to turn tail.” ‘**Parbaps you'll find all the fighting you could ask for,” said Charley. ‘Frank would neveg pars sounded that alarm unless he was in trou- e.”” “Then here goocs for the boy * gaid Dash. “ He's a trump, from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head, and he shan’t send out a sig- nal of distress in vain. He saved my life at the risk of his own, and while I Mve he shall never want a friond !” The two men and the boy then retraced their steps at a lively rate. hey ned, water cor vous ten bright lie at cs rapid, slinging walk, when av t t came visible far ahead. = s It. was the double hand “lege streaming from the eyes of the Terror of the West. They pressed forward more quickly,and in @ few moments could heer the tramping of the fron feet,as the man of metal rushed over the plains, They nlood still in their tracks. The Steam Man was on a line which would bring him past them at the distance of about a hundred feet, and not knowing what was the condition of affairs, they wisely stood aside, _ Onward came tho monster. j varie Hallett cocked his rifle and waited pa- ently. Soon the prairio traveler drew near, and then, by the light shed from the large steam-gau they coul see the three men standing up Ponind rank, One of them was holdiag on to Frank's coat collar, while a knife was gripped ion hie hand. That was enough for Dash. He lifted his rifle, took a quick alm, and fired, The brute shrieked out, and then fell back dead in the arms of Jack Beales, who pulled a heavy revolvor from his belt, and glared out towards the Mra te lied on one rein Frank became excited and the Steam Man swung aroun at the touch, and COmiIcoooe GC SS o(CO)