Frank Reade Library No. 12: Frank Reade and His Steam Man of the Plains — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

4 THE STEAM MAN OF THE PLAINS. The pight came slowly down upon the wagon Carter doubled the guards, prepared each man for the w now that all the women and chil- e the wagons, and then stole some distance away in advance of the train, wishing to be the advance sentinel of the people who looked up to him for safety. The old guide crawied out several feet from the wagons, and then his eyes caught sight of an ob mo the grass ahead of him. rested on side, drew a keen knife from his belt, and awaited the appearance of the rs) earer and nearer it came,and at last he heard reath the sound of deep-b , “An un crawlin’ on the train,” decided the guide, ea ie gras hee up right be determined i, o career li wind u ere.” eRe and the tufted head of was parted, an Indian ' warrior became dimly discernible to the guide. With a convulsive movement, an immense twitch of the whole body, flung himself upon the red-skin. As he landed upon the bowed form of the Sioux, the lutter gave utterunce to a loud yell. “‘That’s yous last yawp,” gritted Carter, and his sinewy hand clutched the red-skin’s wind- pipe, eff ly shutting off his breath. “I’d ou only for yelling, yer copper-coléred murderer 0’ women !” The guide’s right arm was flung up, and then descended with speed and stre , and a sick- ening thud told that the blade had sunk into the Indian's body. Dt ae instant a peculiar yell rang out far Oid Carter listened infently. The cry was answered from far away toward the left. Carter got upon his feet. The peculiar yoll now sounded some distance off to the right. “Surrounded !” cried the guide, and with fleet steps he dashed back to the corral of wagons fiin the sentinels the pass-word as he darted them. **Out with every light in the camp!” cried the guide. ‘We're surrounded by the cussed ras- cals. They’re on all sides of us, and we mustn't show them a spark. If this black night will hold owt we may be able to meen jem puzzled. Show them so fauch as the light of a pipe and yer ** But they can’t come on us from all sides, I should say,” spoke up one of the men. ‘I think they'll come over the plains in front.” ‘Bo they will,” said Old Carter. ‘I'll creep out that way, and warn yer when I hear ’em comin’. They've been tin’ for darkness, but not suc night as this. Keep yer eyes well opened.” The old guide tightened his belt and dropped to the ground. At that moment a low sound was heard, and the next instant the thrilling cry rang out: “The are ae us?” ns. “Sim forms could now to be seen advancing toward the barricade. & yer pee ** Fire at an pers rest on,” cried the guide, and as hs spoke there came a staNling interruption. A terrible shriek rang out. The sound was like a hoarse whistle. Again that loud, piercing sound came to their ears. Then they heard the noise of heavy feet rush- swiftly toward them over the p : werful light suddenly flashed over the p es, revealing a large body of men standing and erouening in the grass. The command pealed loudly from the lips of the old quie. y Ps Th f th igrants t forth their C) 0 e em sent fo The leaden hail had swept through the ranks of the motionless enemy, carrying destruction pene in its track as the found s m Then followed a thrilling sight. As the cries and shrieks of the wounded and peated forth upon the air, that loud, whist- tng, sound again rang out, and forth from the darkness rushed a gigantic form with eyes of fire. The neck and waist of the monster were encir- eled with a sheet of flame. Prom the mouth of the blazing giant a cloud of steam issued. Uttering fearful shrieks, the frightful-looking ereature among the struggling mass of Se ance one pulled up with a sud- en jerk. Then the belts of fire at the neck and waist widenev and suddenly sent forth bright balls of ame. With reports like guns, the flery missiles shot forth from the cireles of flame and spread con- mn among the wounded and demoralized red-skins, and the white men in the marauding band were scarcely more easy in mind. The flam shot rapidly among the rob- bers, darting hither and thither like stars of fire. The terrible looking t stood motionless on the plains, surveying the scene with eyes which sent forth two long streams of light, «till sending forth those nwful shrieks, as though exulting loudly over the panic. Suddenly the noise ceased; at that very mo- ment a bright, crimson glow appeared several feet behind the b monster, and soon lurid light lit up the prairie far and wide. A voice eo out: 66 r 99 wa !’ shouted the old guide, springing for- W e “Ch the haythenish divils, an’ niver lave a man o’ them alive!” The voice was Barney Shea's. Carter recognized the familiar tones, and his order rang out: a ait guns, pistols, and knives!” he yelled. 6 rge 99 Reassured by tho order, the much surprised emigrants obeyed, and in a compact masse rushed upon the enemy. Red light flashed up brighter, and the scene hh as bright and clear ‘as the hour of noon had D. With revengeful cries the hardy pioneers hurled themselves upon the crowd of badly scared wretches, The belts of flame on the fron monster who surveyed the battle grew paler and paler, and the balis of fire no longer shot forth. Three forms lea past the at A ed giant, and Carley ane Frank, headed by the Irishman, rushed swiltly toward the struggling figures. Pistol shots sounded with whip-like cracks, heavy guns whirled and hummed through the air, tomahawk clashed against knife, savage yells answered English oaths, and the scene was wild and thrilling. Chariey struck an Indian down with his knife and then a white man leaped upon him, clutched | °FY him by the throat, and a heavy bowie for a death-blow. With a wild, Irish yell, Barney Shea made a jump for the ruffian; a heavy stick whirled rough the air, sent the knife fi from the rascal's hand, and then descended y on his cranium, la him out stiff. The Indians been badly frightened by the giant of flame. Totally demoralized and soared out of their senses by the monster, they did not try to fight, oa made a effort to escape ‘rom the vicinity of the | Thee emigrants, on their part, tried to cut them all down. A flying hatchet struck Chariey Gorse on the = and sent him headlong to the blood-stained plain. A rifie swung by a sturdy emigrant took Bar- ney Shea in the stomach, and with all the breath | goals knocked out of his body by the blow, the Irish- man staggered and fell. Old Carter leaped and pranced over the battle- field like a crazy man, shouting and away like mad. With a pistol in each hand, Frank Reade stood - Band, ring whenever he eaw an Indian’s top- no The Indian chiefs pealed forth signal cries. They were answered from all parts of the bat- tle-fleld, and instantly the red-skins made a rush towards the stream. ‘Don't let the dogs escape!”” shrieked old Car- ter, striking down a red robber with his gun. “Cut them down!” The anigmatis answered with a yell. The frightened Sioux rushed madly away to- ward the stream. The white wretches who herded with them tried to stem the rush. The brilliant crimson glow which lit up the plains grew pale. Frank Reade thrust his pistols into his belt and dashed away to the wagon. He seized a from the floor of the ve- hicle and sca contents into a burning pan. As the lurid flames again sprang up, a dark form leaped upon him. " slashing | d) CHAPTER IV. THE PRAIRIE FIBE. Or course there was a cause for the prairie fre mentioned in the second chapter; and as the ns connected with its origin have some bear— {ng upon the story, we aball present them to the er. It was close upon the hour of noon on the day which witn the events chronicled in the pre- ceding chapter; when two mounted men up beneath the shade of two wide-eprescine bok na standing likea pair of lone sentinels on the p Beneath these two trees there bubbled up a pure spring, aad the dry bushes around gave fuel suf- ficient for a cooking fire. The two horsemen dismounted, tied their animals to the lower limbs. of the trees, and proceeded to prepare a meal. : Very soon a ery little are bir orackling and uzzing, an e more rough-and-read king of the two travelers was bending over ft wateh- ing 8 venison steak. he one who was cooking was a man of about thirty, a tough-looking knot, and evidently one of those reckless dare-devils that are always to be found on the plains. He was a hunter, trapper and guide, and was known as Dash Hallett. The other man was about Hallett’s age, but of the English square build, and his face, bis glasses, and his English clothes, added to voice, stamped him a genuine Londoner, with some of the fog of that beclouded city still stick- ing in his throat. This was George Augustus Fitznoodle, who had come to this country with the idea of locating coal and iron mines in Missouri. Dash Hallett was hired by him as guide and body guard, and this was their second day out from civilization. Of course Mr. Fitenoodle was about as green a8 green could be. He had never seen a wild redskin, and he did not care to, either, now that Dash Hallett had ex- plained to him the nature of the beast. But he was destined to meet them very soon. The venison was soon cooked, water was taken om the spring, and the two men sat down to A few minutes slipped by. Dash Haliett’s horse, a noble-looking black stal- lion that bore the name of Tempest, lifted his head and sniffed the breeze. Then he sent forth a shrill neigh. Dash Hallet leaped to his feet, forto him the was a warning one. A slight sound came to his ears, and look out over the plains he beheld a distant body o mounted men. One keen glance told him that by their © of riding, the advancing men: were of the tribe of Indians;, a cruel, blood-thirsty horde of wandering robbers. ‘**Redskins! Jump for your horse!” As he spoke he leaped forward. The stocky-built Fitznoodle also made a leap. Being sqgmewhat heavy on his feet he did not leap far endugh. e landed squarely and fairly amid the glow- embers of the litde cooking fire, and imm y the red flaming sticks went flying in all direo- tions. Some of the h sparks that were raised by Fitznoodle’s feet flew b up in the air, and the oe very naturally bore them out on the rge Augustus soon tumbled away from the He jumped for his horse again, and this time he got to the animal. Dash Hallett had already sprung into his sad- e. ‘“*Mount!” he cried. “If them reds gits their paws on yer, good-bye coal mines.” “‘ H’oh, what h’an ’orrid country,” ed the weak-nerved George Augustus, and hopped into the saddle lively. ‘‘ For ‘eaven's sake 'urry h’up, Mr. ’Allett.” “Follow,” said Dash, and turned Tem ‘s head on the course they were going. “ up yer mind to ride for yet life.” As they spurred out upon the plains a loud yell came through space to their ears. The Indians had discovered them. Dash Hallett looked back, and saw that the Osages were now coming onward like streaks. As he gazed back over the plains a little fork of flame shot uP. Then another, and another atill, until the eager breeze had sent the devouring element over a wide space. Dash Hallett was a brave man, but now his cheek paled. The prairie was on fire! 4 _ = the knowledge that blanched his rad- y cheek. To the men of the plains there ts something horrible and deadly in a conflagration of the grasey plains. COmiIcoooe GC SS o(CO)