Frank Reade Library No. 12: Frank Reade and His Steam Man of the Plains — page 5: 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. cy Bago that with a good breeze it will over- take fastest horse and outstrip the fleetest gunner. They cannot battle with it, cannot strike back biow for blow in the death struggle, and that is why they all regard it with horror and fear. It is a fearful enemy, and man and beast alike seek to fiyfrom its scorching tongue of flame. The flames spread with the red volumes of fire, the blue clouds of smoke rolling and plunging over the : “* Ride for yer life,” shouted Dash. “ It's eight males to the first stream. Onward.” The put apars to their horses and the animals 8 The ahriek lainly heard. @ Osages were splendidly mounted, and @eemed to gain on the white men. There was a wide strip of land that had borne mo grass, close to the trees. Of course the fire swept away from there, and thus the were ed to dash aside from the half-circle of fire and push swiftly on after the two men. Thus the flames became the pursuers of doth parties. The red-skins gained upon the whites. Pesce es were dashing along at a high rate of s ‘ The grandly beautiful flames, a moet thrilling spectacle, sread out in a fan-like shape for miles. Wild animals could be seen leaping madly in advance of the flames, and natural enemies now sought flight side by side from this terrible com- mirhe tall dry bed idly to th e tall, grass succum rapidly ) ones of fire; thesmoke rolled over the prairie in dense clouds; the frightened beasts leaped madly in advance of the fire flend; the red and white mounted men were flying before its deathly Le) and altogether the seene was grand yond description. A loud crack ed forth. The leader of the Oxages had fired upon the tives. itznoodle’s horse bounded madly in the air and screamed with pain. Tho red-skina were within range. The Englishman's horse was only wounded, ya bounded onward at still greater speed than ore. Dash Hallett unslung a long rifle from his back, and turned easfly in his saddle. Their pursuers, numbering about a score or 80, were coming on at full speed. In advance of the rest rode a gaily-dressed chief, mounted upon a beautiful cream. ‘* You're the cuss !” muttered Dash Hallet. His rifie leaped to his shoulder. A spiteful crack followed, and the chief of the tumbled headlong to the ground, while ope cence cream dushed madly away to the ly had he fallen before another in tho band spurred forward and took the lead, and without losing a moment the band swept swiftly On. Hi a m g beck, Dash Haliet mad some ct a es of the pursuing party go u © air, an he shouted a Fitznoodle: . ‘* Duck, they’re going to fire!” Hardly had the words escaped his li the shrill echoes rang out, and seve whistled his ears. A shriek sounded on the air. bh turned in his saddle, and was just in time to see his comrade fall to the Me per while his horse s red a few feet forward an then fell dead, or dying, to the ground. “Poor Englisher,” murmured Dash. “It's all up with him. He’s gone up the flume.” when bullets ith one pitying glance at his prostrate com- on, Dash Hallet sped on. ‘“T’ll avonge him,” he gritted between his set teeth, and with practiced ds he very quickly th reloaded his rifle, his fleet horse bounding —— one dead run while the charges were ramm ome. He placed the cap on the nipple, turned in the eaddle and viewed the wildly yelling horde. one new leader was just shouting out an er. Dash Hallet lifted his rifle to his right shoulder, took a quick aim, covering the head of the chief- tain, and fired. At the very second that his finger touched the r the cavalcade wheeled and turned to the The bullet which had been intended for the leader pierced the brain of another member of the band, and with a wild, despairing shriek, he tamblied to the ground. Haliet reined in for a moment. The were d bing a graceful sweep to the left; one that would carry them out of the half-circle covered by the rapidly advancing . away. es of the pursuers could now | zled. Hallet was p Could it be ible that they were e golng to let him esca hout making another effort to cap- ture or kill him? This thought flashed through his mind as he sat motionless on his horse, watching the reds with keen eyes. They kept on for some distance; in fact, until a “ae altogether clear from the fan-like track of the fire, Then they made a gradual turn, and took up a course that would eventually bring them back within the half-circle agein: What could it mean? Dash Hallet was puz- At this moment a low, rumbling noise, as though the feet of a thousand steeds were spurn- ing t e hard earth, was borne to the ears of the unter. The rumbling noise came ffm the extreme right and slightly to the rear. ash Hallet turned from contemplating the In- ne and then he saw the reason of their strange ca. An enormous herd of buffaloes, numbering some thousands, were rushing in a hugo, com- pat body across the plains, hemmed in by the alf-circle of flame. Like a mighty, resistless torrent they were ng down apn him. ‘‘ Away!” shrieked Dash Hallet, and like an a from a bow the noble stallion shot for- ward. The Indians were now about half a mile away to the left, spurring their horses and shrieking like demons. The buffaloes were probably a little further away, on the other hand. Like some living meteor, Tempest sped over the plain. The ground began to roll, small hillocks rising at intervals. before him a small rocky Soon there ap hill, cut in two by the brook known as Shallow m. Thus his course was barred by a chasm of fully twenty feet. The Indians now changed their course and spurred towards him, while the buffaloes on their part, hemmed him in, What a situation ! A score of enemies on the left hand, hot for his blood; a herd of maddened brutes on his right hand; a terrific sea of fire in his rear; and across his course yawned a chasm deep and wide. On 8 the horse; the brink of the hill is reached; the leap is before him; a desperate light gleams in the hunter’s eyes, and his voive rings out: ‘‘On, Tempest, on !” The stallion leaps bravely out into space. SS CHAPTER V. CHARLEY'S PERII.. Waen Frank felt nimserh praeped by human hands he did not lose his head. He merely twisted his head around to find out who held ' It was one of the white robbers. ‘‘ Dio, ye cussed imp!” cried this amiable and mild gentleman of the prairie, and lifted his blood-stainod knife with the charitable idea of saving the boy all future trouble, etc. But the plucky inventor of the steam man was too full of neat little tricks and ideas to allow this. He merely kicked the fellow heavily on the shins, giving a lar cap-lifter with the toe of his boot, and the foolish chap was silly enough to drop him, while he clapped his hand to his knve and set up a moat dolorous yell. Frank leaped backwards, ripped forth a revol- ver, and senta heavy bali tearing through the robber’s shoulder. The wretch fell to the ground. Frank leaped lightly over the prostrate form and dashed out to where the battling faction were still eae blow for blow, the brave emigrants mrpey to thoroughly exterminate the cruel ban- ditti of the plains, The fight was nowa Prager one in more ways than one, for the terrifiee skins were trying their level best to run away from the infu pioneers. Barney Shea, who, it will be remembered, was knocked breathless by accident, had recovered his wind, and was upon his feet again in the midst of danger, yelling and shouting like an Indian, and laying about him with a long, heavy stick, as though fully possessed by a demon. The shrieks of the wounded and dying, the cries and curses of the living, and the loud cracks of the firearms made up a din that was horrible, and the fighting, shooting, and stabbing, the mad- dened forms of the struggling men contending bitterly for life and liberty, made up a scene that was forever impressed on Frank e's mem- ory. “But as the boy reached the edge of the ng line of ©, he heard a deep volce ° high above the hum of the con rank stood ectly motionless for a brief moment, and he bent down and held his ear close to the ground. Tram p—tramp, came the sounds, rapid and , To Frank's ears it appeared that an enemy was advancing. Other ears were better trained than those of the New York boy, and soon a shout rang out that caused a cessation of active hostilities. The warning ory pealed from the lips of old Carter, and the words of the guide were up and re by a score of frigbtened men. ‘‘ Wild horses on a stampede | Only the men who belong to those great plains of the west know the full import of that ory; only the men who havewitneseed the great sight know how grand it is, and how terrible. ; In solid troops they rush over the prairies, headed by a captain, and woe to the poor traveler who bars their path. Their course is as resist- leas as that of the torrent which sweeps down the mountain side, and they sweep down all before em. They were struck with terror. Snap Carter’s voice rang out clear and audible above all others; ‘Dash for the woods |” “ Halt!” The countermand came sharply upon the heols of the order. The men had turned to obey the command of the guide, but when that ringing word saluted their ears, they stood irresolute. P ** Halt!” again ue order Rees given, eS then nap Carter turned upon speaker, who was note other than Frank Reade, ‘*What do yer——” *‘Obey orders,” said Frank, break remonstrance. ‘Every man of bi rop down pers. You could never enter little grove vo.” The men obeyed, feeling that they could weil i this determined mae Re rank sprang © wagon, The stain valves were hissing under a high pressure of steam. In his fight with the robber who had 1 grappled with him, Frank had upset the pan of re. He turned the dish upright aguin, throw in another small package of powdor, and then leap- ed up to his driving-seat. He pulled the rod cautiously, and the man of steam circled slowly around, and in less than half a minute was directly in front of the crouching men, his blazing eyes looking out in the dark- ness. Tho crimson light from tho powder now pated up, spreading a brilliant glow fur over the B ns. The immense troops of wild horses could now be seen advancing, the gorgeous hue of the chemical light falling with thrilling effeet upon their ranks. Frank pulled the whistle-cord, and the fearful voice of the steam man uttered a succcssion of loud yells. Tho leaders grew alarmed when the shriek of the steam monster burst upon their ears. Their eyes were half blinded by the chemical light, which, added to the flery eyes of the steam man, made the surroundings as light as day. The steeds in the foremost ranks began to kick and plunge. They tried to stop the progress of the vast num- bers behind them. As well might a few men try to hold an army in check. In vain the captains halted. The vast throng in the rear still came steadily onward, and the lenders were forced to advance. Tho gated force of the numbers behind them forced tho foremost ones to move on, and this they were compelled to do in tne face of the terrifying stcam man. Then took placo what Frank Reade had cal- culated upon when ordering the emigrants to crouch behind the wagon. The vaat herd of horses could not be turned by the leaders 80 as to avoid the frightful looking object in (heir path, the leadors were forced to divide, and on cither side of the steam maa, the army in their course following like well-train- ad soldiers, Steadily onward pressea the long and wide columns, the glaring light casting wierd shadows over the immense army of moving steeds. . The wounded and opine who lie beyond the steam man are doomed to certain denth, for the divided ranks reunite beyond the puint of division fa on his GOMILGIOO SS o(CO)