Frank Reade Library No. 12: Frank Reade and His Steam Man of the Plains — page 9: 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. 9 to the right hand, another band of mounted men, ane oven ata distance he decided that they were w They only numbered four in all, and were gal- foping toward the Indians. ‘They must be the white robbere whom we fought last night,” said Frank to himself, as he regarded the party, ‘‘and these Indians are their bretbren. I am glad that I fixed up my battery. These white men do not stand in fear of my machine,” The white men spurred rapidly towards the In- diaos, and as they evinced no alarm at their ap- ronch, Frank decided that his guess had been | right view of the matter. 4 slight! smalj grove appeared, and Frank y re- duced his speed as he dashed past it, then he cracked on a full head of steam and the concern went flying over the plains at the rate of fifty miles an hour, the air whistling merrily in the driver’s ears. In a very few seconds the red and white broth- ven of the plains were overhauled, and jumping down behind the bullet-proof saat the voung driver picked up a rifie and began blazing away into the crowded ranks of the fiying men. At the very moment that he fired the first shot, the buffalo tripped and fell heavily to the ground, and away flew Burney Shea through the thin air. He soon landed, still cl tightly t> the treasure fiddle and bow, and picked himself upin lime to see the Steam Man of the Plains crash like a living streak through the broken ranks of his enemies and dash down upon . Frank had o his enemies without feur, for he knew that the red-skins would be too much terrified and surprised to do him harm, and the kh men he was willing to run his chances with. He went rushing through the thunderstru ck erowd of mixed red and white men in gallant etyle, the long legs of the man of mettle making headway parous horses apd men with case, sending them ng right and left, and leav maimed und wounded horses and men scatte far and wide over the plains as he rushed on in his ewift course. The Indians, those who were injured by the efarge of the Man, seemed lost in wonder and fear. It fashed through Frank’s mind that his ad- vent had been a surprise. The thunder of their horses’ hoofs upon the prairies prevented the Indians from hearing the mighty tread of the steam giant, and when he made his sudden leap invw their very midst, spreading death and destruction through their demoralized ranks, they were at a loss for some time to account for what had taken place. However, as soon as they had recovered the use of their frightened senses, they turned tail and Bed, rushing away as fast as their badly-scared horses could carry them, while their white breth- ren in vain endeavored to restrain them. - A scared Indian is prohably two degrees more obstinate than an army mule. These fellows listened to no words, but got away lively. Meantime, the Steam Man was rushing down upon Barney Shea. The surprised Irishman had been taken aback by his sudden fall and the equally sudden advent of Frank and his machine, and stood fairly in the track of the fi iron feet. Frank reached for the lever to stop short, but before he could touch it, the Steam Man came down in his pace, ran slowly, and then stopped altogether, not more than five feet from Barngy. Something was the matter. With a very anxious look on his face, the in- ventor cast his eyes over the entire machine. As he stood there he could see nothing amiss. He leaped to the ground. He hurriedly ran the giant, ex g to see some of the valuable ery either broken or eut of order. Such an event would have been a great calam- ity to the boy. If anything was broken it could not very easily be replaced, and even to have any of the delicate mechanism twisted would be a serious ping. *‘ Hold hard |!” cried Burney Shea, as ex- amined the Steam Man. ‘“ Those divils are com- ing down like the ould Nick upon us.” rank wheeled. The white horsemen, four. in number, ‘were spurring towards them. They had their rifles in mer hands, and they looked dangerous. Frank seized one gun, ve another to Barney, and placed himself behind the body of the strong wagon. “Fire !” he commanded, and two reports rang ou Frank did not like to take a human life, so he aimed for the ehoulder of the foremost rider, and beheld with satisfaction that the man’s arm fell limp and useless to his side. Barney was not an extraordinary shot with the rifle, although he could handie his neat black- thorn stick with skill. His bullet found quarters in the shouldors of a horse instead of a man, and resulted in the wounded animal wheeling about and galloping madly amay. The others seemed to lose all relish for charg- ing such determined foes as these, and with one accord they whevied also, and followed their fly- ing cor e. k watched them until their forms grew dim in the distance, aud then he turned to tho motionless giant. He resumed his examination of the Steam Man and soon discovered that all parts of the ma- chinery were in perfect order. Then he examined the beiler, and he instantly discovered the cause of the stoppage. There was.not a drop of water in it ‘*Gin slings and powder monkeys!” cried the Irishman, looking into the empty hollow of brass, ‘‘ how the divil’s that, M er Frank?” ‘I’m blest if I know,” said the much-pugrzled young genius, and then he ran back to the wagon, He lifted the cover of his water-tank, and was surprised to find that it came up without un- saw that he had neglected to properly latch the cover, and that the water had all been bounced the morning. A pipe running along the shaft connected the tank, and of course the supply had ceased, and power gave out ‘1s soon as the water in the boiler ‘“What’ll ye be afther doin’?” asked Barney. An idea flashed through Frank’s brain. to the one he had recently ey an which was between a quarter and a f mile es] do,” said Barney. “Then take this bucket,” said Frank, ‘and water.” ‘Is there a spring there, I don't know?” these islands generally have a spring. Hu for there’s no telling how soon those Thite men cannot stir a step until he’s had a big drink. Lively now.” and seizing the pail he started for the little island on a slow trot. noticed,” muttered Frank. ll have everythin in readiness.” . as great a heat as he dared to, and anxiously awaited Barney’s return. by the manner in which he carried the bucket, rank knew that he had obtained the water. and soon handed the precious liquid to Frank who dumped it into the tank with a great deal latching, as it shcuid needs have done; he then out while journeying across the plains during two important parta, the boiler and the water- was exhausted. **Do you see that grove?” he asked, pointi distant be lively as possible in bringing me a pai) of ‘‘There may or may not be,” said Frank. “‘sut may return in great numbers, and my Steam Man ‘I'll be back in a jiffy!” cried the willing chap: ‘‘T must be ready to get 1p an at shortest He attended to his fire, kept everything up to Ho soon saw him trudging from the grove, and The Irishman made good timo with his load, of satisfaction. Barney bappened to look away over the great lain and beheld a number of horsemen advano- fog, distant at the time about a mile. * Look!” he said. ‘*T thought so,” said Frank, bringing a small telescope to bear on them. ‘‘ Those white cut- throats are returning reinforced, and if they get here before steam is up we are lost.” He opened the valves of the furnace, and the water heated rapidly. Tho horsemen came up swiftly. ‘“‘Jump in,” said Frank. “ careful not to touch those wires. Hold yourgun in your hands and be ready tw die, tighting to the last!” As the band drew near, the steam began to hiss in the valves; the gauge rose ruyidly, and the steam giant lifted one foot from the. ground. On came the outlaws. Down went the foot; up came the other one in turn, and the t strode forward, and with rapidly accumulating power his feet rose and fell; just as the band were dashing down upon them, the man of steam bounded off at a tro- mendous speed, skimming the prairies like a bird on the wing. CHAPTER XI. THE BUNTZEN BATTEBY. Tue Indians and white men spurred their horses after the Steam Man. The old follow was getting ahead like a good one, the rapidly increasing power of the pone Sewn by the rapid motjon of his long iron But the prairie horses are remarkably fleet, an‘ some of them are trained to do and dare almost anything. two of these were rushed forward by their ri- ders, white robbers, and the fearless s dashed right up to the back of the wagon, eo that their breasts came the wires that were strung around the vehicle. They dropped lifeless in their tracks. The wires were connected with a Bunteen Bat- tery—a terrific power, strong enotgh to kill ten men, with the force of electricity generated by two cells of liquid. ‘“‘Worra—worra |!” cried Barner Eo la down his gun and holding up his ds in ee ‘that bates the story of the Kilkenny “It had full power on,” said Frank Reade, looke ing with satisfaction at the wonderful battery. “Tt would have killed ten horses with one sh " ‘‘What a shocking thing!” said Barney, f x stumbling into a pun. ‘Ah, look at the red an white haythins. Come on, ye coppery divils, ye black-hearted white haythins ! Come on, and we'll fight the whole fittin’ crew o’ yer.” Which was brokeby meant for “ Kit and crew,” but Barney meant all the same anyhow. What the rollicking son of Erin wanted with the red and white ‘“‘haythins” wasa fight; in fact, that was what he wanted all the time. If he could have had his choice in thes mat- ters, ke would probably have preferred fighting with enemies; but the main thing was to get into a rumpus, bo it with friend or be it with foe. The idea was that he could be fightiug in either case, and that’s all he cared about. But the reds and whites were unable to come up with the prancing monster of the plains, even had they wished to, which was rather doubtful, for they were brought to a sudden standstill by the face of their comrades. Tho manner in which the horses had been struck down was inexplicable to them, and they did not care to pursue this mysterious foe. ‘“‘Where are we goin’, don’t know,” said Barney Shea. . “T’m trying to cut around in a wide half-cirole,” said Frank; “tbat will bring us on the track of the herd of wild horses. I’m not going to give Charley up.” “Oh, no—oh, no!” said Barney. foine lump of a gossoon, so he was.” ‘* He was a good boy,” said Frank. ‘*Do yez moind one thing, and that’s not two, be the same token?” said Barney. ** What's that?” *“T’m divilish hungry, so I am.” ‘‘Soyam I,” said Frank. ‘We'll soon get to a grove, and then we'll see if we can’t eat our dim- ner without being interrupted.” The Steam Man was now "uaking splendid time over the level ground. ** You see,” said Frank, “I must stop at some grove to fill my tanke with water.” “Ay, nary a bit dol loike cartin’ wather in a bucket half a mile, undher seach a rale hot sun as this same,” said Barney. ‘‘ Don't yes run short agin, ma bouchal |” Frank laughed. ‘* For fear you get killed, I'll reduce the power of the battery,” he said, bending down and turn- ing a screw. ‘ Now it will you gently as you take it.” “Ay, loike Scotch snuff,” said Barney, and Pi his hand on the wires. ‘Och, howly mure- er, will I ever got home.” For the foolish fellow had received a shock that was powertal enough to double him up like a jack-knife. Frank roared. *“ Ow—ow! tare an’ ouns, musha— musha, m God |” was all Poor Barney couid say, for alth ho was very little hurt he was very much fright- ened, and {t was some time before Frank could explain to him the nature of the battery, and the ion of ite power. “Oh, yez naid not thry to raison ony such nice ideas into me head,” said Barney. , ‘I know what the stuff is, yo sce. It’s nothing more nor less than the divil’s whisky ye have in that nate couthrivance. Tho only thing that’s odd is that yo dhrink it through Jor fingers. Oh, I can philosophize, and so forth.” Frank was much amused over Barney's eomi- cal idea, and gave up the idea of trying to in- struct him. At length the longed-for sight grected their 68 A large grove appeured, and the Steam Man was headed for it. ‘“‘I must kape mo eyes open when I sit down to play ye achune this time,” said Barney. “It only nades one more of thim cussed buffalers to smash me dear old fiddle and bow, aad tha’ would niver do, me boy.” cComicooolkks (SO)