Frank Reade Library, Vol. VIII, No. 191 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

Thie brought the rear of the cage to face the bears. This Pomp kuew the big brates could do nu barm to. The placky darky seized bis rifle, and gol: to the loop-bole opened fire upon the fue. The rifle spoks sharply and bullets flew ae fast as Pomp could work tbe lever of the re- Deater. He did not fire, however, without aim. The bix bear whose shaggy fur had been burned by the contact with the Steam Man succumbed to a shot through the heart. One of the others by a lucky chance receiv- = ae bulle: in the eyo which penetrated to the 0. This le& only one bear to face the plucky darky, whose courage at once rose wonderfully. ‘* Golly sakes!” he exclaimed. *‘ Dis am jes’ de bigges’ fing dis chile hab done for ene while. ] jee’ reckon dat two grizzlies at one time am a record de bes’ hunter round yer kaio't beat much.” Bat the danger was nat yet over by any means. There way still another grizzly to meet, and Pomp did not relax bis vigilance or determin- ation. He fired shot after shot at the big brute. The bear’s skull was jiterally torn up by the pauen balls. Yet not one penetrated to the tain. But a singniar result was produced. Some nerve must have been destruyed which was in sympathy with the eves, for the bear seemed saddenly to become blind. The big brute went reeling about the canyon | bi ina drunken manner, running into this object and that in a blind and reckless fasbion. Pomp saw the point at once and that he was able to take udvantage of it. This he did. He started the Steam Man forward and weal past the bear like a flash. A short distance below he turned the Man aboat and then wert on down the canyon, leaving the two dead bears und the blind one behind. The darky felt much elatei at his fortunate escape from what might have been quite a seri- ous affair for the Man. Down the canyon the Man went. When first attacked by the bears Pomp had beard the sounds of firiug at the mouth of the canyon. But now these sounds had died out. ed as if the battle had come to an end. The darky experienced a thrill of doubt and fear It seem- Who had come off victorious? If st had been the cowhoys, then no doubt they would be lying in wait for bim. This put Pomp on his mettla. He proc_<ded to keep a sharp lookout ahead. Down the gorge he went. The Steam Man was now but a few yards from the mouth. The next moment the level plain barst into view. And oow it wasin order for Pomp to be esur- prised. The vicinity waa deserted. Not a sigu of the combatants was to be seen. Vigilants and cowhoys had alike disappeared. It was a moat astonishing discovery. What did it mean? The darky brought the Man to a balt and looked about him in wonderment. ** Huh!” he grunted. ‘ Datam de bery fan- niest ting I eber heer:t ob in all mah life. I jes’ fink de zroun’ couldu’t open and swallow dem all cp agin. Datam plainly out ob de question.” And yet the darky was bound to admit that all bad disappeared, friend and foe alike. ‘There was but one conclusion to arrive at. ‘¢ Either dey hab cone whipped de Vigilance an’ jes’ carried dem off prisouers.” he mattered, ‘‘or else de Vigilance hab whipped dem an’ gone away fo’ to reecue Marse Frank an’ ” ey. But seeond thought would not permit tbe darky to accept this conclasion. ‘*No,” he rejoined, ‘*I don’ beliebe a wo'd ob dat. I jes’ reckon dey hab whipped our boys, fo’ if not dey would hab wai fo’ me, dat am saab.” It was a most dampening reflection to Pump. But the durky was as brave as ever. Notb- ing in the line of adversity would ever seem to affect his courage. “Dat am wright,” he concluded. ‘I jes’ fink dis chile bab his liberty an’ bea kin rescue Frank Reade, Jr., ani! Barney jes’ de same. =| jes’ try fo’ to do it anyhow.” He etarted the Steum Man along the base of tue mountain. But he had not gone far when bis attention wus arrested by a peculiar aight. This was a straight colamn of smoke rising above a belt of timber not three miles vut over the plain. Pomp brought the Steam Man to a halt. He viewed the distant smoke for sowe time with evident interest. Then he shrugged his a and changed the course of the Steam D. CHAPTER XIII. REUNITED. Pomp changed the course of the Steam Man directly for the distant line of smoke. ** Golly,” he muttered, with wide open eyes. ‘* Dat ain berry likely wheru de train robbers hab gone wif deir prisoners. Mos’ likely dey hab camped dere.” If this was a fact, as Pomp hoped, ther the darky perceived Uhut it was his duty to push ahead and attack the foe. Of course, he was one against many, but he had the Steam Man and the open plain before m. He did not believe by any means that Le could cope successfully with the robbers. But be knew full well that he could hector thei much and give them no litile trouble. This he was determined to do. Accordingly, the Steam Man was sent for- ward at a rapid gait across the plain. Nearer every moment the timber line drew, and as it came nearer, Pomp began a wide ue- tour, «ith an idea of wholesome precaution. Hie went to the eastward of the timber, and as he began the detour he was aware of the wisdom of ais action. Suddenly from the line of trees there came a volley of rifle balls. They pattered all about the cage, but, of course, dij no harm. Pomp sent up a defiant whistle from the Steam Man‘s whistle. It was a short, shurp note, ear-splitting in ite intensity. it was a iene which, how- ever, the train robbera seemed immediately to accept. For out of the timber there saddenly dash- ed a mounted body of men. Straight for the Steam Man they came. It was u welcome sight to Pomp, who danced a break-down on the fluor of the wagon. ‘« Massy sakes! if dis chile don’ jes’ pallyze them vilyuns!” cried the excited darky. ‘I jes’ teaches dem bettah dan to chase dis chick- en, yo’ kin bet. G’way dar, stutls! Look out fo’ yo'selves!” As thedarky gave this defiant yell, he picked up his repeater and ‘ired every shot in it just as furt as he could pull the trigger. Not every shot told, but many of them did. | de A number of the train robbers reoled in their saddles and fell. Yet on they came with whirlwind speed. They seemed determined to overtake and capt- ure the Man. Pomp was well aware how easy it would be for him to give the villains the cold shoulder. He kept the Steam Man at a slow pace at first. This allowed the train robbers to gaia ver: rapidly on the Man. Very anon they were almost upon him. Then Pomp let the throttle fy open, and the Man began to move away from the speeding horses, The advantage lay in the fact that the borses tired while the Man did pot. Even then the train robbers did not seem to re ae the futility of their efforts to capture the Man. FRANK READE, JR, IN TEXAS. 18 Pomp became well assured of two things. One was thnt this was not the main body of the train robbers. The second was that they were not any part of the band which had fought the Vigilante. The darky concluded very sagely that they were a party just returning from o raid, and that they hat camped in the tinsber rather than enter the hills, for what reason it was Lot yet quite apparent. In vain the gang tried to overtake the Man. Pom) resorted to tactics by meus of which ene man might easily whip a hundred. These were to keep just ahead uf the fue aud make a wide circle on the plain. This kept the foe ever in purauit, and from the rear of the wagon Pomp had no troeble io leisurely picking them off as he pleased. Still on came the gang. And the darky'’s rifle cracked with unerring regularity. Man after man droppee from the saddle and fell dead upon che plain. Aud yet for a long while the persistent out- laws did not seein to see the error they were committing. When they did and were made aware of the futihty of their attempt to capture the Man, their rage kuew no bounds. They drew up their horees and made the alr ring with their bitter yelle and curses. But Pomp was us serene as could well be imagined. Golly!” he chackled, as he brought the Steam Man down. ‘ Dia chile jes’ taught dem a bit ob deir munnera dat time, fo’ suah. I jee’ reckon dey dor’ want ro mo’ of de Steam Man.” And Pomp wae right. The train robbers had received n bitter lea- son. They gave up the chase at once. They made a brenk for the timber again. Pomp thundered along in their rear. He did not attempt to rua them down, bn: got jo shots with seach regularity that the true robbers were very glad to reach the timber. Into this they dashed. Pomp now brought the Man down toa standstill. The darky was now In somewhat of a quan- dary as to what to do. ; zl 7 nee momen’ as fate had It, he canght sight of a y of horsemen loping ulong the base of the hills. ere oo required but a glance for him to recognize them. Hie was deoply thrilled. “‘Golly! dat am de Vigilance, an’ dey am lookin’ fo’ me!” he cried. Thie seemed certainly to be a fact. it would seem then that after all the Vigilante had not been annihilated by the train robbars. Ou ‘he other hand, it looked os if they had given the train robbers a chasé. und were re- tarning lo the pass to look for Pomp. ‘*Mussy sakes, dere dey go into de pass!" cried the darky, with agitation. ‘* Don’ dey see dis chile out yere” But it seemed that they had not seen the Steam Man out on the prairie. They hud certainly gone back into the pass. There seemed but one tLing for Barney to Of course, thie was to follow the Vigilants. He sent the Steam Man ahead at a rapid pace. He pulled the whistle, but the wind was in the wrong cirection, and ite notes did not reach the ears of the Vivilants. On toward the pass went the Sleam Man. ‘ Suddenly Pomp became awure of a startling act. Chancing to turn hie head, he saw that the train robbers had come out of the timber and were trailing bim. The darky only chuckle] and kept right on. Soon the moath of the pass was reached, and without a moment's hesitation he entered it. Up the pass the Steam Man went. Just as he turned a hend ia the gorge, Pomp saw the Vigilants before him. At once he pullol the whistle valve, and the Vigilants tarned in their saddies. COMICLOOKS (SO)