“Heavens!” gasped Frank Reade, Jr., “the man I am looking for!”
“The same,” replied Cliff, mockingly. “You have undertaken quite a daring deed, my fine inventor, but you will find that you have bitten off a very much larger slice than you can masticate.”
“You see these men?” continued Cliff. “They are my followers, tried and true. What is it to you whether my uncle, Jim Travis, should hang for murder? You can never prove him innocent—at least, never will, for you will never go from here alive.”
“Scoundrel!” cried Frank. “You are the real murderer!”
“Ha, ha, ha! Prove it if you can!” laughed the cowboy chief, derisively.
“I will prove it, if I have to drag the confession from your lips!” cried Frank, resolutely.
“Pshaw! Talk is cheap. Attention, men! Grab the throttle rein of the Steam Man and you can destroy him! Forward! Charge!”
Frank Reade, Jr., heard the command and knew well the danger. He was at a loss to account for Cliff’s knowledge of him and his invention.
The young inventor was not aware of the fact that for weeks previous to the starting forth of the Steam Man spies had been busy in Readestown.
Artemas Cliff had covered his tracks well. He knew that Frank Reade, the young inventor’s father, was a friend of Travers and would see him through, if possible.
Therefore he had provided well for giving Frank Reade, Jr., and the new Steam Man a hot reception on the plains.
With hoarse cries the cowboys descended upon the Steam Man. They urged their horses forward at a full gallop.
Frank Reade, Jr., knew well that it was possible for them to greatly injure his invention, so he made quick action to defeat their plans.
“Give it to them, Barney. Shoot every man you can.”
Then Frank opened the throttle, and let the Steam Man out for all he was worth.
It was an easy matter to outstrip the horses, and the Steam Man kept ahead, while the cowboys came thundering on in the rear.
Then Frank slackened speed so as to keep up a uniform distance between the Man and the horses.
While Barney poured in shot after shot into the midst of the gang of pursuers.
The cowboys began to drop from their saddles one by one. It was a destructive and telling fire.
And they strained every nerve in vain in an effort to reach the Steam Man. Frank kept the Man just far enough ahead to ensure safety and enable Barney to pick off the cowboys with ease.