Young Brainerd now spoke.
'It was I who got you into trouble, and it is I, that, with the blessing of Heaven, am going to get you out of it.'
The three now looked eagerly at him.
'Is there no danger of the Indians firing upon us?' he asked of the hunter.
'Not unless we try to run away.'
'All right; it is time to begin.'
The boy's first proceeding was to kindle a fire in the boiler of the steam man. When it was fairly blazing, he continued to heap in wood, until a fervent heat was produced such as it had never experienced before. Still he threw in wood, and kept the water low in the boiler, until there was a most prodigious pressure of steam, making its escape at half a dozen orifices.
When all the wood was thrown in that it could contain, and portions of the iron sheeting could be seen becoming red-hot, he ceased this, and began trying the steam.
'How much can he hold?' inquired Hopkins.
'One hundred and fifty pounds.'