“That’s my Pomp,” said the delighted boy, who feared that his faithful servant was gone forever from him. “I make those little rockets myself, and you can carry them in your pocket. He sent that up as a signal to me. Will you go with me?”
“Willingly,” cried Hale.
“Then tumble in once more, and away we go,” cried Gorse, and with the well-patched men in the body of the wagon, he once more seized the reins, and with a smashing gait the Steam Man tore away on his course.
[CHAPTER XVIII.]
VAN DORN’S POWER.
Van Dorn was not a little gratified to find that one of the few unselfish and good acts of his ill-spent life had resulted in saving him from a horrible fate, and placing a body of men under his control.
They, the braves under the lead of Black Arrow, had said:
“You may command us.”
Van Dorn was well versed in Indian characters, and he knew that this was no empty offer.
There was no loud-mouthed, gas-bag business about it, but a real and sincere laying of their weapons at his feet, to be taken up when he gave the word, and to be used as he should see fit to direct.