Some gave one glance at the odd-looking metal horse, and then roared with laughter.
Others, as soon as they caught a mere glimpse of the contrivance, set up some most awful howls, and started for home on a racket.
Probably they might all have been very much terrified if they had not seen Pedro sitting by Frank’s side.
As it was, it took a good ten minutes to collect them all around the strange monsters, and convince them that they were not infernal machines.
“Tell them what they are, Pedro,” said the inventor to the boy at his side. “They would not listen to me.”
Thereupon the Mexican boy stood up and told them all about it, explained, as well as he knew how to do, the construction and workings of the two prairie travelers, and then introduced Frank Reade as the talented inventor.
Of course our hero was hailed with the greatest delight and admiration by the simple village folk.
“The bandit, as you call him, has not come yet?” inquiringly said Frank, as he hopped down to the ground.
“No,” said Pedro, springing down to his side, “but he will be here when the sun is dipping.”
“And we’ll dip him,” said Harry Hale, with an expectant grin. “I like to come across these tough customers.”