The cowboys were aware of the turning of the tables in the wagon.
With mad yells they were rushing forward in a body to surround the Steam Man. Unless immediate action was made they would succeed.
Frank knew well the danger of this move.
It would be an easy matter for the cowboys to ruin the invention by a single blow. There was but one way, and that was to beat a retreat.
Barney seized his repeater and began firing into the crowd of cowboys. Frank opened the throttle and sent the Steam Man up the incline toward the stronghold of the vigilants.
Of course the latter had seen and understood all.
They embraced the opportunity to pour a flank fire into the ranks of the cowboys. It was a moment of thrilling sort, but the Steam Man seemed to have the best of it when a thrilling incident happened.
CHAPTER XI.
WITH THE VIGILANTS.
In another moment the Steam Man would have been in the ranks of the vigilants.
It would have been a great point scored, for Cliff would then be a prisoner and the way to save Jim Travers from the gallows would have been paved.