While the armed men in the screened wagon poured destructive volleys into the midst of the red foe.
Pen cannot adequately describe the situation.
For a moment the Apaches held their ground. Then, with wild, baffled yells they fled before the conqueror.
In less than twenty minutes the vicinity had been practically cleared of savages.
They retreated to a point below where their ponies were corralled.
Mounting, they dashed away to the westward. The Steam Man pursued until finding a creek, they escaped for good.
Then the Steam Man returned to camp.
But although the foe had been repulsed, matters were still bad enough.
Walter Barrows and Bessie Rodman were missing.
That they were captives was a forlorn hope. That they had been murdered was a dreadful fear.