The pulling of the rein closed the throttle, and the Man came to a halt.
Pomp could not use the rein to open it again, and had there been more of the red foe, the Steam Man would have been at their mercy.
But there were only two of them, and while one held the rein the other essayed to hack his way into the wagon with his tomahawk.
Pomp acted with the rapidity of thought.
“G’way from dar yo’ red imp!” he yelled, picking up a revolver. “If you don’t I’ll jes’ bore a hole in yo’.”
But the red man did not desist, and Pomp, springing to a loop-hole fired at him.
The bullet went true to its aim, and the Indian fell dead.
The other savage seeing the fate of his companion let out a baffled yell, and relaxing his grip on the valve rein fled precipitately.
Pomp did not take the pains to fire at him, but coolly picked up the valve rein, opened the throttle and the Steam Man went on.
Straight for the scene of the conflict at the mouth of the Pass Pomp went.