“They’re thryin’ to surround us!” cried Barney.
Frank watched the maneuver with deep interest.
He smiled grimly.
This was certainly the purpose of the foe. But the young inventor saw in the move a betterment of his own chances.
“They will not gain what they hope to,” he said, resolutely.
Then he saw that a line of armed men had deployed across the mouth of the Pass to prevent the Steam Man from escaping in that direction.
In Frank’s judgment there were fully two hundred cowboys in the party. This was tremendous odds, but the young inventor did not fear the results.
With a wild cheer the cowboys began to close their line in about the Steam Man.
Frank Reade, Jr., opened the whistle valve and let out several defiant shrieks.
Then he started the Steam Man in a straight line for the pass.