Then, as the Steam Man look his long strides across the even plain, Frank suddenly caught sight of a beaten path or trail.
It was plainly a trail much used and bore a trifle east of south. Frank brought the Man to a stop.
“I would like to know where that trail goes to?” he declared. “I am not sure but it is the route to Ranch V.”
“Golly, Marse Frank!” cried Pomp, craning his neck and looking to the southward a little ways. “What am dat jus’ ober dat roll in de perairy?? Am not dat some berry sumspicious objec’?”
Frank gazed in the direction indicated and saw a tall, black-looking timber seeming to rise out of the roll in the prairie. But he knew that it was beyond.
Frank let the Steam Man go along for a quarter of a mile, and topping the rise a startling sight was revealed.
There, scattered over several acres of land were the blackened ruins and charred timbers of some buildings.
It was easy to see what these buildings had constituted.
A large ranch with stockade, extensive cattle pens and yards, had once stood upon this spot. Frank allowed the Steam Man to pass through the ruins.
Thrilling sights were accorded our adventurers.