“I am Frank Reade, Jr., and this is my new invention, the Steam Man,” replied Frank. “You have nothing to fear.”
The campers now saw the three men in the wagon as Barney turned on the light of the calcium and illuminated the vicinity.
At once their fear fled and a comprehension of all dawned upon them.
“A steam Man, by thunder, and built all of iron!”
“Wall, that beats all!”
“What’ll come next?”
“That beats the iron hoss all holler!”
The campers now came thronging about the wagon. As the number was limited, Frank did not feel particularly uneasy, though he held the throttle ready and Barney and Pomp had their repeaters at hand.
But the fears of our three adventurers were quickly allayed.
One of the men, a tall, powerful framed man, came forward, and said: