Barney and Pomp, at the rear loopholes, worked the repeaters and dropped the foe at every shot.
Frank kept the Steam Horse at an easy distance from the savages and held them there.
It was folly for the savages to try to outfoot the Steam Horse, as they speedily found out.
They were soon willing to abandon the pursuit and the battle, and rode away to the southward much discomfited.
Now that the affray was over, our adventurers were given an opportunity to look about and see where they were.
Looking to the westward, the mighty depression or sink, known as the Great Basin, could be seen sloping downward.
To the southward was the range of hills which formed the curious inclosed valley.
These hills were of fantastic shapes, and the vegetation was of a stunted and unprolific kind.
It was easy to realize that they were really in the great American desert. To the northward lay the mighty sandy waste which is fitly called the American Sahara.
Many a traveling party of explorers or prospectors had drifted out upon that arid waste and succumbed.