“Golly! amn’t dem de bigges’ snakes we’se seed yit?”
“Tare an’ ’ounds! av the divils get afther the Steam Man——”
“Look out!”
Several of the huge reptiles seemed making for the Steam Man. Frank’s hand was on the throttle rein, and he was about to pull it, when a terrible thing happened.
There was a dull, distant rumbling like thunder.
The air became suddenly still and oppressive. Instinctively Frank knew at that moment what was coming.
“The earthquake!” he shouted. “Steady, all! Look out for yourselves!”
Frank gave the throttle rein a yank. The Steam Man ran instantly to the center of the plaza and came to a halt.
Then a mighty, sullen roar was heard, a terrific gust of wind swept down the avenue, and the earthquake came.
For a moment it seemed as if the Steam Man would be overturned.