Yet it did not inflict a mortal wound.
“Heavens!” gasped Frank. “That snake has more lives than a cat.”
He essayed to meet the reptile as he had done before.
But the wily monster, this time evaded the Steam Man and made for the wagon.
There was no such thing as turning aside that fearful attack.
Like an avalanche the snake struck the wagon. Had not the wheels been braced against a heap of stones, it would surely have been swept over upon its side.
But, by the best of good fortune it resisted the shock.
Like a flash the snake’s coils went twining about the wagon. They began to draw powerfully, and the metal work began to groan and crack.
“Quick, boys!” shouted Frank Reade, Jr., “Cut the folds in two wherever you can.”
But Barney and Pomp needed no bidding. They already had their knives unsheathed, and where the snake’s body was exposed at the loopholes began to slash and cut.