Pomp turned a hand spring.
“Glory fo’ goodness!” cried the overjoyed darky. “I’se jes’ dat glad, Marse Frank, dat I don’ jes’ know what fo’ to do dat yo’ was not hurt.”
The snake’s body now lay writhing and twisting far out on the plain.
The adventurers did not go near it. They had had snake experience enough for one day and returned to the Steam Man.
“The next time you see a big snake, Barney,” said Frank, “if he is not disturbing us I think you had better let him alone.”
The Steam Man now once more went on its way.
Every day now they penetrated deeper into the jungles and wild fastnesses of this wildest country on the globe.
Many strange sights were seen and some thrilling experiences were encountered.
With difficulty the Steam Man found passage through the lowlands.
At times it was necessary to cut a path through a dense forest in order to reach clear country beyond.