The young inventor’s fears were not without foundation.
The pigmies had been for a few moments repulsed by the deadly fire of the repeating rifles.
But they had by no means given up the idea of capturing the Steam Man.
A large party of them had struck out into the forest, and now, as Frank started the Steam Man for the table-land beyond, he was again quickly brought to a halt by a new development.
Turning a bend in the road unexpectedly, he saw just ahead a large gang of the pigmies congregated there.
They had felled several tall palms, and they lay across the roadway effectually blocking the passage of the Steam Man.
Affairs had certainly reached a crisis.
CHAPTER VI.
BARNEY MEETS A FRIEND.
But what of Barney, whom we have seen disappear in such a mysterious manner beneath the stone dais?
The astounded Celt felt the stone give way beneath him, but before he had time to recover himself it had turned completely over, and he felt himself descending through space and darkness.