One of them did pull the throttle rein but it had got tangled about the indicator and did not open the valve.
They continued to gesticulate and jabber until long after dark.
At length, having seemingly failed to understand the mechanism of the Man, they made a peculiar move.
Pomp was bound hand and foot and left in the bottom of the wagon.
The captors then closed and secured the door in the cage and went away.
Pomp was much mystified at these proceedings. But he drew a natural inference in regard to them.
He concluded that the greasers had decided to go to camp and report their find and capture.
They would then return with a man who thoroughly understood working a steam engine.
Having decided that this was their move, Pomp at once began to exert himself to gain his freedom.
If he could succeed in doing so before they returned, he could turn the tables upon them cleverly.