“I sent word to Costello by a special messenger, asking him what ransom he would take.”
“Ah!”
“He returned an evasive reply.”
“Indeed!”
“I have, therefore, arrived at the conclusion perforce that he is not desirous of accepting a ransom. His game is to hold Montaine a prisoner while he works the rich Los Pueblos claim.”
“Well,” said Frank, drawing a deep breath, “we will try and spoil that little game for him.”
“I sincerely trust you may, senor.”
It required hardly three hours’ work to put the Steam Man together.
Then the wonderful invention was revealed in its perfection to the admiring crowd of spectators.
They burst into cheers of approval as they realized its wonderful perfection of outline and detail.