The dead weight of the horse was pulled twenty-five feet, when the lariat snapped like a bit of thread.
The other greasers saw the act and were dismayed.
Not one of them ventured to throw a lariat after that.
Pomp and Barney nearly split their sides with laughter.
“Golly, but dat was jus’ too funny fo’ anyfing!” cried Pomp, hilariously. “Jes’ fink ob dat fool ob a greaser who ’spected he could pull de Steam Man over.”
Steam was now got up rapidly and the Man speedily left his pursuers far behind.
Across the plain at race-horse speed he went.
Soon the greasers were left out of sight in the rear.
It was certainly a narrow escape, and all had very good reasons to congratulate themselves on it.
The Steam Man kept on for a couple of hours at a fair rate of speed.