Soon broad mesas of some fertility were encountered.
Then a river was encountered, which was fortunately not so deep but that it could be easily waded.
Once on the other side the Steam Man made its way through a rocky pass and then a surprise was accorded the travelers.
Down through the pass there came the rumble of wheels and the heavy cracking of a whip.
Then around a curve shot a heavy mountain stage with six horses attached.
The driver, a burly fellow, with his belt filled with pistols, pulled up the horses with a volley of oaths.
“Thunder an’ blazes!” he yelled. “Who in perdition are ye? What kind of a rig d’yer call that?” The Jehu sat on his box staring at the Steam Man like one out of his senses.
Upon the box was a miner in red shirt and top boots, and upon the top of the coach were half a dozen more.
Within the coach were a number of Mexicans, a flashily dressed sport and a type of the genus gambler.
“A stage line!” exclaimed Frank, in amazement. “And in this out of the way place. Who’d have dreamed it?” “Bejabers, we must be comin’ to some koind of a settlemint,” cried Barney.