“Be me sowl, Misther Frank, I did think yez wor done for, an’ it was a good foight yez made to be shure. Are yez badly hurted?” ‪“Not a bit, Barney,” said Frank, staggering to his feet. ‪“It was only a little faintness, that was all.” Pomp turned a hand spring. “Glory fo’ goodness!” cried the overjoyed darky. “I’se jes’ dat glad, Marse Frank, dat I don’ jes’ know what fo’ to do dat yo’ was not hurt.” The snake’s body now lay writhing and twisting far out on the plain. The adventurers did not go near it. They had had snake experience enough for one day and returned to the Steam Man. ‪“The next time you see a big snake, Barney,” said Frank, ‪“if he is not disturbing us I think you had better let him alone.” The Steam Man now once more went on its way. Every day now they penetrated deeper into the jungles and wild fastnesses of this wildest country on the globe. Many strange sights were seen and some thrilling experiences were encountered. With difficulty the Steam Man found passage through the lowlands. At times it was necessary to cut a path through a dense forest in order to reach clear country beyond. But one day they came out of a deep wood at the very base of a mighty, volcanic mountain. Here higher ground was reached and a broad view enjoyed. And from here a view could be had of a part of the broad table-lands of Tanada. It began to look as if the explorers would soon reach the end of their journey. Now the table-lands were reached the next thing was to discover the ruined city of Mazendla. Thus far, our adventurers had seen very few natives, and none of them hostile. The Steam Man journeyed all that day upon the broad table-land of Tanada. As night was coming on, a location was selected for a camping place. It was a green spot close to a bubbling spring of water. Not more than one hundred yards distant was a dense grove of trees. Barney and Pomp were busy aboard the Steam Man preparing the evening meal. Frank fancied that through the dense foliage of the trees he could discern the white walls of a building. Barney and Pomp could not see it, but Frank was sure that he could. The famous inventor exclaimed: ‪“I am not sure but that we are in the neighborhood of the ruined city of Mazendla. It may be that yonder grove of trees conceals it.” ‪“Begorra, Misther Frank, maybe yez are roight,” declared Barney, “but be Mither Murphy’s pigs, I can’t see that same with me own eyes!” “Can’t you? Look sharply now to the left.” Barney strained his vision. ‪“Divil a bit av it.” ‪“That is queer.” ‪“Bejabers, I think so.” ‪“Pomp, how is your eyesight?” ‪“Golly, Marse Frank, dis chile kin see in de dark.” ‪“Well, just take a look over there and tell me what you see through those trees.” Pomp readily obeyed. But he could see nothing but the dense green foliage. “Bejabers, the naygur can’t see it if I can’t,” spluttered Barney. Pomp scratched his woolly head.