The explorers dumbfounded and irresolute stood outside and watched the proceeding with curious sensations. ‪“Well, upon me sowl,” cried Barney, “howiver will we get the omadhoun out av’ that? Bad cess to his ugly shape, say I.” ‪“By Jove, that is a stickler,” declared Buckden. ‪“How will we ever get him out of the cage?” ‪“At present he is master of the situation,” declared Frank. “I jus’ fink dat ole snake am gwine fo’ to gib us some trubble,” declared Pomp. ‪“It looks like it.” ‪“Begorra, why not give him a bit av cold lead?” But the words were not off Barney’s lips when an appalling thing happened. The snake’s body was now all in the cage. The huge reptile was squirming and thrashing about like mad. Suddenly the door of the cage shut with a snap. Then, to add to the horror and discomfort of the situation, the Steam Man started away at full speed. The snake’s movements had in some way pulled open the throttle. A fearful groan escaped Frank’s lips. ‪“My God! we are lost!” Cries of dismay escaped the others. ‪“Catch him!” ‪“Shut the valve!” But they might as well have tried to catch the wind. The Steam Man was off like a flash. Down the avenue he went with clanking tread. After him with despairing souls ran the explorers, vainly trying to overtake him. In the cage, unable to extricate himself, the huge anaconda was taking an enforced ride. What more strange or thrilling predicament could be imagined? Down the avenue went the strange procession. The Steam Man went on and was soon out of sight through a vista of trees and overhanging vines. The seriousness of the affair to our adventurers could not be estimated at the moment. Left in that terrible wilderness to find their way on foot back to Campeachy was not a pleasant thing to contemplate. There did not seem to remain any doubt but that the Steam Man would keep on until it should come in disastrous collision with some object. The result would almost surely be to smash the machinery, and in that out of the way part of the world it would be by no means easy to repair it. All these misgivings and fears assailed the explorers. Frank Reade, Jr., was usually possessed of iron nerves. But if ever there was a time in his life when those nerves were sorely tried, it was now. It did not seem to him possible that the Steam Man could escape unharmed. ‪“My soul!” he gasped, as he staggered on. ‪“We are lost!” Indeed, it seemed true. Yet the explorers ran on, hoping at every turn to see the Steam Man all safe and sound. But they seemed doomed to disappointment. Suddenly a terrible cry went up from Barney. ‪“Howly Mither! Luk out!” he yelled. ‪“Phwativer is that ahead of us?” Every one came to a halt. Just ahead of them lay what looked again like a prostrate palm trunk, but the experienced gaze of our adventurers now proved its true character. It was another huge anaconda which was stretching itself across the roadway.