The two servitors had wandered off in some other part of the temple and were not in sight. Frank shouted for them, but no answer came back. This seemed a little strange to the young inventor, and he began to fear that some harm had come to the two men. ‪“That is queer!” he muttered. “Why don’t they answer?” Again Frank shouted. This time an answer came back, but it seemed a mile away. Frank was not a little vexed. ‪“Confound the rascals!” he muttered. ‪“Where have they gone to?” ‪“We had better go in quest of them,” suggested Tony. ‪“Harm may have overtaken them.” ‪“You are right!” They were about to follow up this plan when a startling thing occurred. Suddenly from the distance beyond the temple doors there came a thrilling and yet familiar sound. It was a prolonged shriek, a distant note from the ear-splitting whistle of the Steam Man. CHAPTER XII. WHICH IS THE END. Frank Reade, Jr., gave a great cry of surprise and joy. ‪“They have found the Man,” he cried. ‪“We are in luck.” ‪“No,” said Tony, putting a hand on Frank’s arm. ‪“You are wrong. That is not so. Listen!” The shrill whistle of the Steam Man was still going. ‪“I have it,” said Buckden, positively. ‪“In some manner the whistle valve has opened, and it will continue to blow until steam is all blowed off!” ‪“Right!” cried Frank, excitedly; “why didn’t I think of that. Let us go at once in quest of the machine.” The two men started at once out of the temple. But as they reached the paved street below Tony hesitated. ‪“Wait,” he said. ‪“What for?” asked Frank. ‪“What about Barney and Pomp?” Here was a conundrum. There was little time in which to decide. But Frank decided quickly. ‪“Enough!” he cried; ‪“they must take care of themselves. They are abundantly able. Our life all depends upon recovering the Steam Man.” ‪“You are right!” cried Buckden. So away the two men sped. It was easy enough to locate the Man now, as the whistle was an infallible guide. Straight across the plaza they ran, and turned into a broad avenue. Here, on the verge of a clump of palms, they beheld a thrilling sight. There was the Steam Man standing motionless on the edge of the palm clump. The huge anaconda was yet writhing in the cage. Frank guessed the meaning of all at once. The Steam Man had been saved by a lucky chance. The snake, in its writhings, had not only closed the throttle by twisting the rein about its body, but had also pulled open the whistle valve in the same manner. The two explorers came to a halt at first, and regarded the spectacle with much wonder. Then Frank cried: “Hurrah! We’ve got the best of it. We can easily end the fight now.” Straight up to the cage Frank ran. It was an easy matter to climb up and draw aim at the anaconda’s head through the loophole. Crack! The shot pierced the snake’s brain. The head dropped lifeless, but the huge body continued to writhe in the throes of death.