It would have required something more than an ordinary barrier to withstand such an attack. Frank saw this and made quick action. With quick hand, he seized the throttle rein and started the Steam Man ahead. Then he turned him face on to the reptile. He had barely time to do this, when the monster struck the machine. In a flash the folds of the reptile were wound about the Steam Man. The foresight and wisdom of Frank’s move were at once seen. If the snake had struck the wagon, he might have crushed the screen with its leviathan folds. As it was, the air was instantly filled with the fumes of burning snake flesh. The huge snake’s body coming in contact with the almost red hot fire box of the Steam Man, received a terrific scorching. For an instant his snakeship did not seem to mind this and made terrific blows with his head at the screen. He strove in vain to reach the men within. ‪“Whurro!” yelled Barney. “Yez did a wondherful thing thin, Misther Frank. Shure, the big divil is burnin’ up.” “Golly sakes, dat am a fac’,” cried Pomp, joyfully. But Frank knew that the battle was not over yet by any means. It had only just begun. The monster, feeling the terrible effect of the hot iron, with an almost human-like cry unwound itself quickly from the Steam Man. It went twisting and rolling about the plain in agony for a few moments. In its course bushes were uprooted, the ground was torn and the air filled with dust. Frank knew that this would last but a few moments. The enraged monster would soon recover and renew the attack with ten-fold fury. So the famous inventor took up his elephant rifle and thrust an explosive shell into the breach. Going to a loophole in the screen he took careful aim. Crack! The rifle spoke sharply. Straight to its mark went the shell. The next moment as it exploded the air was full of shreds of snake flesh and flying dirt. The shell had torn a hole in the python’s side, but had not destroyed the monster’s life. Terribly enraged, the monster snake now seemed to forget its pain, and once more with mad fury charged down full tilt upon the Steam Man. CHAPTER III. THRILLING ADVENTURES. The crisis had come. Frank knew this, and that it would be either victory for one or the other. If the python should succeed in overturning the wagon, he might do great harm to the delicate machinery of the Steam Man. But Frank did not intend that this should happen if he could help it. He got one more shot at the reptile as it came on with a fearful rush. Crack! Once more the deadly elephant rifle spoke. This time an explosive shell tore its way through the snake’s side. Yet it did not inflict a mortal wound. ‪“Heavens!” gasped Frank. ‪“That snake has more lives than a cat.” He essayed to meet the reptile as he had done before. But the wily monster, this time evaded the Steam Man and made for the wagon.