In order to do this it was necessary to make a wide detour of fully forty miles. But this was not much of a run for the Steam Man. Frank pushed along at the steady rate of twenty miles per hour. It was just sunset when the upper spur of the Los Pueblos range was rounded. Then a trail was encountered. It was broad and well beaten, and gave evidence of being much used. Where it led to Frank could only guess, but he took it, as it led in the direction he wished to follow. But before he had followed it far, a sharp cry escaped Pomp’s lips. “Look yender, Marse Frank! Whateber am dat?” Frank looked in the direction indicated and experienced a thrill. A long fringe of willows and sycamores marked the course of a stream not two miles distant. In the verge of the sycamores smoke arose in twirling columns, evidence of a camp-fire. Also forms could be seen moving about, and horses were seen to be grazing upon the plain. “It is a camp,” declared Frank, “but whether friend or foe I know not.” “Golly!” exclaimed Pomp, “does yo’ s’pose it am dose people cum back agin wid Silver Sam?” “It is not impossible,” replied Frank, “and yet--look sharp, boys! Does not that look like Bill Guernsey’s stage?” Barney and Pomp both indulged in sharp cries. “Dat’s what it am, Marse Frank.” “Bejabers, that’s so.” Frank at once sent the Steam Man forward at full speed. Quick time was made across the plain for that two miles. As they drew nearer the camp it was easy to see that it was the same party of prospectors under Silver Sam, only this time they were heavily reinforced. Fully a hundred men of all types were gathered in the sycamore grove. There were half-breeds and Texans, Irishmen, Frenchmen and Americans, all in a conglomerated mass. But there was not a greaser among them. They were all men from various walks of life come West to seek a fortune in the mines. As the Steam Man came up the tall form of Silver Sam was seen advancing. The sport was evidently overjoyed to meet Frank again. “Hello, friend!” he cried, cheerily. “Condemned glad to see ye! We’re back agin, ye see, and we’ve got more men this time. We mean to paralyze those greasers or lose our scalps.” “I am glad to see you,” said Frank, coming out of the cage. “Indeed, it looks as if you meant business.” “Yes, there’s a hundred of us more or less. They say Costello has three times as many, but our boys mean business and ain’t goin’ to be backed down by greasers, you can bet.” “That’s the talk, pard!” cried big Diamond Jake, as he came forward and shook hands with Frank. “But we want to extend our thanks to ye for covering our retreat so nobly the other day,” declared Silver Sam. “By Jericho! if it hadn’t been for you we’d have been salted sure by them pizen greasers.” “If they will only attack the Steam Man in the open,” said Frank, with a smile, “I think I can handle them easily.” “You bet! That’s a wonderful machine you’ve got, friend. Wall, have you learned any news?”