“I sincerely trust you may, senor.” It required hardly three hours’ work to put the Steam Man together. Then the wonderful invention was revealed in its perfection to the admiring crowd of spectators. They burst into cheers of approval as they realized its wonderful perfection of outline and detail. But the climax was reached when Barney started the fire in the furnace and quickly got up steam. The Steam Man was soon puffing and panting ready to go. Barney gave a couple of sharp blasts with the whistle. Then Frank Reade, Jr., shook hands with Senor Ravello. “I shall pray for your good luck,” declared Ravello. “Thank you!” replied Frank. “I shall hope to rescue Montaine.” Then he sprang into the cage. Barney was at the dasher and Pomp was busying himself stowing away things in the bunkers. Barney opened the throttle and the Steam Man went ahead. The crowd yelled itself hoarse, the Steam Man whistled, and then was away with ponderous tread out of the town. Out into the country the voyagers went. Fertile farms and gardens were upon all sides for a number of miles. It was easy to follow good roads for some distance. Then the confines of civilization were reached and the unexplored wilds opened up before them. For two days the Steam Man kept a course to the north-west. Mexican towns were passed and ranches without number. Rancheros and peons, hunters and cowboys, greasers and half-breeds, all viewed the Steam Man with great wonderment, and some of the ignorant natives with superstition. But the voyagers were not molested until one evening, after crossing an arid plain, the startling discovery was made that the Steam Man’s boilers were empty. It was necessary to bank the fires at once and look for a fresh supply. This it was not easy to find in that locality. There was not a stream or lake visible anywhere. All was a dry, arid plain. But two miles distant in the verge of a clump of timber the low roof of an adobe ranch was seen. It was not known what sort of people lived there, nor with what sort of a reception they might meet. But it was necessary to have water, and something desperate had got to be done at once. “There must be water there,” declared Frank. “We will go over there and see at any rate.” So Barney headed the Man for the distant ranch. As they approached it, they saw half a score of nondescript men lounging about the place. They were in the main half-breeds and greasers, and all of a decidedly villainous type. The Steam Man drew up in the ranch yard. The effect upon the motley crew was most surprising. Of course this was the first time they had ever gazed upon anything like the Steam Man. Wonderment and interest were depicted upon their brutish faces as they advanced. Pomp regarded them askance, and taking a sweeping survey of the place ventured to say: “Golly! Marse Frank, I don’ jes’ likes de looks of dis place.”