CHAPTER II.IN YUCATAN.
“You can see that he is constructed of plates of iron,” said Frank, explanatively. “The legs are reservoirs for water, the furnace is in his chest and the smoke-pipe is his high hat. The gauge and indicator and throttle as well as steam chest are upon his back. In his mouth you will see the whistle.
“Then you will observe the steel driving rods down his legs. Of course it required some clever mechanical skill, but it can be seen at a glance that the machine is a practicable and feasible one. Just as much so as a locomotive.”
“But ten times more wonderful,” declared Mr. Buckden.
“Perhaps so. Now you can see that this is the wagon drawn by the Steam Man. In this wagon we carry a supply of coal, provisions and weapons. It is covered with a wire screen made of toughest steel and able to withstand a rifle ball.
“Through this opening in the front come the reins by which I drive the Man. The loopholes in the sides are to fire through. Indeed, sir, the wagon is a small fortress in itself.”
“I should say so,” agreed the millionaire, “and what an admirable thing for this trip to Yucatan. In that land of poisonous reptiles and insects you can travel with immunity for it would puzzle a fly to get through that screen.”
“I think it is the proper vehicle to travel with there,” agreed Frank. “I believe that the region where your son will be likely to be found is one of level sort, flat table-lands and plains.”
“I believe so!”
“Ah, well, I will promise to do the best I can to save him.”
“I thank you!”
A short while later Mr. Buckden took his departure.
Now that Frank’s mind had been made up to take the trip, he lost no time in making preparations.
His father, when acquainted with the project, shook his head wistfully and said:
“I only wish I was as young and supple as I once was. How I’d like to go along!”
Barney and Pomp were over-enthusiastic over the project.
They were on hand promptly and assisted in the preparations.
The wagon was quite spacious and would carry a good deal. Provisions of a portable kind were packed, and plenty of ammunition.
Frank took care also to supply himself with drugs, for he did not forget that it was a malarial country that he was going to.
One thing was much in their favor, and that was the season of the year, it being winter.
Naturally the climate would not be so hot as in mid-summer.
When the report was spread that Frank Reade, Jr., and his Steam Man were going to Central America, the whole country was deeply interested.
The newspapers contained sketches of the young inventor and his famous machine.
People traveled hundreds of miles to Readestown for a look at the great Steam Man, the wonder of the age.
Scientists and explorers were continually besieging Frank, and the young inventor was quite worn out with the importunities of many when the day set for starting came.
At length the day came.
The Steam Man was placed aboard a special car and shipped to New Orleans direct.
Here Mr. Buckden had seen to the chartering of a steamer, aboard which the travelers went.
A tremendous crowd were at the wharf to cheer the voyagers.
It was a great day for New Orleans.
But at length the steamer’s bell rung for starting.
Frank shook hands warmly with Mr. Buckden.
“I feel sure that you will rescue my son,” declared the agonized father. “Heaven will aid you.”
“I will do all in my power,” said Frank, earnestly.
The schooner cast loose from the levee and shot down into the current. A band played, the people cheered, and Frank Reade, Jr., Barney and Pomp and the Steam Man were really off upon their trip to Central America.
A short while later they passed through the jetties at the delta of the Mississippi, and were in the waters of the Gulf.
The voyage to Campeachy was not a long one and most propitious.
When at length they entered the Bay of Campeachy the mild land breeze and a view of the palm-studded shore told them that they were in a tropical clime.
To the surprise of our voyagers, a warm reception was accorded them at Campeachy.
The Spanish people, ever of an enthusiastic, sport-loving turn, turned out in great force to welcome the distinguished visitors.
Word had been received by cablegram of their coming.
The governor of Campeachy warmly welcomed Frank, and for a few hours he was taken charge of by a committee and treated to many hospitalities.
There were many of his own people in the town also—merchants connected with houses in New York that dealt in dye stuffs, fruits and many of the products of the country.
Frank was deeply impressed with the warmth of the welcome given him.
He thanked all his benefactors kindly.
Then at the most favorable moment he returned to the ship.
The Steam Man was brought ashore and exhibited to the wondering gaze of the people.
But Frank knew the importance of quick and prompt action, and was not the one to readily accede to delay.
He knew that every moment was to the success of his enterprise of vital worth.
The people were all in sympathy with his enterprise.
Tony Buckden had been well and favorably known in Campeachy.
The young engineer was very popular there, and everybody was deeply interested in his fate.
But Senor Gonzales, one of the patrician gentlemen of Campeachy, came to Frank and said:
“Senor Americano, I hope you will succeed with all my heart. But do not be disappointed if you do not find the young Senor Buckden.”
“Ah, then you think the chances are few?” asked Frank.
“I speak of what I know. The dangers of interior Yucatan are known to none better than I. I fear the worst for your friend.”
“But I can at least try.”
“Si Senor. May the mother be with you,” said the Spanish gentleman, warmly.
Frank lost no time now in making the Steam Man ready for the start.
One day was consumed in making a map of his route, as nearlycorrect as he could gather in detail from the natives who penetrated the interior.
Frank had decided to proceed at once to the table-land of Tanada.
This point gained he believed that he could there learn something more of the fate of young Buckden.
He consulted with every native guide and traveler who knew anything about the route.
But now a curious thing occurred.
Every man he encountered seemed to have a different idea of the table-lands.
Some were inclined to Munchausen tales, while others pooh-poohed them.
At length in sheer disgust Frank said:
“There is just one thing about it. I have got to proceed solely upon my own judgment. If I adopted all the different plans accorded me I should lead a queer course to be sure.”
So with this decision Frank left Campeachy.
Beyond the city, Frank found some fairly good roads which led through a section devoted to the culture of fruits and vegetables of various kinds.
Then immense fields of the coffee plant were passed and finally the country began to change its appearance.
Immense tropical forests were encountered. These of course the Steam Man could not travel through.
But generally paths were found leading through the hills, and in this way the explorers got along.
A wild region was encountered, wilder than even Barney and Pomp had seen in the heart of Africa.
They were at the moment near the verge of a mighty forest.
“Speaking of snakes,” cried Frank Reade, Jr., “Just look at that.”
All gazed in the direction indicated.
Hanging from the limb of a mighty forest monarch was a gigantic python or boa-constrictor.
In the monster’s folds was a small wood fawn. It had been crushed all to jelly by the powerful folds of the reptile.
It reared its head and recoiled as the Steam Man appeared on the scene.
But it did not show fear, or seem to care in the least for the machine. Indeed, it acted defiant and ready for battle.
Barney shrugged his shoulders and picked up his rifle.
“Begorra, I’d loike to spoil the appetite av ther baste,” he cried. “An’ it’s that same I’ll do.”
So with this the Celt up and fired at the python.
The effect was curious.
The huge snake received the bullet in its sinuous folds, and a jet of blood marked the course of the ball.
Hissing savagely with pain, the python released the wood fawn, and without an instant’s warning charged directly at the man.
In an instant Frank saw that they had committed an indiscretion.
While to be sure they were protected by the steel screen of the wagon, yet it was easy to reckon the effect of the python’s attack.
That monster’s brown body came hurtling and hissing down the slope like an avalanche.
Swifter than a railroad train the enraged python charged upon its foe.
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.