tarted
forward again with all the ease and celerity that it could have done
if really human, while it showed a reserve of power and velocity
capable of performing wonders, if necessary.

As yet they had seen nothing of any travelers. They were quite anxious
to come across some, that they might show them what they were capable
of doing.

'There must be some passing over the plains,' remarked Johnny, when
they had passed some thirty or forty miles.

'Plenty of 'em; but we've got out of the track of 'em. If you'll turn
off summat to the left, we'll run foul of 'em afore dark.'

The boy did as directed, and the rattling pace was kept up for several
hours. When it was noon they helped themselves to a portion of the
food which they brought with them, without checking their progress in
the least. True, while the boy was eating, he kept one eye on the
giant who was going at such rapid strides; but that gentleman
continued his progress in an unexceptionable manner, and needed no
attention.

When the afternoon was mostly gone, Baldy declared that they had gone
the better part of a hundred miles.

The boy could hardly credit it at first; but, when he recalled that
they had scarcely paused for seven hours, and had gone a portion of
the distance at a very high rate, he saw that his friend was not far
out of the way.

It lacked yet several hours of dusk, when the trapper exclaimed:

'Yonder is an emigrant train, now make for 'em!'

CHAPTER VIII. INDIANS.

THE STEAM man was headed straight toward the emigrant train, and
advanced at a speed which rapidly came up with it.

They could see, while yet a considerable distance away, that they had
attracted notice, and the emigrants had paused and ware surveying them
with a wonder which it would be difficult to express.

It is said that when Robert Fulton's first steamboat ascended the
Hudson, it created a consternation and terror such as had never before
been known, many believing that it was the harbinger of the final
destruction of the world.

Of course, at this late day, no such excitement can be created by any
human invention, but the sight of a creature speeding over the country,
impelled by steam, and bearing such a grotesque resemblance to a
gigantic man, could not but startle all who should see it for the
first time.

The steam man advanced at a rate which was quite moderate, until
within a quarter of a mile of the astonished train, when