The engineer managed the monster with rare skill, letting on a full
head of steam, and just as it made a move shutting it off, and letting
it on almost immediately, and then shutting off and admitting it
again, until it began moving at a moderate pace, which, however,
rapidly increased until it was going fully thirty miles an hour.

Nothing could be more pleasant than this ride of a mile over the
prairie. The plain was quite level, and despite the extraordinary
speed attained, the wagon glided almost as smoothly as if running upon
a railroad. Although the air was still, the velocity created a stiff
breeze about the ears of the four seated on the top of the wood.

The hight of the steam man's head carried the smoke and cinders clear
of those behind, while the wonderful machinery within, worked with a
marvelous exactness, such as was a source of continued amazement to
all except the little fellow who had himself constructed the
extraordinary mechanism. The click of the joints as they obeyed their
motive power was scarcely audible, and, when once started, there was
no unnevenness at all in its progress.

When the party had ridden about a half-mile, Johnny described a large
circle, and finally came back to the starting, checking the progress
with the same skill that he had started it. He immediately sprung
down, examined the fire, and several points of the man, when finding
everything right, he opened his knee-caps and let cinders and ashes
drop out.

'How kin yeou dew that?' inquired Ethan Hopkins, peering over his
shoulder.