gotten himself into an inextricable difficulty, for how to reach the
steam man and renew the fireunder the circumstanceswas a question
which might well puzzle an older head to answer.

It was unfortunate that the machine should have been taken at this
great disadvantage, for it was stripping it of its terror to those
Indians, who were such inveterate enemies to the whites. They had
probably viewed it with wonder and fear at first; but finding it
undemonstrative, had gradually gathered courage, until they had
congregated around it, and made as critical a scrutiny as they know
how.

Whatever fear or terror they had felt at first sight was now gone; for
they seemed on the most familiar terms with it.

Several climbed into the wagonothers passed in and around the helpless
giantand one valiant follow bit him a thwack on the stomach with his
tomahawk.

This blow hurt the boy far more than it did the iron man, and he could
hardly repress a cry of pain, as he looked upon the destruction of his
wonderful friend as almost inevitable.

The savage, however, contented himself with this demonstration, and
immediately after walked away toward the mountain. The observant boy
knew what this meant, and he withdrew from his temporary hiding-place,
and started to watch him.

The fact that the Indian followed precisely the path taken by him, did
not remove the uneasiness, and be made up his mind that nothing but