The Steam Man of the Prairies

MP3 Audio CD. The Steam Man of the Prairies

CHAPTER I. THE TERROR OF THE PRAIRIES.

'HOWLY vargin! what is that?' exclaimed Mickey McSquizzle, with
something like horrified amazement.

'By the Jumping Jehosiphat, naow if that don't, beat all natur'!'

'It's the divil, broke loose, wid full steam on!'

There was good cause for these exclamations upon the part of the
Yankee and Irishman, as they stood on the margin of Wolf Ravine, and
gazed off over the prairie. Several miles to the north, something like
a gigantic man could be seen approaching, apparently at a rapid gait
for a few seconds, when it slackened its speed, until it scarcely
moved.

Occasionally it changed its course, so that it went nearly at right
angles. At such times, its colossal proportions were brought out in
full relief, looking like some Titan as it took its giant strides over
the prairie.

The distance was too great to scrutinize the phenomenon closely; but
they could see that a black volume of smoke issued either from its
mouth or the top of its head, while it was drawing behind it a sort of
carriage, in which a single man was seated, who appeared to control
the movements of the extraordinary being in front of him.