'Skulp me! but don't stop quite so sudden like,' said the hunter.
'It's a little unhandy fur me to hold up so quick!'
'I'll soon learn to manage it,' replied Johnny. 'I see it won't do to
shut off all at once.'
Descending from his perch, he examined every portion of the engine.
Several parts were found heated, and the fuel was getting low. The
water in the boiler, however, was just right, the engineer having been
able to control that from his seat in the wagon.
Throwing in a lot of wood, they remounted to their perch and started
forward again. There was an abundance of steam, and the boy readily
acquired such a familiarity with the working of his man, that he
controlled it with all the skill of an experienced engineer.
The speed was slackened, then increased. It stopped and then started
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.
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