They had reined up on the plain, and
were evidently scanning the strange object, with a great deal of
wonder, mixed with some fear.
'Do you think they will attack us?' inquired the boy, who could not
suppress his trepidation at the sight of the warlike savages, on their
gayly-caparisoned horses, drawn up in such startling array.
'Ef thar war any danger of that, we could stop 'em by 'tacking 'em.
'Jest fire up and start toward 'em, and see how quick they will
scatter.' The advice was acted upon on the instant, although it was
with no little misgiving on the part of the engineer.
All the time that the 'firingup' process was under way the savages sat
as motionless as statues upon their horses. Had they understood the
real nature of the 'animal,' it cannot be supposed that they would
rave hesitated for a moment to charge down upon it and demolish it
entirely.
But it was a terra incognita, clothed with a terror such as no array
of: enemies could wear, and they preferred to keep at a goodly
distance from it.
'Now, suppose they do not run?' remarked Johnny, rather doubtingly, as
he hesitated whether to start ahead or not.
'What if they don't? Can't we run another way? But yer needn't fear.
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