The Huge Hunter | Page 3

hat or smoke-stack had a sieve-like arrangement, such as is frequently seen
on the locomotive.
There were other little conveniences in the way of creating a draft, and of shutting it off
when too great, which could scarcely be understood without a scrutiny of the figure itself.
The steam man was a frightful looking object, being painted of a glossy black, with a pair
of white stripes down its legs, and with a face which was intended to be of a flesh color,
but, which was really a fearful red.
To give the machinery an abundance of room, the steam man was exceedingly corpulent,
swelling out to aldermanic proportions, which, after all, was little out of harmony with its
immense hight.
The wagon dragged behind was an ordinary four-wheeled vehicle, with springs, and very
strong wheels, a framework being arranged, so that when necessary it could be securely
covered. To guard against the danger of upsetting it was very broad, with low wheels,
which it may be safely said were made to 'hum' when the gentleman got fairly fender
way.
Such is a brief and Imperfect description of this wonderful steam man, as it appeared on
its first visit to the Western prairies.
CHAPTER II.
'HANDLE ME GENTLY.'
WHEN Ethan Hopkins had surveyed the steam man fully, ha drew a long sigh and
ex-claimed:
'Wal, naow, that's too had!'
'What's that?' inquired Bicknell, who had been not a little amused at his open-mouthed
amazement.
'Do you know I've been thinking of that thing for ten years, ever since I went through
Colt's pistol factory in Hartford, when I was a youngster?'
'Did you ever think of any plan!'
'I never got it quite right, but I intended to do it after we got through digging for gold.
The thing was just taking shape in my head. See here, naow, ain't you going to give a
fellow a ride?'

'Jis' what I wanted; shall I run it for you?'
'No, I see how it works; them 'ere thingumbobs and gimcracks do it all.'
'Johnny, hyar, will tell yer 'bout it.'
The little humpback sprung nimbly down, and ran around the man, explaining as well as
he could in a few moments the manner of controlling its movements. The Yankee felt
some sensitiveness in being instructed by such a tiny specimen, and springing into the
wagon, exclaimed:
'Git eout! tryin' to teach yer uncle! I knowed how the thing would work before you were
born!'
Perching himself on the top of the wood which was heaped up in the wagon, the
enthusiastic New Englander carefully looked over the prairie to see that the way was
clear, and was about to 'let on steam,' when he turned toward the Irishman.
'Come, Mickey, git up here.'
'Arrah now, but I never learnt to ride the divil when I was home in the ould country,'
replied the Irishman, backing away.
But both Ethan and Baldy united in their persuasions, and finally Mickey consented,
although with great trepidation. He timidly climbed upon the wagon and took his seat
beside the Yankee, looking very much as a man may be supposed to look who mounts the
hearse to attend his own funeral.
'When yer wants to start, jist pull that 'ere gimcrack!' said Baldy, pointing to the crook in
the rod upon which his hand rested.
'Git eout, naow! do you think you're goin' to teach me that has teached school fur five
year in Connecticut?'
There were some peculiarities about the steam man which made him a rather unwieldy
contrivance. He had a way of starting with a jerk, unless great skill was used in letting on
steam; and his stoppage was equally sudden, from the same cause.
When the Irishman and Yankee had fairly ensconced themselves on their perch, the latter
looked carefully round to make sure that no one was in the way, and then he tuned the
valve, which let on a full head of steam.
For a second the monster did not stir. The steam had not fairly taken 'hold' yet; then he
raised one immense spiked foot and held it suspended in air.
'That's a great contrivance, ain't it?' exclaimed Ethan, contemptuously.
'Can't do nothin' more than lift his foot. Wait till you see more! he's goin' to dance and

skip like a lamb, or outrun any locomotive you ever sot eyes on!'
'Bad luck to the loikes of yees, why d' yees go on?' exclaimed the irate Irishman, as be
leaned forward and addressed the obdurate machine. 'Are yees tryin' to fool us, bad luck
to yees'
At this instant, the feet of the steam man began rising and falling with lightning like
rapidity, the wagon being jerked forward with such sudden swiftness, that both Ethan and
Mickey turned back summersets, rolling