The Huge Hunter | Page 7

rather singular figure which stood before him. It was a hunter in half civilized costume,
his pants tucked into his immense boot tops, with revolvers and rifles at his waist, and a
general negligent air, which showed that he was at home in whatever part of the world he
chose to wander.
He stood with his hand in his pocket, chewing his quid, and complacently viewing the
operations of the boy, who was not a little surprised to understand how he obtained
entrance into his shop.
'Stopped at the house to ax whar old Washoe Pete keeps his hotel,' replied the stranger,
rightly surmising the query which was agitating him, 'and I cotched a glimpse of yer old
machine. Thought I'd come in and see what in blazes it war. Looks to me like a man that's
gwine to run by steam.'
'That's just what it is,' replied the boy, seeing there was no use in attempting to conceal
the truth from the man.
'Will it do it?'
'Yes, sir.'

'Don't think you mean to lie, younker, but I don't believe any such stuff as that.'
'It don't make any difference to me whether you believe me or not,' was the quiet reply of
the boy; 'but if you will come inside and shut the door, and let me fasten It, so that there
will be no danger of our being disturbed, I will soon show you.'
These two personages, so unlike in almost every respect, had taken quite a fancy to each
other. The strong, hardy, bronzed trapper, powerful in all that goes to make up the
physical man, looked upon the pale, sweet-faced boy, with his misshapen body, as an
affectionate father would look upon an afflicted child.
On the other hand, the brusque, outspoken manner of the hunter pleased the appreciative
mind of the boy, who saw much to admire, both in his appearance and manner.
'I don't s'pose yer know me,' said the stranger, as he stepped inside and allowed the boy to
secure the door behind him.
'I never saw you before.'
'I am Baldy Bicknellthough I ginerally go by the name of 'Baldy.''
'That's rather an odd name.'
'Yas; that's the reason.'
As he spoke, the stranger removed his hat and displayed his clean-shaven pate.
'Yer don't understand that, eh? That 'ere means I had my ha'r lifted ten years ago. The
Sioux war the skunks that done it. After they took my top-knot off. It had grow'd on ag'in
and that's why they call me Baldy.'
In the mean time the door had been closed, and all secured. The hat of the steam man
emptied its smoke and steam into a section of stove-pipe, which led into the chimney, so
that no suspicion of anything unusual could disturb the passers-by in the street.
'You see it won't do to let him walk here, for when I tried it first, he went straight through
the side of the house; but you can tell by the way in which he moves his legs, whether he
is able to walk or not.'
'That's the way we ginerally gits the p'ints of an animal,' returned Baldy, with great
complaisance, as he seated himself upon a bench to watch the performance.
It required the boy but a short time to generate a sufficient quantity of steam to set the
legs going at a terrific rate, varying the proceedings by letting some of the vapor through
the whistle which composed the steam man's nose.
Baldy Bicknell stood for some minutes with a surprise too great to allow him to speak.
Wonderful as was the mechanism, yet the boy who had constructed it was still more

worthy of wonder. When the steam had given out, the hunter placed his big hand upon
the head of the little fellow, and said:
'You'se a mighty smart chap, that be you. Did anybody help you make that?'
'No; I believe not.'
'What'll you take for it?'
'I never thought of selling it.'
'Wal, think of it now.'
'What do you want to do with it?
'Thar's three of us goin' out to hunt fur gold, and that's jist the thing to keep the Injins
back an' scart. I've been out thar afore, and know what's the matter with the darned
skunks. So, tell me how much money will buy it.'
'I would rather not sell it, said Johnny, after a few minutes' further thought.' It has taken
me a great while to finish it, and I would rather not part with it, for the present, at least.'
'But, skin me, younker, I want to buy it! I'll give you a thousand dollars fur it, slap down.'
Although much less than the machine was really worth, yet it was a large offer, and the
boy hesitated