Luis Senarens

“ Many of the mammoth buildings were a heap of ruins. Trees were uprooted, and a scene of havoc was upon every hand.
“Golly fo’ goodness!” gasped the startled Pomp, as he pulled himself together. “I kain’t say dat I’m stuck on yarthquakes, am yo’ Marse Frank?”
‪“No,” replied Frank, as he adjusted a sprained shoulder. ‪“And what is more, we will start this very moment for civilization, and the land where earthquakes never happen.”
‪“Good!” cried Tony Buckden. “I’m with you.”
“Bejabers, I’m the same,” cried Barney.
Not one gave thought to the deeply buried treasure of Mazendla now. ”

“ As it was, the air was instantly filled with the fumes of burning snake flesh.
The huge snake’s body coming in contact with the almost red hot fire box of the Steam Man, received a terrific scorching.
For an instant his snakeship did not seem to mind this and made terrific blows with his head at the screen.
He strove in vain to reach the men within.
‪“Whurro!” yelled Barney. “Yez did a wondherful thing thin, Misther Frank. Shure, the big divil is burnin’ up.”
“Golly sakes, dat am a fac’,” cried Pomp, joyfully. ”

“ It would seem that my dear friend’s life is at stake. Ought I not to sacrifice something to save him?”
“What? You don’t really think of going yourself?”
“I don’t know,” replied Frank, agitatedly pacing the floor. “I don’t see who else can go and stand the rigors of that climate, dare the dangers of the jungle, the wild beasts and natives, and succeed in rescuing Tony.”
‪“Are you sure that you can do it?”
‪“Ought I not to be reasonably sure? Have I not the Steam Man? Barney and Pomp I am sure would go with me.” ”

“ The three rifles cracked, and one of the tigers turned over and lay limp and lifeless upon the bottom of the cavern.
The other was hit, but not badly wounded.
The wound, however, had the effect of exciting the animal’s rage and with a roar it vanished from sight for a moment.
When it came into sight again it was seen coming up over the edge of the crater to attack its human foes.
Up over the rocks it came with mad leaps.
‪“Look out!” cried Frank Reade, Jr.; ‪“take good aim at the beast.”
The three explorers fired. Whether the bullets struck the beast or not it was not easy to say. ”

“ The lion was gaining with tremendous bounds upon Frank.
But Barney set the Steam Man after him with all speed. A terrific race followed.
Pomp was at a loophole with his rifle.
Drawing a bead on the animal, he fired. Barney lashed the throttle rein and did the same.
Both shots took effect.
But they did not stay the panther’s course, though they drew a howl of pain from him.
But every moment increased Frank’s danger. He seemed certain to be overtaken.
‪“Be me sowl!” groaned Barney, in horror, ‪“I belave the divil will overthake Misther Frank. How many lives has the baste got, anyway?” ”

“ It was at the moment when the Steam Man was about to leave the court-yard and had been attacked by the natives, if such they could be called.
Both Buckden and Barney could see the heads of the contestants beyond a wall of stone.
It was their impulse to go to the aid of Frank and Pomp.
But this was seen at once to be clearly impossible.
They could not hope to successfully fight their way through the crowd of people. Moreover, a thrilling danger now confronted the fugitives.
The three trained tigers from whom Frank and Pomp had so narrowly escaped were gamboling in the court-yard. ”

“ Suddenly they came out into what seemed like the plaza, or public square of the city.
Here wonderful sights were presented.
Mammoth ruins surrounded the square on all sides.
These were overgrown with vegetation of all kinds.
Clinging vines adorned the walls, and huge trees of the deciduous species grew out of the roof and piles of moldering stone.
Everywhere all was desolation and decay.
But one building, massive and commanding, with huge pillars of some strange blue stone, seemed comparatively well preserved. ”

“ The snake, in its writhings, had not only closed the throttle by twisting the rein about its body, but had also pulled open the whistle valve in the same manner.
The two explorers came to a halt at first, and regarded the spectacle with much wonder.
Then Frank cried:
“Hurrah! We’ve got the best of it. We can easily end the fight now.”
Straight up to the cage Frank ran. It was an easy matter to climb up and draw aim at the anaconda’s head through the loophole. ”

“ When the report was spread that Frank Reade, Jr., and his Steam Man were going to Central America, the whole country was deeply interested.
The newspapers contained sketches of the young inventor and his famous machine.
People traveled hundreds of miles to Readestown for a look at the great Steam Man, the wonder of the age.
Scientists and explorers were continually besieging Frank, and the young inventor was quite worn out with the importunities of many when the day set for starting came. ”

“ They were faithful servitors of his, and were named Barney and Pomp.
They were a legacy from Frank’s father, and in all the famous young inventor’s travels these servants had accompanied him.
Nobody could be more attached to a master than they were to Frank.
And now, as they caught sight of him approaching, they straightened up and both doffed their hats.
“I’se done glad to see yo’, Marse Frank.”
‪“I hope yez air well, Misther Frank.”
‪“Barney and Pomp!” cried Frank, eagerly. ‪“You are just the fellows I want to see.”
‪“Whurroo!” shouted Barney. ”

“ Well, I imagine that this ruined city, Mazendla he called it, is one of the same sort.
“But Metlo, which is the name of my informant, described a vast temple in which he said there was vast treasures of gold, silver and jewels. But ever since discovered this temple has been a perfect nest of gigantic anacondas, and none of the natives have ever ventured into the place.
“Only one man ever lived to get out of the place, and he brought forth enough gold and jewels to insure his wealth for life. ”

“ When a tall, sugar-loaf shaped mountain is directly ahead of you, bear to the right and enter a canyon. It will take you directly to Mazendla, the most wonderful of cities.”
‪“All right,” cried Frank. ‪“We will follow your directions. All aboard, everybody!”
All scrambled into the cage, and Frank set the Steam Man in motion.
The temple in the forest and the strange race of pigmies were left behind. Nothing more was seen of them. ”

“ Barney turned like a flash.
“Tare an’ ’ounds!” he gasped. ‪“Who the divil are yez?”
‪“On the other hand, let me ask the same question.”
Barney was facing a young man, tall, straight and handsome.
He was dressed in the garb of a native hunter, and carried a rifle. A moment previous he had crept out of a niche in the wall just to Barney’s right.
The two white men stood gazing at each other in amazement.
‪“Well, I niver!” gasped Barney. ‪“Yez are not one of these haythins that own this place, are yez?”
‪“No. Are you?”
‪“Divil a bit.” ”

“ The shot pierced the snake’s brain.
The head dropped lifeless, but the huge body continued to writhe in the throes of death.
Frank swung the door of the cage open.
‪“Come, Tony!” he cried, cheerily. “Let’s pull the monster out, and we will then have the Steam Man once more in our possession.” Buckden needed no urging.
Both laid hold of the snake’s huge coils. It was a hard tug, but the huge monster was finally pulled out of the cage. ”

“ Frank saw the snake making ready to dive at him again.
He knew that it was folly to risk his life in such a manner.
So accepting discretion as the better part of valor, the young inventor dashed from the wagon.
The huge snake’s body was rapidly sliding into the wagon.
The explorers dumbfounded and irresolute stood outside and watched the proceeding with curious sensations.
‪“Well, upon me sowl,” cried Barney, “howiver will we get the omadhoun out av’ that? Bad cess to his ugly shape, say I.”
‪“By Jove, that is a stickler,” declared Buckden. ‪“How will we ever get him out of the cage?” ”

“ Metlo told me that no white man ever visited the region.
“The journey thither is a dangerous one on account of beasts and poisonous reptiles. Yet I believe it can be made. I have thought of you and your wonderful Steam Man and I feel sure that with the aid of you and your wonderful invention the treasure can be recovered.
“Now, Frank, I humbly beg of you if possible come down here and embark in this enterprise with me.
“Of course I have plenty of money, my father being a millionaire, but I have a powerful desire to visit the ruined city of Mazendla and do battle with those anacondas. ”

“ The treasure of Mazendla was found.
It would be quite impossible to enumerate its mighty value.
But it would seem that it must be up in the millions. For how many centuries it had remained here it would be quite hard to say.
‪“Heavens!” gasped Frank. ‪“Here is enough to enrich us many times, Tony.”
‪“I should say so.”
‪“It is the wealth of a king.”
‪“To be sure.”
‪“But what great good can it do us? We have got enough.”
‪“That is so.”
The two explorers proceeded to make an examination of the contents of the treasure room.
Among all the gold and silver Frank looked for diamonds. ”

“ The pigmies pursued hurling their lances at the cage.
But the steel netting was proof against them, and they fell off harmlessly.
However, Frank saw that they were planning to annihilate the Steam Man with a huge log thrown across the roadway by a party who had headed the Man off.
The tree would prevent the Man’s progress in that direction, and Frank set his lips grimly.
‪“They are after our lives, Pomp. I hate to fire into them, but it is self-defense.”
“Ob co’se it am, Marse Frank,” protested Pomp. “You’se jes’ a good right to shoot ebery one ob dem, fo’ suah.”
Frank picked up his rifle. ”

“ Frank lost no time now in making the Steam Man ready for the start.
One day was consumed in making a map of his route, as nearly [Pg 4] correct as he could gather in detail from the natives who penetrated the interior.
Frank had decided to proceed at once to the table-land of Tanada.
This point gained he believed that he could there learn something more of the fate of young Buckden.
He consulted with every native guide and traveler who knew anything about the route.
But now a curious thing occurred.
Every man he encountered seemed to have a different idea of the table-lands. ”

“ The stone was a peculiar sandstone, and while it showed evidence of age and the discolorations of time it was yet firm and hard.
But the mortar would yield to the point of the knife. Frank at once began work upon it.
‪“My plan,” he declared, ‪“is to displace the mortar as far as possible, and perhaps we can loosen some of these stones and make an aperture large enough to get out through.”
‪“Good!” cried Buckden, joyfully. “You’ve hit the mark, Frank.”
‪“I hope so,” said the young inventor, modestly; ‪“time will tell. First we must make sure that the mortar will give way.” ”

“ Upon my word, this breaks me all up.”
‪“What is it, Frank?” asked Mrs. Reade, with interest.
‪“Why, Tony Buckden, an old college mate of mine, it seems has turned his wits to mining engineering. This has taken him down to Central America, to Yucatan, and a cablegram has just been received in New York, stating that Tony had become separated from his party and lost in the jungle. For six weeks he was searched for in vain.”
‪“How terrible.”
“It is more than likely that he has fallen a prey to wild beasts. ”

“ To all appearance the temple or pueblo in the deep forest was deserted.
For some time our adventurers continued to gaze upon the wonderful building with curiosity and interest.
“Bejabers, I don’t see phwativer they’d want for to build sich a foine house in this place for,” exclaimed Barney. “I don’t undherstand it at all, at all.”
“I jes’ finks dat dis am a new race ob people dat we hab discobered, Marse Frank,” suggested Pomp.
‪“We can tell very quickly when some of them show up,” replied Frank.
‪“I wondah if dey am hostile to de white people, or to civilized people,” asked Pomp. ”

“ Give me your hand. I am an American, and the Irishman has no better friend.”
‪“Yez talk like a man, yez do,” cried Barney. “I’m delighted to meet yez. But howiver did yez come here?”
‪“Well,” replied the young man, “I was fool enough to step upon a revolving dais in the temple above, and——”
‪“Bejabers. I came here that same way mesilf,” cried Barney.
‪“So? Well, we are in for it.”
‪“Yez are roight.”
‪“But what may I ask has brought you into this part of Yucatan?”
“Shure, I come here wid the Steam Man, an’ Misther Frank Reade, Jr., the worruld-famous invintor.” ”

“ As a favor I beg of you to write me at once to Campeachy. And now, my dear Frank, hoping to hear from you soon and favorably, I am as ever your friend.
Tony Buckden.”
Frank Reade, Jr., drew a deep breath as he finished reading this stirring epistle.
His eyes shone like stars and his whole being was stirred up.
It was certainly just the kind of a trip he would fancy. His adventurous spirit was fired and he muttered:
‪“That is a new field to explore. Ah! I would like to try it. But let me see! This letter has been coming by lazy stages and has been three weeks on the way. ”