II.

'HANDLE ME GENTLY.'

WHEN Ethan Hopkins had the steam man fully, he a long and exclaimed:

'Wal, naow, that's too had!'

'What's that?' Bicknell, who had been not a little at his open-mouthed amazement.

'Do you know I've been of that thing for ten years, since I through Colt's pistol in Hartford, when I was a youngster?'

'Did you think of any plan!'

'I got it right, but I to do it after we got through for gold. The thing was just taking shape in my head. See here, naow, ain't you going to give a a ride?'

'Jis' what I wanted; shall I it for you?'

'No, I see how it works; them 'ere and do it all.'

'Johnny, hyar, will tell 'bout it.'

The little down, and ran around the man, as well as he in a moments the manner of its movements. The Yankee some in being by such a specimen, and into the wagon, exclaimed:

'Git eout! tryin' to teach uncle! I how the thing would work you were born!'

Perching himself on the top of the which was up in the wagon, the New Englander looked over the to see that the way was clear, and was about to 'let on steam,' when he toward the Irishman.

'Come, Mickey, up here.'

'Arrah now, but I learnt to the when I was home in the country,' the Irishman, away.

But Ethan and Baldy in their persuasions, and Mickey consented, although with great trepidation. He upon the and took his seat the Yankee, looking very much as a man may be to look who the to his own funeral.

'When wants to start, that 'ere gimcrack!' said Baldy, pointing to the in the upon which his hand rested.

'Git eout, naow! do you think you're goin' to teach me that has five year in Connecticut?'

There were some about the steam man which him a contrivance. He had a way of starting with a jerk, unless great skill was used in on steam; and his was sudden, from the same cause.

When the Irishman and Yankee had themselves on their perch, the looked to make sure that no one was in the way, and then he the valve, which let on a full of steam.

For a second the did not stir. The steam had not taken 'hold' yet; then he one and it in air.

'That's a great contrivance, ain't it?' Ethan, contemptuously.

'Can't do nothin' more than his foot. Wait till you see more! he's goin' to and like a lamb, or any you on!'

'Bad luck to the of yees, why d' go on?' the Irishman, as he and the machine. 'Are tryin' to us, luck to yees?'

At this instant, the of the steam man and with like rapidity, the being with such swiftness, that Ethan and Mickey summersets, over off the vehicle to the ground, while the over the prairie, and at a rate. Baldy was about to start in of it, when Johnny, the boy, him.

'It won't far; the steam is nearly out.'

'Be jibbers! but me is in!' the Irishman, to his feet, his head, and looking at his hand to see there was blood upon it.

'Jerusalem! I she had or her b'iler!' said the Yankee, looking around him with a air.

The two were laughing furiously, and they the which had been played upon them.

'Let your old machine go to blazes!' Ethan. 'If it that way, I don't want nothin' to do with it.'

In the time the had gone over the prairie, until about a of a mile distant, when it slackened, and as halted.

'What's the it now?' asked Mickey; 'has it got the and gi'n out?'

'The steam is used up!' the dwarf, as he after it; 'we can soon start it again!'

All four all toward the figure; but the light and activity of little Johnny him to it in of the others. Emptying a of from the wagon, he was in it into his when the other two came up. His sparkled, as he said:

'Jump up there, and I'll give you all a ride!'

The three up and took their seats with great care, Mickey and Ethan as if their life on it.

Johnny in the fuel until the black in a from the hat. Before it, he opened two smaller doors, at the knees, which allowed the and to out. The water in the was then examined, and all right. Johnny in his place, and took charge.

'Now we are ready! fast!'

'Begorrah, if I goes I takes the me,' Mickey, as he closed his teeth and on like death.

The managed the with skill, on a full of steam, and just as it a move it off, and it on almost immediately, and then off and it again, until it moving at a pace, which, however, until it was going thirty miles an hour.

Nothing be more than this of a mile over the prairie. The plain was level, and despite the speed attained, the almost as as if upon a railroad. Although the air was still, the a about the ears of the four seated on the top of the wood.

The of the steam man's the and clear of those behind, while the within, with a exactness, such as was a of to all the little who had himself the mechanism. The of the joints as they their power was audible, and, when once started, there was no at all in its progress.

When the party had about a half-mile, Johnny a large circle, and came to the starting, the progress with the same skill that he had started it. He down, the fire, and points of the man, when right, he opened his knee-caps and let and out.

'How that?' Ethan Hopkins, over his shoulder.

'What's to hinder?'

'How he work his legs, if they're that way and let the fire 'em?'

'They ain't hollow. Don't you see they are very large, and there is of room for the leg-rods, a place for the and ashes?'

'Wal, I swan, if that ain't queer. And you it all out of your naow?' asked the Yankee, looking at the him.

'No, I had to use a good of iron,' was the reply of the youngster, with a smile.

'You you got up the thing yourself?' 'Yes, sir,' was the but proud reply of the boy.

'Jingo and Jerusalem! but your must be of you!' the New Englander, him from to foot.

'I haven't any father.'

'Your mother then.'

'I don't know about that.'

'Say, you, can't tell a 'bout it?'

'Not now; I haven't time.'

As the steam was to for the present, he was 'put up.' The opened in his and breast, and different parts of his body, and the machinery, the portions, and when he had completed, he a large oil skin from the wagon, which, being spread out, it and the steam man himself.