The senior Reade examined the mechanism of the new Steam Man with deepest interest.
“Upon my word, Frank,” he cried, “you have beaten me out and out. I can hardly believe my eyes.”
Frank Reade, Jr., laughed good humoredly.
Then he went about showing a party of friends the mechanism of the new Steam Man.
The man himself was a structure of iron plates joined in sections with rivets, hinges or bars as the needs required.
In face and form the machine was a good imitation of a man done in steel.
In no wise did he look ponderous or unwieldy, though his stature was fully nine feet.
The man stood erect holding the shafts of a wagon at his hips.
The wagon itself was light but roomy with four wheels and a top covering of fine steel net work. This was impervious to a bullet while anyone inside could see quite well all about them.
There were loop-holes in this netting to put the rifle barrels through in case of a fight.
A part of the wagon was used as a coal bunker. Other small compartments held a limited amount of stores, ammunitions and weapons.
Upon the fender in front was a brake to regulate the wagon on a steep grade, and a slit in the net work here allowed of the passage of the reins, two long lines connecting with the throttle and whistle valves. A word as to the mechanism of the man.
Here was really the fine work of the invention.
The hollow legs and arms of the man made the reservoir or boilers. In the broad chest was the furnace. Fully two hundred pounds of coal could here be placed, keeping up a fire sufficient to generate steam for a long time.
The steam chest was upon the man’s back, and here were a number of valves. The tall hat worn by the man formed the smoke stack.
The driving rods, in sections, extended down the man’s legs, and could be set in motion so skillfully that a tremendous stride was attained, and a speed far beyond belief.
This was the new steam man. The improvements were many and manifest.
All the mechanism was more nicely balanced, the parts more strongly joined, and the steel of finer quality. Greater speed was the certainty.
Fire was burning in the furnace, steam was hissing from the retort, and smoke was pouring from the funnel hat of the man.
Frank Reade, Jr., suddenly sprung in the wagon.