y yards, when he let
go of his controlling rod, and picked up the rifle beside him. A
bullet from this, he supposed, would kill any animal, however large,
no matter at what portion of his body he aimed.

So raising partly to his feet, and steadying himself as well as he
could, he aimed for the lumping haunch of the animal. The ball buried
itself in his flank, and so retarded his speed, that the next moment
the boy found himself beside him.

The instant this took place, the bull lowered his head, and without
further warning, charged full at the steam man.

The boy saw the danger, but too late to stave it off. His immense head
struck the rear of the monster with such momentum that he was lifted
fully a foot from the ground, the concussion sounding like the crack of
a pistol.

Fortunately the shock did not materially injure the machine, although
the frightened boy expected to be capsized and killed by the
infuriated buffalo.

The latter, when he had made his plunge, instantly drew back for
another, which was sure to be fatal if made as fairly as the first.
The boy retained his presence of mind enough to let on full steam, and
the concern shot away at an extraordinary rate, bounding over the
ground so furiously that the billets of wood were thrown and scattered
in every direction, so that now, from being the pursuer, he had
speedily become the pursued. The tables were turned with a vengeance!

It was only by providential good fortune that young Brainerd escaped
instant destruction. The wonder was that the steam man was not so
injured as to be unable to travel, in which case the maddened bull
would have left little of him.

As it was, the experience of the boy was such as he could never
forget. When he turned his affrighted glance behind he saw the enraged
animal plunging furiously after him, his head lowered, his tongue out,
his eyes glaring, and his whole appearance that of the most brutal
ferocity.

Had the bull come in collision with the horse or man while in that
mood he would have made short work of him.

But great as was his speed, it could not equal that of the wonderful
steam man, who took such tremendous strides that a few minutes
sufficed to carry him beyond all danger.

Johnny quietly slacked off steam, but he kept up a good swinging gait,
not caring to renew his close acquaintance with his wounded enemy. The
latter speedily discovered he was losing ground, and finally gave up
the pursuit and trotte