Book Description

Frank Reade Jr. receives a letter from Mexico advising that a friend of his, Harvey Montaine, had been prospecting for gold in the area of Laredo when he had been set upon by bandits. A ransom of a staggering fifty thousand dollars has been posted by desperado Miguel Costello, but locals suspect that even if it was paid, Montaine would not be released, and that the bandit is currently working on the mining claim himself. Along with his faithful companions Pomp and Barney, Reade heads out with his Steam Man carriage to rescue Montaine, but have trouble along the away from local aligned with the bandits and perilous traps.