The Red Cloud chief., 1874-08-01

~ WIN ~ Vob tV81 ~
those times. sod al responsibility TO
the safety Of the train devolved on th,
edgineer. l felt the responsibility o
my portion, bat l knew that two full
trains we're coming down the road
and ! believed that unless l did some
thing 70 prevent it. Nick would cans
the destruction Of both. / had sesi
him drink time and again from . bot
tie he had in the engine, | had notice.
how he threw the wood into the 81
ready overheated furnsce, l had see,
him fa.t.n down the escape valve, snt
l knew be was bent on somethin,
desperate.
We we're DOW dashing along 1t fort,
miles ~ hour, and many heads ver'
thrust from the car windows 70 set
Whist might be the matter, but no
once did slack up, not once dill
alter my mind in its determination.
Gram in all wood you can, Dau,'
[ said to my fireman, and see ID.
through this adventure. There i.
danger ahead"
Not a word did the faithful dsrkeJ
ssy, but he set his teeth firmly and
tossed in stick after stick Of wood,
while l closed every valve and ARE
fully watched the gusge.
1t was q fesrfully grand thing to l<
tearing through the darkness, with
nothing between as and eternity save
two thin bars Of iron. and We felt oil
the grandeur Of il, too. No fear held
US in check, for both Of us had beer
10 peril before on that road, and OF
that very engine.
An unknown something told me that
I should soon know what Nick intend
ed to do lie was putting in wood by
the cord. il seemed. and crovding on
steam as though be was mad. l felt
it to be en- awful moment, and yet my
heart did not fail me. nor did l allow
. nerve 70 trelnbie. The engineer.
whose " hole life consists Of one un.
ending peril, soon learns to keep bis
nerves under control.
We were now approaching . bridge
which crossed q wide, deep stream
The river flowed under this bridge not
more than three feet below the track,
aud the structure itself WAS considered
unsafe, SO much 70 that all trains went
over it a. slowly as q man usually
walks.
Both engines we're on the bridge,
which shook like an aspen. Suddenly
Nick pulled the whistle-string Of the
Vulture, and . loud, ::unearthly shrek
echoed from Hill 70 hill. as the long
peDt-up steam found escape there. l
strained my eyes ahead, and saw a
boat containing two men waiting near
the bridge, on the bosom Of the river.
The next moment Nick sprsng on the
the top Of his tender. In his hand be
held Q rope, which l believed vas
fastened at the other end to tho lever.
l Was right. lie gave q tug 1t the
rope, jerking the lever way cut, and
the next moment dove into the water.
With q bound that made the bridge
bend, and nearly threw her from the
the Vulture shot forward and
tearing up the road.
"Ah; l see it now !" | exclaimed.
cut loose from the train We
must catch that engine or blow our
selves up"
In an instant my order was executed,
and | pulled the steam valve wide
open. Forward We darted. like a bolt
from o thunder cloud, making every
timber On the engine crack, and
tn owing ourselves on the wood in the
tender. Ou, on we dashed at such a
rate Of speed that it nearly took away
our breath, over rails and cross ties,
w grades aud down them. around
curves. over bridges, through cuts aud
tunnels, and along the straight track.
The Vulture tore Over the road like an
enraged fend, aud We after her 1t only
about Two hundred yards distance.
Gram in more wood, aud pour oil
on the fire, Dan. for We must over
take the other engine If We would save
tho lives Of those on the down trains"
!could make the engine 60 no faster,
but l could see that we were very
slowly gaining on tho Eulture. A lit
q. more steam and we would be able
20 oyertake her. On We dashed, the
wheels revolving hike lightning, and
the whole engine rocking in . terrible
manner. Never did l ride like it BE-
forv. The machinery aud sxels we're
no not that / feared something would
give way every minute, and l knew
that If q single belt should break II
would hurl US into eternity. The
boxes under the tender smoked ~ If
on FIRE, the furnsOe vas red bot, the
brass work Al the engineer house wss
1t . white heat, every curve might be
our last, for we were in danger Of run
ming of every moment. and our sense
tons were such - no pen can de-
scribe.
We had travelled over fifteen miles
Of road in twelve minutes. md were
now only about ten feet behind the