News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-06-29


when there came sound which made
them stop. 1t was faint whistle, far
away around the curve.
"The train is coming now, and, be-
sides, our light won't be seen around
the bend + cried Ned, as the boys stood
staring blankly at one another, for at
last they fully realized the danger.
"Some of US must cross the bridge
and signal them from the other side of
the river" said Joe.
The ties are out from some places,
and We should have to jump the gaps.
Men were setting blocks under the rails
when L came past there this evening;
they were then going to leave the gaps,
and replace the ties Tomorrow" said
Johnny.
"There won't be time to climb down
and up the banks, and cross on the little
foot-bridge, nor to swing across the
gaps by holding to the rails" said Bob,
his voice shaking as he talked.
''There were boards laid lengthwise
across. I'll go over on them," cried
Johnny, remembering that he had seen
men wheel gravel, from the hill on the
other side, along the whole length of
the bridge, on narrow path made of
two boards: and he determined to cross
by it, mounted on his wheel; there was
not time for running.
sect out all your handkerchiefs, tie
'em together, and put them in this
pocket Give me some matches, Davie
here, in my mouth. Hurry! hurry"
he went on, his fingers trembling as he
looped his own handkerchief around
bundle of hay, so as to carry it on his
arm and leave both hands free.
"You mustn't go T. "Youll be
killed y You can't cross on 'em ~
they cried, trying to dissuade him while
yet they went on doing as he told t1em.
1t was perilo undertaking; but
the need was urgent-not second was
to be lost As Johnny reached the
bridge, he felt like giving up; but the
thought of what would happen if he
shoul not go, gave him fresh courage.
''Tell 'em at home that tried to do
the best I could, if" he shouted, but
choke in his voice would not let him
finish. And he was off,
The loose boards ratified and shook as
the wheels spun over them, and where
the'ties were out they seemed to bend
beneath the weight. Johnny could hear
the sound of the water far below him,
but he did not dare to look down. When
he was halfway over, he could hear the
roar of the train as 1t echoed back from
the hills, and he was almost afraid to
look toward the turn of the track, for
fear he should see the head light of the
engine gle ming around the curve.
If he could only get over in time
Faster and faster spun the wheels,
and faster and faster beat Johnny's
heart, as he reached the end of the
trestle-work, and turned the bend
The headlight of the coming train
shone bright and clear up the track.
"Oh, why do they go so fast % said
Johnny to himself, as he stopped, and
leaped from his bicycle to light his sig
nal. He crouched down beside the
track and struck a match against the
rail; but his hand shook SO that the head
Of the match flew OFF. The next one
burned, and he sheltered the flame be-
tween his hands until the hay and hand
kerchiefs were in blaze. 1t seemed a
long time to Johnny, but it really was
only a moment until he was up and away
again, on run along the track, waving
the flaming bundle back and forth.
''They must see it ! Yes, they are
whistling They'll surely stop, now p
cried Johnny, half aloud, still waving
the fiery signal. The flames few against
his hand, but he was too excited to
mind the heat. The glaring eye of the
engine grew brighter and brighter. But
not until the train was close enough for
him to see the anxious face of the en-
gineer looking out from his window, did
the brave boy jump from the track.
''They're stopping" was the last
thing he thought, for he heard them
whistle ''down brakes" as he jumped
off the track; and he knew nothing
more until some men raised him in their
arms and asked him if he was hurt.
Then he opened his eyes to find his
head on some ones shoulder, and
crowd of strange faces around him.
'Here, little chap, what did you stop
11S for 81 aslyad on iponorfopt man i,, |
blue uniform and brass blttons, coming
up to the group around Johnny.
Crock s tumbled down just across
the bridge" answered Johnny, wonder
ing why he felt so tired and weak.
"Where is my machine 2" he added,
trying to look around.
The conductor looked puzzled.
'tReckon this is it." answered the
engineer, coming up with the bicycle
and standing it against tree.
"Well, he's plucky chap, sure's I'm |
alvin, an I can tell you some of us
came pretty near gettin' dished," went
on the engineer, who had been taking
view of the situation, and had learned |
from the other Whirligiggers what a
narrow escape the train had had for |
the boys had run swiftly across on the |
foot bridge, and he'd now reached the |
scene, out of breath from their rapid |
climb up the steep bank.
"If it hadn't teen for him, we'd all |
"a been down there" finished the en-
gineer, with an expressive wave of his
sooty hand toward the creek, anda nod
to the crowd of passengers.
Johnny did'not hear the words of ex-
pIanation which followed, for when the
conductor tried to hel p him to his feet
he tainted away again.
Let me see-I am a doctor, He
has had rough tumble, and I am
afraid he has broken some bones" said
passenger, stepping forth from the
crowd.
The doctor was right; for JoLnny's
ankle was badly sprained, ard one arm
had been broken by striking against
stump as he fell.
But Johnny knew nothing more of
what went on around him until he
opened his eyes again in his own room,
in his own bed. The first thing he saw
was his mothers face bending over him,
/ & I