The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-04-19

added Chandler, as il he had been counting IN
the number Of them he would have to walk
back
Then nobody spoke for a few minutes, Wills
the haud-car sped along faster and faster for
the same question had suddenly came into ths
minds of all three: how could they stop the
Tearer"? There was no brake, aud they had
nothing with them that could be used in place
of one.
Chandler was the first to break the silence.
"The morning express is due at the Junction
at seven, isn't it, Fos?" Then without waiting
for an answer, he pulled out his watch and
went on: It's half past five now, and vera
running to meet il"
Andy was looking anxiously from one to the
other of the older lads, and they in turn kept
their eyes fixed on the sail, In which there was
still no sign of crease.
Suddenly Eos sprang toward the sheet cry
ing, What geese we areI Why don't we lee
our sail loose?" and he began fumbling at the
knot; but the great strain had drawn it 80
tight that it was impossible to unite it.
"Quicki Andy! Chandler :" he exclaimed
cone of you give me knife. must have left
mine in the wOod-shed when was cutting that
name-board."
Andy had lost his the week before. Chand-
Ter, however, had one, which he hastily handed
to Eos, but the car was now jolting 50 violently,
and Fosters hand shook so that Just as he was
about to cut the rope the knife slipped from his
fingers, fell beside the track, and was soon Left
far behind.
The boys looked at one another blankIy after
this until at last Chandler took out his watch
again.
Z" Do you think it would be safe for rs to
jump Off" was all he said when he had noted
the time.
Eos shook his head. eve must stop it and
get it off the track some way" he added.
s. But don't you suppose the engineer of tina
express will see us in time?" faItered Andy.
'And what if he shouId2 ne couldn't stop
US, could he?" And Eos buried his face in his
hands, as he tried 10 think of some means of
putting an end to the Tearer's" Wild fight.
Cant we break the rOpe?" suggested
Chandler.
Then all three, at the risk of falling OF, used
all their strength TO this end, but the sheet
held fast, and the wind still showed no signs OK
falling.
They had already whizzed by two or three
stations, but it was so early in the morning
/ that no one had noticed them. There was no
large town Learer than thirty miles, and before
that distance could be covered they would meet
the express.
On and on they went, and they looked az
each other in silence, for no one Of them had
the heart to speak a word Faster and faster
| they few. not only toward what might be death
| to them. but what might also result in the de-
struction of the coming train.
| Every moment they expected to hear a
whistle and see the black form of the loeomG-
! tive as it rushed to meet them. How vainly
now did Foster regret that he had made such a
/ secret of his experiment. 1t seemed as if he
must have felt that his father would have for
| hidden it.
| But stop, what does this mean? The wind
was blowing as steadily as before, the track Wig
as level, but the speed of the car was surely
| slaekening.
| "Oh the curve!" exclaimed Chandler.
/ They had all forgotten about that, and the
Tearer" had gone around it, and was now
slowing up, for the wind struck it from the
/ side.
| Very soon the boys were enabled to bring
| their runaway boat-car to stand-still. and
then as quickly as possible, and with an utter
| disregard fer the mast, they tipped it up, the
| wind helping them, and had it just clear Of tia
rails when the express came rushing by. Then
they walked three miles TO the nearest station.
and waited two hours for way-train, on which
they meekly rode home.
The ''Tearern was brought back that after
noon on a freight train, but her trial trip was
the only one she ever made.-HdTpeT's Tosesg
| People.