The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-04-27
side, they have the advantage of us

in the fact that they have a car at.
tached and we are running alone
"'Ishould suppose that our lightness
would be rather in our favor than
otherwise l responded.
"'Got something to balance her.
grunted the fireman, sententiously.
"'John is right explained the
engineer. You see, sir, if an engine
has no weight behind her she is apt to
Jump and pound the rails, and, if you
put her at her full speed, to get off the
track altogether. SO, while that engine
behind us can do her level best, we
can't even let out to forty miles with
out danger of a s%mash-up.'
Meanwhile our own little machine
was not idle. l had kept the furnace
at a white heat. The steam, pent up
in the boiler, groaned and wheezed like
the breathing of an imprisoned giant.
The wheels spun around upon the
tracks, crashing from side to side,
until there were moments when even
the engineer peered with a startled eye
out of the side window at the compli-
Gated mechanism below. AS we passed
over a long trestle bridge across q Wild
marsh, I saw, emerging from the shad-
ows at the other end, the black form of
the pursuing engine, followed by the
car, through whose lighted windows a
crowd of armed men were visible.
Here we had a momentary advantage,
for, desperate as our enemies might be,
their engineer dared not carry his
weighty engine over the light frame
work as rapidly as we had gone. 1t
was but a trihing gain, however, for
once on the solid road-bed again the
monster came on at a redoublel speed.
More fire, captain muttered the
engineer, at this moment, 'on this
grade we must do our best, or it will
be all over in five minutes
ct opened the ~furnace-door and
began shoveling in the coal. Upon
the instant there was a flash and re-
port from the cab windows of the pur.
suing engine, and a rife-ball smashed
the clock in u cab, within an inch of
the engineers head.
".The flame gives them a fine
mark observed the engineer, calmly.
THAT ball was meant for me, and but
for the swaying of the engineit would
have hit, too
81 completed my task as speedily as
possible and closed the furnace-door.
We were now in darkness again, and
if a ball reached us it must be by acci
dent. Our enemies made no further
attempt, however; confident, doubt
less, of running us down very shortly.
And well they might be. We had ten
miles yet to run before reaching Il
point where they would themselves be
in danger of capture or destruction
from our own division at Kanakia.
During the last ten miles they had de-
creased the distance one-half, and run
ming aslwe now were, it would be all
up with us in five miles more.
"'Is there nothing we can do" l
asked, ~anXiously.
"Pitch something IN the track
said the fireman from his corner.
Maybe you a catch their wheels.
Try one of the fire-bars.'
Its a COOL idea, john replied the
engineer, perhaps you had better
make the experiment, captain
81 seized n of the heavy bars, a
piece of metal as thick rs a crow-bar
and ten feet long, and clambering
over the coal in the caboose, leaned
down and dropped the bar as nearly as
l could across the track. Heaven for
give me but with what interest |
waited for some crash or cutlery which
should signal the destruction of our
pursuers. In a moment more there
was a sharp clang along the rails be-
hind us, and a cracking among the
bushes lining the road.
"'She has kicked it off, said the en-
gineer. Try my heavy overcoat.
I've known a piece of cloth like that
to get among the wheels and jam
them so you couldn't stir them an
inch
al did as directed. The garment
fell across the track, and exactly
where the forward trucks could strike
it. Presently there was a heavy jolt
ing sound behind us and a shrill es-
cape of steam.
"'Caught,' cried the engine0. IF
it has only wedged- into the piston bar
they may work all night before they
get it out
"Some accident had certainly hap
pened to our enemies, for all sounds of
pursuit rapidly died away and VT be-
gan to breathe freer. We had now
reached a point within five miles of
Kanakia. in two or three more we
should be within the line of our out
posts. At this moment | saw the en-
gineer lean forward and listen again
intently.
"'What is it 2 | asked.
"After us again. he answered,
quietly. 'The coat merely retarded
them a little. There they are I"
81 could now plainly perceive the
black figure of the engine, emitting
white clouds of steam into the pale
night sky, whirling swiftly around a
curve not sixty rods behind. Angered
with the delay, and knowing that if
we were to be captured at all, it must
be within the next ten minutes, they