Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-06-27

OF iron, you won't do any more firing, my
boy. | can tell you that.
BY this time we had passed out oil
rarge of the first battery. and were under
the guns of two more. These works had
been constructed to command the junction
of our road with another running south.
There was also station at this point, and
as we whifled by saw an engine standing
upon n siding with steam up. I caught
sight of Il number of men running toward
it, as we'll as others busy with car which
stood near it. What they were at could
not make out, for we passed like flash
of lightning. AT this moment, too, the
batteries. which h,d probably received
telegraphic notice of our approach. opened
fire upon us, and for a moment the air
seemed to be alive with shreking iron.
more fire, john" called The engineer
"ram her fil to the door, or it's all up
with u.s."
The fireman stopped to obey, but at
that moment Il shell struck upon the
caboose and bust within three feet of us
1t was II ten inch monster, and how any
of us escaped alive l fail to see. As it
was, when the smoke and dust cleared
away, found the top Of the cab gone, a
|
fireman lying in u heap on the floor, with
his arm broken.
I'm knocked out, William, he groaned,
and who's to fire her for the rest of the
tripP'
it."
After placing the poor fellow in as
comfortable a position AS possible, l
seized the shovel and hogan my new
duties.
BY this time we had passed out OF
range Of the batteries, which now and
then, however, sent ii sulien shot in our
direction, rs IL parting evidence of their
good will.
1--WE are safe" | said, with a sigh of
relief; THAT was their last line of works
The road is clear before u.s."
II hope so, SIR" responded the engineer.
"How's your arm, JohnP'
"Very bad, William groaned the
fireman; "but that amt the worst of it
We amt through with the trouble yet"
"What do you mean?' asked. The
scouts say that there are no troops beyond
US, except our own at Kanakia station"
"But they're following u.s. replied the
fireman. They arc after us hot and
heavy"
looked at the engineer, under the
impression that the poor fireman was in a
deirium with his injury.
"He's right, captain" said the engineer,
listening intently. Sure AS fate, they
have pulled out that engine we saw at the
junction, and are chasing u.s.
"But there is no possibility of their
overtaking us" replied.
Il don't know about that" he said
gravely. "That engine is heavy one
and | have seen her make good fifty
miles with train behind her This one
is light machine, and | cant promise
more than forty at most. Beside, they
have the advantage of us in the fact that
they have Car attached and we are
running alone
81 should suppose that our lightness
would he rather in our favor than other
WISE" responded.
Got something to balance her. grunt
ed the fireman. sententously.
John is right" explained the engineer,
you see, sir if an engine has no weight
behind her she is apt to lump and pound
the rails, and, if you put ber at 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
without danger of smashup."
Meanwhile our own little machine was
not idle. had kept the furnace at a
white heat. The seam pent up in the
boiler, groancd and wheezed like the
breathing of an imprisoned giant. The
wheels spun round upon the track crashing
from side to side, until there were mo
ments when even the engineer peered
with startled eye out OF the side window
at the complicated mechanism below. AS
we passsd over a long trestle bridge
across wide marsh, | saw, emerging
from the shadows at the other end, the
black form of the pursuing engine,
followed by the car, through whose lighted
windows 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 tritlng gain. however, for once on
the solid road bed again the monster
came on at redoubled speed. 'More
fire, captain" muttered the engineer. ION
lhis grade we must do our best, or it will
be all over in FIVE minutes"
opened the furnace door and began
shoveling in the coal. Upon the instant
there vas flash and report from the cab
windows of the pursuing eng inc, and a
rifle bail smashed the clock in our cab
within an inch of the engineers head.
1.-The flame gives them fine mark,
observed the engineer, calmly. That
ball was meant for me, and but for the
swaying of the engine it would have hit
me, too"
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 accident. Our
enemies made no further attempt. how
ever; confident, doubtless, of running US
down very shortly. And we'll they might
be. We had ten miles yet to run before
reaching a point where they would them
selves bo in danger of capture or destruc-
ton from our own division at Kanakia.
During the last ten miles they had
decreased the distance one half, and
running as we now were, it would be all
up with us in five miles more.
sis there nothing we can do" l asked
anxiously.
"Pitch something on the track" said the
fireman from his corner. MAY be you
can catch their wheels. Try one of the
fire bars"
"It's good idea, john replied the
engineer, "perhaps you had better make
the experiment, captain"
Il seized one of the heavy bars, piece
Of metal as thick as crow. bar and ten
feet long, and clamberlng over the coal in
the caboose. leaned down and dropped the
bar as nearly as could across the track.
Heaven forgive mel but with what inter-
sst | waited for some crash or outcry
which should signal the destruction of our
In moment more there was a
sharp clang along the rails behind us, and
. cracking among the bushes lining the
road.
she has kicked it off, said the engineer.
Try my heavy overcoat. I've known a
oeice of cloth like that TO get among the
wheels and jam them 50 you couldn't stir
hem an inch
Il did as directed, The garment fell
,cross the track and exactly where the
Onward trucks could strike it. Presently
here was heavy jolting sound behind US
md a shrill escape of steam.
Caught, cried the engineer. IF it has
.,,..~ Al