The Holly chieftain., 1905-11-24

anu IpieHehuS WHAT power tnOSe
roaring pyramids of fame can show,
whistles expressively, remembering
what is contained in those two sealed
chambers beyond-a free passport to
the skies.
Look." he cries, pointing down the
lines of glittering rails; notice that
this wind comes from that quarter
The fire eats in the teeth of it very
slowly, if at ALL 1t Is in the other di-
rection the greatest danger lies. We
are playing peculiar part. you know
This car is like the huge pendulum of
CLOCK. We have swung to the left
and to the right-now we will go for
ward again"
Smithers grasps his meaning, and
mentally swears at his own stupidity
in failing to conceive such a simple
remedy.
you have discovered the only pos
sible chance. Good luck to you, sir.
The sooner we are on the toboggan
the better: and, All Sin see to it that
you have your great joss guard us as
we rush between those fiery hands
joined across the track below, for
should spark enter one of those COM
partments. we're done for. If you
need any assistance, sir" But
Travers is already out of the door and
bending low beside one of the front
wheels.
Again he matches his superb mus
| cular ability against the grim adhes-
i've qualities of cold iron. His for
mer experience has taught him some
thing, and he does not waste any pre-
cious time in useless pulling, but
works the pin backward and forward
with resolute jerks.
AS before, he wins-pluck and
Drawn have again triumphed over
cold metal.
No sooner does he feel the car be-
gin to move than he makes plunge
again for the door which Smithers
has held open. This time it might be
very unpleasant hanging outside on
the footboard, since a sea of fire
awaits them below.
Hardly has he gained the interior
and the door been closed than they
are in it. There is flash of flame
on either side as the fire licks the
framework of the moving carriage.
Those in the secret of the ammuni-
tion hold their breath in very sus-
pense, but greatly to their relief no
explosion follows:
The bottom reached run across,
| and up the opposite rise they pass,
about halfway to the point from which
their first dash occurred.
Jack is in readiness. Much depends
on his ability to block the wheels
again.
Hanging from the footboard, he
leaps off at the proper moment, and
applies his novel brake with the same
success as before.
They seem to have escaped another
great danger
Smithers is uneasy. He makes a
circuit of the carriage. smiling the
air. Jack is below, and almost i'm
mediately he hears the agent utter an
exclamation. Then Smithers' head
appears against the sky.
THE roof is afire-right over one of
the other sections, and | can't get at
it with my hand or foot! If you could
secure small quantity Of water"
But Jack has already leaped into
the guards den and seized upon
gallon can he remembers discovering
there.
"Here-here! Take it and be quick,
Col hD hon IL
up.
Smithers promptly seizes hold of the
can. and turns to accomplish his pur-
pose, reappearing a minute later with
relieved air and an empty water yes,
sci.
"The country is saved, sir is his
cheering report, and from this Travers
understands that the deluge of water
fell upon the right spot.
There is much to think of still.
While danger from the blazing
woods need not alarm them-for the
time being, at least-they dread to
think Of what might happen should
there be change of wind, and this is
apt to occur at any hour
JACK anu SmitHerS talk 1t over in
the forward compartment, and Senor
Roblado joins them.
The Spanish artist does not seem
as enthusiastic as before. He asks
questions and makes suggestions, but
evidently his spirit is tanned. Perhaps
the multitude of dangers descending
upon them in succession have some
thing to do with this change in his
manner.