Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-11-13


What can we do?" said Neal.
The station master frightened. He
desired at all costs to get this squad
of Amerioanos out OF town. They were
rioters-at least SO Ponto had in.
formed him. Yes, they must go.
"Ah. senor," he said. 81 have idea
There are dirt train cars-no engine
but what you CALL almost gravity road
from here to Chantillo-all downhill
almost all the way"
"Show me-" said Neal.
He was shown. WELL" he said to
his men, what do you say, boys.
They'll rock US some, but they're the
best we can do. Is the road clear?"
Clear all the way. senior. The last
train-the little train-she have ar.
rived at Chantillo now"
Were game" said his men; come
on!"
They came on-that is they got on
the whole squad. A crowd of natives
saw them or. One of these natives, hid
den from view by the others. crawled
under the foremost car and did some
thing. He crawled to the second and
did something-to the third and did
something. What ne did no one knew.
Down the line at the deserted shack
labeled "Montrada," Hernandez came
out from within, with complete salts
faction written on his face.
Hernandez sauntered out and
glanced up the track. The track was
straight and downhill all the way. It
was like a canyon cut through a mass
of underground and heavy trees. Their.
was nothing to distract the attention
it was a clean cut avenue as far as
the eye could reach. He watched.
Up the track somewhere the troop
train was shooting curves with spright,
ly lurches. Getting bit too lively"
said Neal; better apply the brakes"
The order was obeyed-so far as the
will was concerned. But the man at
the brakes shook his head. Brakes
won't work." he said.
mo matter" said Neal, I'VE reach
the bottom of this hill three miles
out of Chaptillo. Then we 20 up.
We're bound to slacken up some
time"
One Of his men plucked him by the
sleeve. Whats that?" he cried, point,
ing down through the canyon, nanked
by trees. Look ahead"
"By George!" said Neal, "a train.
The brakes-every man jack of you
the 'brakes!" -ss.
The brakes wouldn't work. Funny"
said Neal; I'VE tried before we started.
Funny they won't work" 1t may OF
may not have been funny-but 1t was
the fact. The brakes would not work.
Were in for it," said Neal Boys,
every man jack of you-you've got to
face this That jungle is soft stuff
it's a velvet lining. We may get
scratched, but we can't get hurt. Every
man Of you get ready and when say
the word slide off-as easy as you
can-but slide. Guns and equipment
frst-then yourselves-when / say
the word"
Squatted on the edge of the Jungle
was the Brute. He looked up the track.
idly following Hernandez gaze. Sud
denly he rose-quivering with excite
ment.
"Look-see," he said. His glance
turned dumbly from the onrushing
troop train to the stationary one. An
other man might have rushed to the
latter and warned its occupants or car
ried them out. But not the Brute. He
had a glimmering. He started of.
"Come back" said Hernandez, you
beast"
The Brute never heard him. He
only heard the onrushing train. He
seized loose rail lying by the track.
He thrust it under the stationary rail
the neare st him-he thrust it into
the roadbed. He jerked and strove
at it like demon.
Within, Joe Welcher heard it COM
ing. He looked now. He gave one gasp,
made one dive. and plunged into the
safety of the jungle.
Hernandez dared not move. Safety
lay in his remaining up track-out of
the danger zone below. He felt that
the Brute was doing fruitless work
that no man, no human agency within
q minutes time could raise that rail.
He didn't know-there was something
superhuman within the Brute. He was
more than a mamie was a man.
driven beast-perhaps God-driven.
He piled his giant lever like giant.
Neal realized at last what was meant
He knew now that that train was An
nette's train. .4iS Lien were off-an
of them. He alone remained, rooted
to the spot. He was powerless to do
anything. Suddenly-obeying the in.
stinct of safety-for he could do moth.
ing else-training had taught him
that foolish risk of life was suicide
--obeying the instinct of self-preserva
ton, he leaped. leaped safely.
At that instant with one final grunt
one final heave-the Brute bent his
mighty shoulders in one last desper-
ate thrust-and sent the rail spinning.
loose, detached, uprooted, to one side.
The next instant the troop train
empty as 1t was-reached the broken
track and left it. With the roar of
thunder 1t plunged, plowed through
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