Year: 1867

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lay on my right side, my head touching u
cold substance. Then l distinguished the
rush Of water aiar of, against the piers Of
the bridge. Asmy eyes became steadier,
! saw that the cold substance on which my
check rested, was railroad track. could
SEQ few yard II Of it, with its companion
rail, on which my feet rested. Beyond and
around was the dark prairie, and qnarter
Of mile away, twinkled solitary light in
one Gf the log cabins. All this stupidly
realized as my stunned faculties returned,
when suddenly the fightful question flash
ed upon my mind. 'Has the night express
passed? In an instant every sense YVES
acutcly awake. l was lying bound to a
cross tie ; my head slightly raised, restel!
on rail. | was not very near thehcad Of
the bridge, but far enough up to the grade
TO look out over the prairie.


Evidently Pete had planned vengeance
terrible indeed. Yet how did | know but
the train had passed? l twisted my neck
till the cords cracked, and made out to see
the alright" signal twiukling at the bridge.
! shouted and yelled for help, but the more
earnest became, the more every one with
in hearing would think my shouts only the
maudln cries Of some drunken Irishman.
The signal man at the bridge could not leave
his station for any ordinary cause, and Ger
tain|y the cries Of a drunken man on a Sat
urday night were not extraordipar ary. All
this passed through my mind while | shout
ed till my strength was gone. Then | lay
and silently thought. My servant must have
removed the caps from my pistol. Why
should she? What cause for such treason
had ever given her? Why had located
my cabin so far away from the railroad track
Think as would, the stern fact of my situa-
tion remained, and / had only to hope that
one O'Clock, and with it the train had
passed.


But now low down on the very edge of
the horizon, my eye caught faint red CLEAN
Too often had watched the trains to doubt
for a moment | knew the very spot at
which that dreaded light would first appear.
So, then, twenty minutes at the very long
est, provided no accident happened, was the
lifetime remaining for ne. strained every
fibre to break my bonds or twist my neck
clear Of the track, but the rope was too
strong, and couple of stakes driven, one
OF, cath side of ryreck, forbade any motion
except a slight lateral one. In the intensity
OF my straining. | shut my eyes. As open
ed them, ! saw before me, nearer, brighter,
stcader, the shining reflection of the adyanc-
iOg train. Again shouted. again strain
ed. but to no purpose. There | lay and
watched the light, as | lad often done in
happier times, until it seemed to me that
my brain must give way. | closed my eyes
and tried to pray, but that fearful light
shone through my cyelids and banished
every other thought. And now faint, yet
terribly distinct rumble, began to fill the air
it seemed as if my inmost soul felt that
sound. Vet remember tie mo It trivial
things-a cricket sung near by, 4 toad that
climbed on the rail- u arrowling cat that came
suddenly upon me and ran frightened away
for even in that fearful moment sense
Of the ludcrous was yet alive for ] was con-
scious Of a feeling of amusement as the
creature hurried off, But, meanwhile, the
faint rumble had grown louder, and / even
f;.ncied could perceive slight vibration
of the rail on which my head rested, and Of
the ground on which lay. think about
this time must have become insane, for |
only remember of hearing my voice in i'm
potent shrcks, and feeling my limbs, as if
it were those of another man, straining
themselves to be free. All the dreadful
iul particulars Of my approaching death
whirlcd through my brain during these few
moments. Once l 'fancicd could hear
footsteps coming towards me from the bridge
and hoped wildly that they would reach me
in time. But now could see the red re-
Election on the long, straight track, and the
thulLor of the train was drowning all other
sounds. Once more strained every muscle
till the very flesh seemed to tear, one final
cry gave for help from Godcr man. Then
| opened my eyes-closcd in my agony-and
looked silently at my destruction. For one
dreadful instant, l saw the silver mirror Of
the reflector, and felt the earth tremble un-
der the roaring train, and then, as the mighty
engine rushed upon Inc, nature gave out and
amid crash Of sound and a hot red glare
of lamp and fire, swooncl.


''The wheels Of the night express had
passed within foot Of my head had
been bound On the straight track over the
bridge, and the train had passed me or the
'cut-o T." "


Captain Tom ceased. Hardly any COM
mcnts on the story were naGe by the group
of officers; for after moment of breath
less stiffness, the sharp crack Of two or three
rifles, which seemed to have been waiting
for the end Of the story rang out over the
ridge. In moment the officers were run
ming toward their respective comnands.-
With a quiet, though eager haste, the in
fantry were manning the riAe-pits and the