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[HOW HECTOR SAVED THE TRAIN.]
SECOND-PRIZE STORY.
BY S. O. RITTENHOUSE.
"When may I hear the story?"
"Well," replied Walter Preston, the genial station-master at Springdale, "it happened several years ago. I could tell you many more wonderful stories than this, concerning Hector, in which he displayed almost human intelligence. The only remarkable thing about this story lies in the fact that a number of human lives were placed in a position of deadly peril, and that all were saved—not in any wonderful manner, but, nevertheless, saved by Hector.
"When we first moved here we lived a mile down the track in the only house near the station at that time. Hector was my only companion while on duty, and in all these years he has never failed to accompany me, night or day, in sunshine or in storm. He is one of the best dogs I ever saw. I have never been able to make out his breed, but that is of small importance to me.
"Since the company put in their new system of signals there have been but few accidents, but before that they were of frequent occurrence. When I came here the road had only a single track, and the signal-station was put in as a matter of precaution, owing to the dangers arising from the heavy grades, dangerous curves, and many deep cuts.
"For several years I had only one man to help me. During the first month I did all the day work, but after that we changed about, and I frequently took the nightshift. My partner came down from C—— on the six-o'clock train in the morning or evening as the case might be; but as these trains were frequently two or three hours late, I often had to send Hector home for my meals. I would tie a note to his collar, and he would carry it to the house in a very few minutes. Wife would then put up my lunch for me and tie it to his collar. He never failed but once in bringing it to me safely. Then the basket came loose and fell in the dirt; but Hector took the basket in his mouth and carried it back to the house to be replenished.
"Being away from home from twelve to fourteen hours each day, no duties to speak of, and only Hector for a companion, the time passed slowly enough. Trains made no regular stop here, and when by some unusual chance a stray passenger wished to take the train, my red flag by day or red light at night 'hauled up' the desired train.
"One stormy evening when I was on the night shift I sat in my little den of an office listening to the clicking of the telegraph instruments, as the usual business passed to and fro on the wires—business in which I took no active part. Hector lay behind the stove as you see him now, entirely oblivious of the gale that rattled the windows and went shrieking and howling through the upper gorge.
"For once my little office seemed cheerful, when compared with the raging storm on the outside, and I had just settled myself before the fire to enjoy my book when I heard the instruments calling. Answering at once, I took my pen and copied the following message:
"'To operator at Springdale.—Special left A—— at 7.30, and by mistake No. 12 left C—— at 7.45: both due at Springdale at 9.15. Be very sure to stop them if possible!—Hobbs, Despatcher.'
"No. 12 was a through freight that never stopped at Springdale, and the special contained some of the officers and stock-holders of the road, with their families, returning from a pleasure trip. I had been watching the progress of the special, as its orders had been flashed along the wires, and knew that it was running at the rate of nearly a mile a minute.
"I glanced at the clock. It was already just nine o'clock. Only about ten minutes left in which to act. My only chance lay in hanging out my red light for the special, and then running in the direction of the freight, as that was coming down grade and would be hard to stop. Still, I knew that the engineer of the special could not see my signal until he rounded the curve, and having no orders to stop, he might disregard it altogether.
"I FASTENED ONE OF THE LANTERNS TO HIS COLLAR.
Drawn by C. A. Bostrom, Winner of Third Prize in Drawing Competition.
"Luckily, I had several red lanterns, and they were soon lighted. Hanging up two as signals for the special, I took two more, one in each hand, and started up the grade. But a sudden thought struck me. My home lay in the direction from which the special was coming; so I turned back and called to Hector. He came to me at once, and I fastened one of the lanterns to his collar and ordered him home. He didn't like the looks of the storm, but he started off, the lantern swinging back and forth about six inches from the ground.
"Seeing that Hector was well started on his mission, I turned again and started up the grade. As I beat my way as best I could against wind and storm, I began to realise how nearly hopeless my task was. Just ahead of me lay the great gorge, a deep cut nearly a quarter of a mile in length. It was extremely dangerous to enter this even in the daytime, as the cut was new, and there was little room to get out of the way of the train. But I must risk it if I hoped to save the many precious lives; so on I went, stumbling over the uneven ties, falling several times, but never daring to stop even to catch my breath. I thanked Heaven when the last rock of the cut was passed: but now the fierce gale met me stronger than ever. Fearful of having my light blown out, and hearing the train close at hand, I stepped aside under the shelter of a rock. As the train rounded the curve and the headlight flashed into view I swung my lantern vigorously, but no one seemed to notice me.
"'Gracious!' I cried, 'will they never see me?'
"The huge monster lighted up the gorge at my feet for an instant, and then with a shriek dashed by; but that shriek meant 'down brakes.' Ah, what a load was lifted from my heart when I heard that sound!
"By the time the way-car had passed I could see that the speed was slackening. With the wind now at my back, I made quick time down the grade. The two engines stood in front of the station 'nose to nose.' They had met with sufficient force to throw all the passengers from their seats, but no damage had been done.
"The little platform was crowded with people, passengers of the special and trainmen, who eagerly awaited my coming. In a few words I told them my story—how I had hung out the signals, how I had run up the track in time to stop the freight.
"'I saw a red light swinging back and forth near the ground, about half a mile back,' said the engineer of the special. 'I only caught a glimpse of it as we rushed by, but I slowed up; then when I saw the red light at the station I whistled for brakes at once, and, coming to a stop, I saw the headlight of the freight just in time to back up enough to escape disaster.'
"'What was the light you first saw?' was asked.
"As if in answer Hector just then appeared from behind the passenger train, the lantern swinging back and forth in front of him. It was the first time he had ever failed to go home when I sent him, but he evidently knew that his mission was fulfilled. He was at once the centre of an excited crowd, and I am sure he received enough attention that night to spoil any dog.
"It was only a few days before I received a check for a large sum, a present from the company, together with the notice that Hector had been put on the company's pay-roll at fifty dollars per month. I was also offered another position with a larger salary, but I declined it.
"In about a week there came to my office a little package addressed to 'Hector, care of Walter Preston.' It contained a handsome gold-plated collar, on which were engraved his name and a little sketch, 'How Hector Saved the Train.' It has never since been off his neck.
"Yes, sir, I have been offered large sums for Hector, but there isn't money enough to buy him."