Quickly the engine is reversed and the air brakes come into play.
Too late!
A moan of agonized terror falls from the lips of the half dead girl, and then she sank helplessly to the ground. At the same instant help came from an unexpected source.
A man dashed swiftly through the moonlight and flung a heavy oak tie in front of the slackened engine.
A rumble and a jar, and then the train came to a dead stop, within three feet of the prostrate girl!
It was a narrow escape.
The man who had come so unexpectedly out of the shadows dragged Nell from her dangerous position. The engineer and fireman came down and congratulated the young man on his presence.
"The brakes couldn't quite do it," said the engineer. "That tie saved the girl, with no damage to the train."
"It seems to be a lucky accident all round," said the young man, who had laid Nell on a safe spot, and now turned his attention to assisting in removing the obstruction from the rails.
"Yes. Who is she?"