“Stop, stop, I say—there’s a car ahead,” cried Ralph.
Lyle gave the young fireman a violent push backwards and forged ahead.
Chug! bang! A frightful sound filled the air. 211 The locomotive had struck a light gondola car squarely, lifting it from the track and throwing it to one side a mass of wreckage. Then on, on sped the engine. It struck the main of the Midland Central.
Ralph grabbed up a shovel.
“Lower speed,” he cried, “or I will strike you.”
“Get back,” yelled Lyle, pulling a revolver from his pocket. “Back, I say, or I’ll shoot. Whoop! this is going.”
Ralph climbed to the top of the tender. He was powerless alone to combat the engineer in his mad fury. A plan came into his mind. The first car attached to the tender was a blind baggage. Ralph sprang to its roof. Then he ran back fast as he could.
The young fireman lost no time, dropping from the roof between platforms. As he reached the first passenger coach he ran inside the car.
Passengers were on their feet, amazed and alarmed at the reckless flight of the train. The conductor and train hands were pale and frightened.
“What’s the trouble?” demanded the conductor, as Ralph rushed up to him.