He handled the situation in masterful style. Tom, pretending to be busy inside the cab, listened and chuckled. Knight and Brown were out oiling the engine.
"When did the freight leave Adairsville?" demanded Andrews.
"I don't know, sir," answered the agent, "but I'll find out."
"Yes, please do—and hurry up about it."
"Yes, sir."
Before the agent returned, they heard the whistle of the freight far up the track. It approached slowly, and then crept into the station, stopping with the cars blocking the track for Andrews' train.
Brown, who was at the throttle, gave an exclamation of impatience. Andrews swung to the ground. At that moment the agent rushed out, and yelled to the freight engineer, "Draw farther up the track." The freight train started again, laboriously. Andrews jumped aboard.
"Run out of here just as soon as the switch is turned," he ordered.
The last car of the freight train rounded the trees and came into sight. On the rear of it was fastened a red flag! It was a warning that there was still another train behind!
"Good Lord!" exclaimed Andrews. He jumped to the ground again, and went toward the station. The conductor of the freight train met him. "What does this mean?" demanded Andrews. "I'm ordered to get powder up to Beauregard, and I find the track blocked ahead of me."