The speed of the General slackened. Tom glanced ahead and saw
Adairsville.
"Are we going to stop?" he asked.
"Yes. I want to get that freight started south. They might wait, when they see that this is not the passenger train. Work up a full head of steam while we're here, Knight."
Tom put more fuel upon the fire. The train slid into the station at Adairsville and stopped. The freight train was standing on the side-track, ready to pull out. Andrews jumped to the platform:
"I'm running this special train to Chattanooga," he announced. "Some of Beauregard's troops have been cut off by Mitchel. Is the passenger train waiting for me at Calhoun?"
"I don't know," answered the amazed station agent. The conductor and the engineer of the freight train came running up.
"What's this—what's this?" asked the conductor.
"Special powder train," answered the station agent.
"Your way is clear to Kingston," said Andrews. "The passenger train is waiting there. I have to be going."
"But the southbound passenger train!" protested the conductor. "It has left
Calhoun by this time. You'd better wait here."