“What is the use of talking; it’s doing we’ve got to look after,” snapped out Peters, angrily. “Here’s an engine standing in the depot with steam up; we could be at Camp’s Gulch in twenty minutes or half an hour at the outside, if only we’d got a driver.”
“Ah, that’s where we are beaten,” growled the station-master.
“Can’t the stoker drive?” demanded Gertrude, impatiently.
“He ain’t fit for anything only to look at,” the station-master answered, in extreme wrathfulness. “He was a dry goods clerk, or something of the kind, in England; came out here, got within sight of starvation, then was taken on as stoker this morning to fill a gap, and he only just about knows a chunk of coal from a fire-shovel. He’s run away now, I believe, because he was frightened.”
“Oh, can’t something be done? Won’t somebody go to help poor Nell? Just think how good she was to you all. If only I were a man I’d take that engine safely up to Camp’s Gulch, whether I knew how to drive or not,” cried Gertrude, in hysterical breakdown, standing with clasped hands, while the tears streamed down her face.
“I can fire, but I can’t drive,” began Sam Peters; but just then there came an interruption. A brisk voice called out to know what was the matter, and, elbowing the group of miners aside, Dr. Russell strode into the office.
Some one began to tell him of their dilemma, but Gertrude had turned to the instrument table, for the sounder was calling again, and another message was coming through.
“Listen!” she cried imperatively. “They have sent me word from Lytton that there is trouble at Camp’s Gulch, and are asking if the Roseneath engine has gone; if not, I am to send it to Camp’s Gulch at once. Now what is to be done?”
“I can drive an engine a little—that is, I can start her and stop her, and all that kind of thing, but I don’t understand firing,” said Dr. Russell, slowly.
“I can fire, so I guess we shall do. Come along, let’s get off. We ought to have a crowd of ten or fifteen with us. Who’ll help?” asked Sam Peters, moving now towards the engine, and gripping the doctor by the arm as if fearing he might run away.