“Doris!” he exclaimed.
“Dick—oh, Dick!” was her only answer.
In a moment he was doing everything in his power to drag her free. Her skirt was caught somewhere and seemed to hold her fast. He seized hold of it with his hands and gave a mighty pull that ripped her free. Then swiftly, yet with strange gentleness, under such circumstances, he drew her from beneath the seat and lifted her in his arms.
“Doris, are you badly hurt?”
“I don’t know, Dick. I think I fainted.”
He asked no further questions, for at that moment he found Brad Buckhart with Zona Desmond near at hand. The Texan aided Zona over the débris and enabled her to creep out by the opening he had made. He followed and assisted Doris, Dick coming last.
When they were outside a scene of terrible confusion met their gaze. All around them were excited boys and appalled men and women. A few cool-headed ones were working steadily to rescue from the wreck those who still remained in it. At a little distance lay several who had been injured.
From the overturned engine a cloud of steam and smoke arose. The express and baggage car were piled on top of the locomotive.
As he gazed on the spectacle, Dick found himself wondering that so many had escaped. He thought of his friends, and near at hand he saw Chip Jolliby with a bloody cheek, yet apparently otherwise unharmed.
Dave Flint had a blood-stained handkerchief tied about his wrist, while Obediah Tubbs sat on the ground and tenderly clung to his fat stomach, complaining that some “dern fool” had kicked all the wind out of him.