There were several persons about, and Merry was paying very little attention to any of them. He was attending strictly to his business, as was his habit.
As old 33 came along, Frank received a heavy jolt that threw him on the track directly in front of her pilot!
Had the engine been running a trifle faster, or had Frank been less nimble, the life of the young wiper would have been crushed out beneath the wheels then and there. As it was, the pilot brushed Merry as he scrambled from the track.
Frank leaped to his feet, quivering all over with anger.
Whoever the man was, he was on the other side of the engine at that moment, but Merry would know quickly.
The fireman of 33 had been running her out. He saw Merriwell knocked down before her nose, and threw back the lever, although he realized it was too late to save the youth by his efforts to stop the engine. A moment later, he saw Frank was safe from harm, and he sent her ahead again.
Then, as the engine passed on, Frank leaped across the track and sprang after a man who was walking swiftly away.
“Here!” he cried, and his hand fell on old Joe Hicks’ shoulder.
The engineer turned, uttering a snarl. His face was white and his eyes staring. It was plain enough that he was completely unstrung at that moment.
“So it was you who tried to kill me in that cowardly manner!” cried Frank, his eyes blazing. “Well, that is even worse than I expected of you!”