He and the trainmen had been held up in a group by themselves while the robbers were doing their work.
"What's the matter with you?" cried the Red Rover.
That, by the way, was a name by which the outlaw was fully as well known as by his appellation of Captain Joaquin.
"That express-car is the matter," was the answer. "You can't expect me to risk the lives of my passengers by starting before I see whether it is fit to run or not."
"It will hang together until you get to the next station, if you are careful, and that is all you want. Go ahead!" to the engineer. "If you don't, we will riddle you with bullets and start your train ourselves and run you straight to Satan!"
That settled it. The moment they turned their guns upon the engineer he blew the signal to go ahead, and pulled the throttle.
Finding that the express-car was on its trucks all right, and that it would run, he pulled the throttle again, and there was nothing for the conductor and trainmen to do but jump aboard.
The band of outlaws gave them a parting cheer, swinging their hats until the train rounded the next bend and passed out of sight.
The dead, we have forgotten to mention, had been thrown into the express-car.
The wounded outlaws were hurriedly cared for while the horses were brought.