“We’ll be sint up for loife,” remarked Grogan. “’Tis no small wurruk to throw a train off the track.”
“We won’t throw her off unless it’s necessary,” said Barker. “Rankin will set the signal if all is safe and——”
Bob could not catch what followed, for a burst of thunder drowned out all other sound.
Yet he had heard enough. The evildoers were plotting to throw a certain train off the track, unless matters were all right. What was meant by all right? Casco’s words shortly afterward solved the question.
“The express car will carry over forty thousand dollars on her trip, and Rankin will be in charge,” he said. “If he gets no chance to throw it off, he will pull the bell-rope, jump off and join us. Then, when the train starts, we will throw over that loose rail, and over goes the train.”
“And what then?” put in Raymond.
“I have a key to the safe, which has an ordinary lock, not a combination. You men can overpower the agent in charge while pretending to help the passengers, while I open the safe. We can carry axes to clear away such of the wreck as is necessary, and Grogan can be on the wagon.”
“An’ it’s a good tame of horses Oi have for the occasion,” said the Irishman.
“With the boodle in our possession we can make off at top speed,” went on Casco. “Then we will meet here, divide up equally, and separate.”
“Yes, but if Rankin says it’s all right——”