"I dare ye!" he cried. "Come on! I dare ye!" He pulled himself up with a mighty wrench. But the unknown power held him. He felt the claws of the cow-catcher. He gave one low cry:
"Lord, I'd like to got dar an' seen Juno Soo afore she died—"
Then he closed his eyes, that he might not see what would happen, clasped his hands above his gray head, and gave his manly soul to God.
"HE LAID ONE TORPEDO ON EACH RAIL."
IV.
THE anxious and bewildered passengers heard the snap! snap! of the torpedoes, and half of them rushed to the platforms. The engineer signalled "Down brakes!" and the train, with a mighty jolt, came to a stop. A heavy shock shook the night at that instant. The smell of sulphur was strong in the chilly air. The engineer got out with a lantern. The crowd gathered in a moment. At the brink of the scattered track, at the very edge of wreck and death, the train had come to a stand.