“Ready!” warned the foreman, springing to the ground behind the hand-car. Alex joined him, and gazing over their shoulder, watching, they braced themselves for the shove.
The runaways reached the incline, and swept on upward. Anxiously the two watched as they waited. Would the incline check them?
“I don’t see that they’re slowing,” Alex said somewhat nervously.
“It won’t tell until they are half way up the grade,” declared the section-man. “But, get ready. We can’t wait to see.
“Go!” he cried. Running the car forward, they leaped aboard, and again were pumping with all their might.
THE ENGINEER STEPPED DOWN FROM HIS CAB TO GRASP ALEX’S
HAND.
For a few moments the roar behind them seemed to decrease. Then suddenly it broke on them afresh, and the head of the train swept over the rise.