As from infinitely far away, half heard, half felt, came a low, deadened “Plugk!... Plugk, plugk!... Plugk!”
A moment the startled railroadmen stared at one another. Then quickly the superintendent spoke.
“Ryan, rout out the engineer and firemen! The rest of you run for your guns, and a dozen good men from your gangs! Don’t lose a minute!”
THE INDIAN PULLED UP IN A CLOUD OF DUST.
The group scattered with a rush. Fifteen minutes later, with men filling her cab and clustered on the tender, the engine was under way, rushing eastward.
As rapidly the speed was increased, the locomotive rocked and leaped over the new roadbed, but with the superintendent at his elbow, the engineer drove her up to the last notch, and the prairie streamed by them like a blanket.
Half the distance was made, and above the noise of the engine came a sharp “Tap, tap! Tap, tap, tap!”