"I—I don't know," answered Tad. "Yes, I do too. It—it was a car returning on the other track for a load of ore."
The lad's knees went weak under him when it came to him that he had only a second before dragged the unconscious figure of the young engineer from that very track.
Now still another sound startled them. It was a roar heavier than any that they had heard before, and as near as they could tell, it was from the direction that they had come.
"Hurry, Ned!" shouted Tad Butler fairly electrified by the thought that suddenly flashed over him.
"What is it? What is it?"
"I—I don't know, but I think it's a car of ore rushing down the grade toward us."
"We're dead ones, then!" cried Ned.
"Be quick, Ned! Grab Walt and run as you never ran before!
"On, on! Keep to your right so you don't get on the return track. Oh,
Hurry!"
Tad had already gotten into action. Once more grasping the guide by the arms, the lad ran backward with his heavy burden, with almost marvelous speed under the circumstances.