Weak and faint from the loss of food and sleep, and from the high nervous strain I had been subjected to, I was fast becoming insensible.
I forgot that I was standing on the end of a wildly rocking flat-car rushing through inky darkness at the rate of forty miles an hour. The danger seemed fading away now, and I imagined I was home again resting in my own comfortable bed. The limit of human endurance had been reached, and poor, exhausted nature gave up the battle.
Slowly my eyes closed. "It will be for just one sweet moment, just one," I promised, and the next instant I was fast asleep.
Two rough hands reached out and encircled me about the waist just as I was toppling between the swift running cars, and drew me back to safety.
"Good God! young feller, don't trifle wid your life like dat," exclaimed the frightened darkey.
In a vague way I realized my danger and promised to do better, but I was too sleepy to be much frightened, and inside of a half an hour I had again closed my eyes, promising not to go to sleep, but the promise was broken, and once more I was indebted to the faithful colored man for saving my life.
"Good God! young feller, don't trifle wid your life like dat,"
exclaimed the frightened darky.