"Whazzer mazzer!" hiccoughed James Talbot dreamily. "Lemme alone, I shay!"
"Get off the railroad track!" went on Robert. "The train is coming!"
"Train!" repeated the drunkard. "I--hic--don't shee no train."
But now the whistle sounded louder than ever, and around the turn of the hill appeared the locomotive of the express, speeding along at a rate of fifty-five miles an hour. The sight caused Robert's heart to thump loudly, while James Talbot gazed at the iron monster as though transfixed with terror.
"We're lost!" he screamed hoarsely, and then straightened out and sank back like one dead.
What happened in the next few seconds Robert could hardly tell in detail. He had a hazy recollection of catching his step-father by the leg and jerking him from the track and falling down on top of him. Man and boy rolled into a dry ditch, and as they went down the express thundered by, the engineer being unable to stop the heavy train short of twice its own length. And when Robert came to his senses he was lying on a grassy bank and Sam Jones and several others were bathing him with water.
"My step-father--is he saved?" were the youth's first words.
"Yes, he was saved," answered one of the men. "But he seems to be suffering from another stroke of paralysis."
Robert soon felt strong enough to get up, and asked for his valise, which was handed over to him. His brave deed had been witnessed by Sam Jones and a farmer who had been driving toward the railroad crossing. Both of these explained to the crowd how our hero had risked his life to save that of his intoxicated step-father.
A stretcher was procured and Mr. Talbot was placed upon this and carried to his home. The whole lower portion of his body seemed to be paralyzed and he spoke with great difficulty. Strange to say the shock had completely sobered him.