Cora had been working desperately, but her fingers seemed to fumble with the laces as though she were in a nightmare. But she steadied herself and finished her task. Then she sprang to her feet and pulled with all her might, Belle aiding her, and the foot slipped from the shoe, while the girls fell back against the side of the gorge, well clear of the track.
The train had slowed rapidly, but when it came to a full stop it was not more than twelve feet from the abandoned shoe.
The engineer and fireman jumped down and rushed forward. A glance at the shoe told the whole story.
“That was a narrow escape, ladies,” remarked the grizzled engineer. “It’s lucky I saw those signals. I hope that you’re not hurt.”
“More scared than hurt,” answered Cora.
“I don’t wonder you were scared,” he replied; “but you were mighty plucky just the same. Lots of girls would have lost their heads and just screamed or fainted. I’ll get this shoe out of the frog for you.”
He handed the shoe to Belle, and he and the fireman clambered back in the cab. The train was a freight, for which the girls were grateful, as they were spared the embarrassment of a trainful of passengers crowding around.
They rested a little after the train moved on, for the strain, though brief, had been very great. Then Belle resumed her shoe.
“Don’t you think you had better go straight home?” asked Bess solicitously.
“Oh, I guess not,” replied Belle, who was getting back some of her color. “Besides, we’re much nearer to Milford now than we are to Kill Kare.”