"Make up the fire," he commanded, and pushed in the throttle valve.
"I will not."
"Make up the fire, Jack," very quietly.
"I will not. You may kill yourself and your mother, but you shall not murder me!"
He looked at me. His kindly gray eyes glared like those of a wild beast, but he controlled himself in a moment.
"I could throw you off this engine, and make short work of you," he said. "But, look here, do you see the station yonder?"
I saw a faint streak in the sky about five miles ahead.
"I was told to reach that station by six o'clock," he continued. "The express train meeting us is due now. I ought to have laid by for it at Defreme. I was told to come on. The track is a single one. Unless I make the siding at the station in three minutes, we shall meet it in yonder hollow."
"Somebody's blunder?" I said.
"Yes, I think so."