We shall skip forward to those in advance. The four would-be duelists had no idea of their detection. They thought that their early start had done the work. They climbed down the bank of the river, passed the riding hall, and came out on the railroad track below, just at the mouth of the tunnel.
"The boat is down near Highland Falls," said Harden, briefly; and then there was silence again. Wright had not said one word since the start.
They set out down the track. They stole by the little station, with its single light and its half-sleeping telegraph operator. And then—hark! What was that?
Tramp, tramp! The four turned in amazement. Great heavens, they were followed! Clearly visible in the moonlight, their white trousers glittering, the company was marching steadily behind them. They were in line and had a captain. At concealment there was no attempt; they seemed to say, every one of them. "Well, here we are. Now what are you going to do about it?" And the four stared at each other in amazement.
"Shall we resort to flight?" inquired the learned Parson.
"They're too many; they'd catch us," said Harden, emphatically. "I don't know just what to do. I rather think we're outwitted. I—what's that?"
"Ding! dong! Woow-oo!"
"A train!" exclaimed Mark. "That'll scatter 'em. But it'll do us no good."
A moment later there was a glare of light in the tunnel, light that shone upon the figures on the track; and then the heavy train shot out and came rushing down upon them. The cadets scattered of course; and in the temporary confusion Mark saw a golden chance. It was a slow train; he could see. A freight! And a moment later as the engine rushed past them, he shouted to the other three:
"Catch it! Catch it as it passes!"