"Seeing that Hector was well started on his mission, I turned again and started up the grade. As I beat my way as best I could against wind and storm, I began to realise how nearly hopeless my task was. Just ahead of me lay the great gorge, a deep cut nearly a quarter of a mile in length. It was extremely dangerous to enter this even in the daytime, as the cut was new, and there was little room to get out of the way of the train. But I must risk it if I hoped to save the many precious lives; so on I went, stumbling over the uneven ties, falling several times, but never daring to stop even to catch my breath. I thanked Heaven when the last rock of the cut was passed: but now the fierce gale met me stronger than ever. Fearful of having my light blown out, and hearing the train close at hand, I stepped aside under the shelter of a rock. As the train rounded the curve and the headlight flashed into view I swung my lantern vigorously, but no one seemed to notice me.
"'Gracious!' I cried, 'will they never see me?'
"The huge monster lighted up the gorge at my feet for an instant, and then with a shriek dashed by; but that shriek meant 'down brakes.' Ah, what a load was lifted from my heart when I heard that sound!
"By the time the way-car had passed I could see that the speed was slackening. With the wind now at my back, I made quick time down the grade. The two engines stood in front of the station 'nose to nose.' They had met with sufficient force to throw all the passengers from their seats, but no damage had been done.
"The little platform was crowded with people, passengers of the special and trainmen, who eagerly awaited my coming. In a few words I told them my story—how I had hung out the signals, how I had run up the track in time to stop the freight.
"'I saw a red light swinging back and forth near the ground, about half a mile back,' said the engineer of the special. 'I only caught a glimpse of it as we rushed by, but I slowed up; then when I saw the red light at the station I whistled for brakes at once, and, coming to a stop, I saw the headlight of the freight just in time to back up enough to escape disaster.'
"'What was the light you first saw?' was asked.
"As if in answer Hector just then appeared from behind the passenger train, the lantern swinging back and forth in front of him. It was the first time he had ever failed to go home when I sent him, but he evidently knew that his mission was fulfilled. He was at once the centre of an excited crowd, and I am sure he received enough attention that night to spoil any dog.
"It was only a few days before I received a check for a large sum, a present from the company, together with the notice that Hector had been put on the company's pay-roll at fifty dollars per month. I was also offered another position with a larger salary, but I declined it.
"In about a week there came to my office a little package addressed to 'Hector, care of Walter Preston.' It contained a handsome gold-plated collar, on which were engraved his name and a little sketch, 'How Hector Saved the Train.' It has never since been off his neck.