t," rejoined the engineer with a smile. "You were laying
into one of them pretty lively as I ran up."

Hardie felt a little disconcerted. Having been partly dazed by the
blow he had received, he had no clear recollection of the part he had
taken in the scrimmage, though he had been conscious of burning anger
when Farren was struck down. It was, however, difficult to believe
that the engineer had been mistaken, because the locomotive lamp had
lighted the track brilliantly.

"Anyway, one of them put his mark on you," resumed his companion. "Did
you notice it, Pete?"

"Sure," said the grinning fireman; "big lump on his right cheek." He
fumbled in a box and handed a tool to Hardie. "Better hold that
spanner to it, if you're going to preach to-morrow. But how's Farren?"

"No sign of consciousness. The sooner we can get him into a doctor's
hands, the better."

"Stir her up," ordered the engineer, and nodded when his comrade swung
back the fire-door and hurled in coal. Then he turned to Hardie.
"We're losing no time. She's running to beat the Imperial Limited
clip, and the track's not worked down yet into its bed."

Hardie, looking about for a few moments, thought the speed could not
safely be increased. There was a scream of wind about the cab, though
when he had stood upon the track the air had been almost still; a
bluff, which he knew was a large one, leaped up, hung over the line,
and rushed away behind; the great engine was rocking and jolting so
that he could hardly maintain his position, and the fireman shuffled
about with the erratic motion. Then Hardie busied himself trying to
protect Farren from the shaking, until the scream of the whistle broke
through the confused sounds and the pace diminished. The bell began to
toll, and, rising to his feet, Hardie saw a cluster of lights flitting
back toward him. Shortly afterward they stopped beside a half-built
row of elevators.

"Guess you'll have to be back to-morrow," the engineer said.

Hardie nodded.

"I've been rather worried about it. It would take me all night to
walk."

"That's so," agreed the other. "All you have to do is to see Farren
safe in the doctor's hands and leave the rest to me. I've got to have
some water, for one thing." He turned to his fireman. "We'll put in
that new journal babbit; she's not running sweet."

The clergyman was inclined to believe that the repair was not strictly
needed, though it would account for a delay