of them asked. "He was too late when he
jumped. Have they got him out?"

"Guess not," said another. "See, they're trying to jack up the front
of her."

"Aren't you mistaken about the man?" George asked, looking at the first
speaker meaningly.

"Why, no," replied the other. "He's certainly pinned down among the
wreck. They'll find him before long. Isn't that a jacket sleeve?"

He broke off with an exclamation, as Edgar drove an elbow hard into his
ribs; but it was too late. The girl looked around at George, white in
face.

"Is there a man beneath the engine? Don't try to put me off."

"I'm afraid it's the case."

"Then why did you bring me?" she cried with a shudder. "Take me away
at once!"

George explained that he had forgotten the serious nature of the
accident. He hastily helped her up and turned away with her, but when
they had gone a little distance she sat down on a boulder.

"I feel badly startled and ashamed," she exclaimed. "I was enjoying
it, as a spectacle, and all the time there was a man crushed to death."
Then she recovered her composure. "Go back and help. Besides, I think
your friend is getting into trouble."

She was right. The man Edgar tried to silence had turned upon him,
savage and rather breathless.

"Now," he said, "I'll fix you mighty quick. Think I'm going to have a
blamed Percy sticking his elbow into me?"

Edgar glanced at the big and brawny man, with a twinge of somewhat
natural uneasiness; but he was not greatly daunted.

"Oh, well," he retorted coolly, "if that's the way you look at it! But
if you're not in a desperate hurry, I'll take off my jacket."

"What did you prod him for, anyway?" another asked.

"I'm sorry I didn't jab him twice as hard; though I'd have wasted my
energy," Edgar explained. "The fellow has no sense, but that's no
reason why he should be allowed to frighten a pretty girl."

His antagonist looked as if a light had suddenly dawned on him.

"Is that why you did it?"

"Of course! Do you think I'd attack a man of nearly twice my weight
without some reason?"

The fellow laughed.

"We'll let it go at that. You're all right, Percy. We like you."

"Thanks," said Edgar; "but my name isn't Percy. Couldn't you think of
something more stylish for a change?"

They greeted this with hoarse laughter; and George, arriving on the
scene, scrambled down into the pit with them to help the men below. It
was some time later when he rejoine