be overtaken, going at our flying rate.

"How the hand-car kept the track I do not know; but, before I could
realize it, we had reached the valley, crossed Runaway Bridge, and were
rushing up the ascent toward the station.

"As we began to lose speed, the train began to gain on us, and I knew
the engineer was doing his best to make up for lost time.

"For the last half-mile it looked as though we should be overtaken, but
we came in with the cow's nose at our heels.

"I told them what we had done, and as soon as they got over their
surprise a party went ahead to examine the bridge."

"Well, what was the result?" asked the superintendent, who had listened
with great interest to the boy's thrilling, yet straightforward, account
of his hazardous ride. "You took a fearful risk."

"The bridge was not gone, sir, and the train passed over in safety. The
tramp had lied to us."

"And you had your dangerous ride for nothing?"

"Yes, sir, unless you could consider a notice to quit work a reward. Mr.
Gammon accused Mr. Baxter of being intoxicated, and said we had got
caught on the track to tell that story to get out of a bad scrape. I
knew it was useless to talk with him, so I have come to you."

"What sort of a job do you want?" asked General Lyons, showing by his
tone that he had not been displeased by the boy's story.

"Anything that is honest, sir, and will give me fair wages, with a
chance to rise."

"So you have an eye to the future. Perhaps you hope to have the
management of a road yourself some time."

"It shall be no fault of mine, sir, if I do not."

"Nobly said, my boy; and it is possible you hope to be superintendent of
the Pen Yan."

"I mean to do my best for it, sir." And then, as if frightened by the
boldness of his speech, he added, "I only meant to say I am going to do
my duty."

"And if you stick to that purpose as faithfully as I think you will,
success will at last crown your efforts. I will speak to Mr. Minturn of
you and he will doubtless give you a situation. Good-day."

The superintendent turned back to his business problems, and the others
in the room followed the example of their chief, disappointed at the
sudden termination of the interview.

The boy, however, seemed loth to leave. He started away, went a few
steps and paused.

Then coming back to the railing, he said, with less firmness than
formerly:

"If you, please, sir, I had rather you would not leave my case in Mr.
Minturn's