lustered on the tender, the engine was under way, rushing
eastward.

As rapidly the speed was increased, the locomotive rocked and leaped over
the new roadbed, but with the superintendent at his elbow, the engineer
drove her up to the last notch, and the prairie streamed by them like a
blanket.

Half the distance was made, and above the noise of the engine came a
sharp "Tap, tap! Tap, tap, tap!"

On the engine rushed, and the distant shapes of cars appeared.
Simultaneously there came a crashing volley of shots, and a chorus of
shouting. The men on the engine gripped their guns, and stared ahead into
the space lit up by the headlight.

With reducing speed they struck a curve, and the stream of light swung
about toward the bridge. The next moment into the glare broke a group of
madly struggling figures.

On the flash of the light the fighting ceased. There were cries of alarm,
and the renegades began to break and flee. A small party stood, and fired
toward the engine. But with a roar the railroadmen leaped and tumbled to
the ground, and rushed at them, and they too broke and fled.

And the great fight was over, and won.

The superintendent was first to reach the little barricade. Jack, he
found unconscious from a blow on the head. Wilson had fainted, and Alex
drooped limply on the wall of ties, exhausted past speaking. The faces,
hands and clothes of all bore mute witness to the desperate struggle they
had put up during those last terrible minutes.

Within a short time, however, all three boys had somewhat recovered, and
were able to take their places in the engine cab; and a half hour later
the party headed back for the construction-train, coupled behind them a
box-car containing eighteen prisoners. Ten of the captured men were found
to have been wounded, several seriously; but to the relief of the boys
none had been killed outright.

When rescued, rescuers and prisoners arrived at the construction-train
they found an excited crowd of over three hundred men awaiting them. And
on the details of the affair quickly spreading, the three boys were
literally swept from their feet by the enthusiastic foreigners, hoisted
into the air, and carried to the telegraph-car to a continuous roar of
"hurrahs" and "bravos."

* * * * *

The following Wednesday a special train, to which was attached Division
Superintendent Cameron's private car, drew up at the rear of the
boarding-tr