the better
of him for a moment. "By the Lord, it's a hold-up."

The school-teachers were in the aisle of the car, in night gown,
wrapper, and dressing sack, huddled together like sheep, holding on to
each other, looking to the men, silently appealing for protection. Two
of them were weeping, white to the lips.

"Oh, oh, oh, it's terrible. Oh, if they only won't hurt me."

But the lady with the children looked out from her berth, smiled
reassuringly, and said:

"I'm not a bit frightened. They won't do anything to us if we keep
quiet. I've my watch and jewelry all ready for them in my little black
bag, see?"

She exhibited it to the passengers. Her children were all awake. They
were quiet, looking about them with eager faces, interested and amused
at this surprise. In his berth, the fat gentleman with whiskers snored
profoundly.

"Say, I'm going out there," suddenly declared one of the drummers,
flourishing a pocket revolver.

His friend caught his arm.

"Don't make a fool of yourself, Max," he said.

"They won't come near us," observed the well-dressed young man; "they
are after the Wells-Fargo box and the registered mail. You won't do any
good out there."

But the other loudly protested. No; he was going out. He didn't propose
to be buncoed without a fight. He wasn't any coward.

"Well, you don't go, that's all," said his friend, angrily. "There's
women and children in this car. You ain't going to draw the fire here."

"Well, that's to be thought of," said the other, allowing himself to be
pacified, but still holding his pistol.

"Don't let him open that window," cried Annixter sharply from his place
by Hilma's side, for the drummer had made as if to open the sash in one
of the sections that had not been made up.

"Sure, that's right," said the others. "Don't open any windows. Keep
your head in. You'll get us all shot if you aren't careful."

However, the drummer had got the window up and had leaned out before the
others could interfere and draw him away.

"Say, by jove," he shouted, as he turned back to the car, "our engine's
gone. We're standing on a curve and you can see the end of the train.
She's gone, I tell you. Well, look for yourself."

In spite of their precautions, one after another, his friends looked
out. Sure enough, the train was without a locomotive.

"They've done it so we can't get away," vociferated the drummer with
the pistol. "Now, by jiminy-Christmas, they'll come through th