was devoutly glad that the colonel
was going to take such a precaution. At that moment he, more than
Colonel Newcomb, was responsible for the lives of the seven hundred
human beings aboard the train, and his patriotism and sense of
responsibility were both strong.

The train, with much jolting and clanging, stopped fifteen minutes
later. Both Dick and Warner, awakened by the shock, sat up and rubbed
their eyes. Then they left the train at once to join Colonel Newcomb,
who might want them immediately. Wary Sergeant Whitley followed them in
silence.

The boys found Colonel Newcomb and the remaining members of his staff
standing near, and seeking anxiously to discover the nature of the
country about them. The colonel nodded when they arrived, and gave them
an approving glance. The two stood by, awaiting the colonel's orders,
but they did not neglect to use their eyes.

Dick saw by the engineer's lantern that they were in a valley, and he
learned from his words that this valley was about three miles long with
a width of perhaps half a mile. A little mountain river rushed down its
center, and the train would cross the stream about a mile further on.
It was still raining and the cold wind whistled down from the mountains.
Dick could see the somber ridges showing dimly through the loom of
darkness and rain. He was instantly aware, too, of a tense and uneasy
feeling among the officers. All of them carried glasses, but in the
darkness they could not use them. Lights began to appear in the train
and many heads were thrust out at the windows.

"Go through the coaches, Mr. Mason and Mr. Warner," said Colonel
Newcomb, "and have every light put out immediately. Tell them, too, that
my orders are for absolute silence."

Dick and the Vermonter did their work rapidly, receiving many curious
inquiries, as they went from coach to coach, all of which they were
honestly unable to answer. They knew no more than the other boys about
the situation. But when they left the last coach and returned to the
officers near the engine, the train was in total darkness, and no sound
came from it. Colonel Newcomb again gave them an approving nod. Dick
noticed that the fires in the engine were now well covered, and that no
sparks came from the smoke-stack. Standing by it he could see the long
shape of the train running back in the darkness, but it would have been
invisible to any one a hundred yards away.

"You think we're thoroughly hidden now, Can