ll have your life for forfeit!"

Before that burning look even Payson shrank back. Harry Hazelton,
ordinarily the best natured of boys, was now in terrible earnest.

"That's right," muttered Hazelton. "Men, I take command here. You
needn't heed any words from Reade. Now, you men on the lines watch close
and listen keenly for my orders."

With that Hazelton darted out on the deadly, treacherous sands!

CHAPTER XI. CHEATING THE MAN-KILLER

For the first few yards the assistant engineer ran almost as well as
though on a cinder track. Then his feet sank in. Soon he stumbled.

Then there came a time, within ten feet of Tom, when Harry felt his feet
settling in the sand despite his efforts to pull himself out.

In the meantime the haulers on the other line had forgotten to pull the
laborer nearer to safety.

"You men get your eyes on the job!" sternly commanded Payson, who seemed
capable of having eyes everywhere.

Harry got out, somehow. He made a bound, landing within arm's length of
Tom Reade.

"I'm here, old chum!" gasped Hazelton.

"I knew you'd be," returned Tom calmly, "if there were any way of doing
it."

Harry pulled himself together and floundered still closer.

Nor was there a moment to be lost. Tom was already reduced to the choice
between silence and having his mouth filled with sand.

Harry's hands worked with lightning speed. Feverishly he dug out the
sand, until he had scooped away enough to bare Tom's shoulders and a few
inches beneath.

Swoop! Down went the extra noose over Tom's lifted arms, and then down
to a snug noose under his armpits.

From the platform a cheer went up, for the unconscious laborer had just
been hauled to safety.

It was with a thrill of horror that Hazelton found his own legs firmly
embedded in the sand well up to his thighs.

"Get Reade started first!" shouted the young assistant engineer. "Don't
bother with me until I give the word."

How the line fastened to Tom tightened and strained! At times it seemed
as though it must give way.

Presently Tom's shoulder and a part of his torso were free.

In the meantime Harry Hazelton had sunk in up to the waist line.

"We'll haul on you, too, now, Mr. Hazelton!" sounded the voice of
Foreman Payson.

"Don't you dare do it until I give the word," thundered back the voice
of the assistant engineer.

With a line securely about him, Harry felt that he could afford to take
the slight chance of waiting his tur