the hunger," said Ralph. "As to the
heat, that's an essential we mustn't neglect. We had better shut off
the steam pipes, keeping only a little fire in the furnace and
starting the stoves in the coaches."

"Yes, we might last out on that plan," nodded the conductor, glancing
over the tender.

Ralph pulled to a spot about two hundred feet ahead, where the advance
and retreat of the train had cleared a space alongside the rails, and
the conductor went back to the coaches.

Ralph adjusted the steam pipes so they would not freeze, and Fogg
banked the fire. Then they got to the ground with rake and shovel, and
skirmished around to see what investigation might develop.

Despite the terrible weather and the insecurity of their situation,
the train crew were soon cheerily gathering wood up beyond the
embankment. They had to dig deep for old logs, and they broke down
tree branches. Then they cleared a space at the side of the track and
started a great roaring fire that flared high and far.

"Nobody will run into that," observed Fogg with a satisfied chuckle.

"And it may lead a rescue party," suggested Ralph.

Some of the men passengers strolled up to the fire. Fear and anxiety
had given way to a sense of the novelty of the situation. Ralph
assured them that their comfort and safety would be looked after. He
promised a foraging party at daylight in search of food supplies.

"They're talking about you back there in the coaches, Fairbanks,"
reported the conductor a little later. "They know about your
arrangements for their comfort, and they're chatting and laughing, and
taking it all in like a regular picnic."

"I suppose you've been giving me undue credit, you modest old hero!"
laughed Ralph.

"Hello!" suddenly exclaimed Fogg; "now, what is that?"

All hands stared far to the west. A dim red flame lit the sky. Then it
appeared in a new spot, still far away. This was duplicated until
there were vague red pencils of light piercing the sky from various
points of the compass.

"It's queer," commented the conductor. "Something's in action, but
what, and how?"

"There!" exclaimed Fogg, as suddenly seemingly just beyond the heavy
drift immediately in front of the train the same glare was seen.

"Yes, and here, too!" shouted out the conductor, jumping back.

Almost at his feet something dropped from midair like a rocket, a
bomb. It instantly burst out in a vivid red flame. Ralph investigated,
and while thus engaged two