ing to stop?"

"Not just now. Come up to the railroad station and do the talking."

"Don't you do it," put in Toglet, in alarm. "He'll have us arrested."

"Stop where you are, or it will be the worse for you," went on Martin.

He raised his gun and pointed it at Ralph's head.

Fearful that the villain would shoot him, Ralph left the road and dodged
behind a clump of trees.

There was no longer the slightest doubt in the boy's mind concerning the
two men. They had meant to take his life, and they were still disposed to
carry out their intention.

"He has gone into the woods," cried Toglet. "Why not let him go?"

"You fool! If he gets away he'll have the officers of the law on our track
in no time!" ejaculated Martin. "We must catch him by all means!"

He sprang on ahead, and was soon making after the boy as rapidly as his
long legs would carry him.

Ralph heard him coming, and once more he moved away. He left the patch of
wood, and a second later came out on the railroad tracks.

As he did so, he heard a locomotive whistle, and a locomotive rolled past,
followed by a long line of empty freight cars.

"Now I'll catch him!" cried Martin to Toglet. "He can't cross the tracks
while the cars are passing."

He rushed toward Ralph, who did not know which way to turn. Up the track a
big cut in the rocks blocked his way, and down was a deep ravine.

Just then, for some reason apparent to the engineer, the long train
slackened its speed for a moment. A freight car came to a halt directly in
front of Ralph, the big side doors wide open.

Hardly giving the matter a second thought, the boy sprang up into the car,
intending to let himself out on the other side.

But before he could accomplish his purpose the train gave a jerk, and in a
second more was on its way on a down grade at such a rate of speed that to
leap off would have been highly dangerous.

Ralph was exhausted by his run, and when the car started off he could
hardly stand. He clutched at the side and staggered to one end, and then
sank down in a heap in the corner. The excitement had been too much for him
in his weak state, and he had fainted.

When he came to his senses all was dark around him. A strange whirr sounded
in his ears, coming from the car wheels, and telling him that the car was
still in motion.

He arose to his feet, and then made the discovery that although it was dark
in the car, it was daylight outside. The reason was plain--both of th