unusual difficulty in relighting it, and he would not
have been beyond stopping the car to accomplish that imperative need.
When he had succeeded and glanced back the station was out of sight.

Casey fixed his eyes upon the curve of the track ahead where it
disappeared between the sage-covered sandy banks. Here the grade was
scarcely perceptible to any but experienced eyes. And the gravel-car
crept along as if it would stop any moment. But Casey knew that it was
not likely to stop, and if it did he could start it again. A heavy-laden
car like this, once started, would run a long way on a very little
grade. What worried him was the creaking and rattle of wheels, sounds
that from where he stood were apparently very loud.

He turned the curve into a stretch of straight track where there came
a perceptible increase in the strength of the breeze against his face.
While creeping along at this point he scooped out a hole in the gravel
mound on the car, making a place that might afford some protection from
Indian bullets and arrows. That accomplished, he had nothing to do but
hold on to the wheel-brake, and gaze ahead.

It seemed a long time before the speed increased sufficiently to insure
him against any danger of a stop. The wind began to blow his hair and
whip away the smoke of his pipe. And the car began to cover distance.
Several miles from the station he entered the shallow mouth of a gully
where the grade increased. His speed accelerated correspondingly until
he was rolling along faster than a man could run. The track had been
built on the right bank of the gully which curved between low bare
hills, and which grew deeper and of a rougher character. Casey had
spiked many of the rails over which he passed.

He found it necessary to apply the brake so that he would not take the
sharp curves at dangerous speed. The brake did not work well and gave
indications that it would not stand a great deal. With steady, rattling
creak, and an occasional clank, the car rolled on.

If Casey remembered the lay of the land, there was a long, straight
stretch of track, ending in several curves, the last of which turned
sharply into the narrow cut where the Sioux would ambush and obstruct
the train. At this point it was Casey's intention to put off the brake
and let his car run wild.

It seemed an endless time before he reached the head of that stretch.
Then he let go of the wheel. And the gravel-car began to roll on faster.

Casey