e able to get through to Timminsport," came from
Randy. "That would be a fine state of affairs, eh?"

"I don't see any houses along the line. We'd have one sweet job finding
a place to go to if the train became snowbound," said Andy.

"They generally manage to keep this road open, no matter how bad the
storms are," declared Gif. "You see, the hunters are coming and going
all the time, as well as the lumbermen and the folks that live in and
around Timminsport and Enwood. They don't like to be cut off from the
rest of the world, even for a day or two."

"I hope we don't have to wait for that other train when we get to
Enwood," said Spouter. "That may be awfully late, you know."

"I asked the conductor awhile ago, and he said they hoped it would be on
time. It comes down hill most of the way, and that is in its favor. If
they had to pull uphill much, they might get stuck."

Presently they passed a small lumber camp, and one of the other
passengers told the boys they were now within half a mile of Enwood.

"And that is only twelve miles from Timminsport," said Gif. "We ought to
be there in about half an hour or so."

They had struck a portion of the track which was comparatively free of
snow, and the engineer of the train was now trying to make up some of
the lost time. The boys were congratulating themselves on this when they
suddenly heard a shriek of the locomotive whistle, followed instantly by
the sudden application of the steam brakes. The train shuddered and
shook, and two seconds later there came a crash from the front, and then
the train came to a sudden stop.

The Rover boys and their chums had leaped to their feet at the first
shock. The second threw Spouter headlong, and Randy went down almost on
top of him. Fred was awakened from his brief nap by having his forehead
bumped upon the seat ahead of him.

"What's the matter?"

"What did we strike?"

"Are we going to upset?"

"Let me get out of here! I don't want to be smashed up!"

Such were some of the cries which rent the air while the train was still
in motion and after it came to a standstill. Every passenger had been
shaken up, and not a few were knocked down. Fortunately, however, no one
in that particular car seemed to be much hurt, although several were
bruised and every one was more or less nervous.

"Are you hurt, Fred?" questioned Jack quickly, as he saw his young
cousin feeling of his forehead.

"Well, I got a pretty good bump," answer