they get out in a hurry," answered Spouter.

From the interior of the car came more cries, and presently all outside
heard a man yelling in a tone of agony:

"Help! Help! Somebody save me! My leg is caught fast, and I can't get
out! Save me!"

CHAPTER X

THE RESCUE

"There's a man left in there!"

"He says his leg is caught fast!"

"Help! Help!" came more faintly from the interior of the burning car.
"Help, or I'll be burnt to death!"

Only a few passengers seemed to hear these cries, for most of the men
who had come from the other train were gathered near the car which was
still standing. The Rover boys and their chums listened in horror to the
call for assistance. Jack was the first to leap forward.

"We'll have to save that fellow if we can," he cried determinedly.

"I think he is close to one of these windows," said Randy, pointing to
several broken-out windows through which some other passengers in the
car had climbed.

"Wait! I've got an idea!" exclaimed Fred. "See that stick of wood? Why
can't we place that against one of the windows and climb up on it?"

He had pointed to a plank one end of which, in some manner, had become
torn up from the roadbed. All of the boys rushed for this plank and
turned and twisted it until they had the fastened end under the snow
loose. Then they rushed over to the burning car and placed the plank on
a slant from the snow to the broken-out window which, because the
overturned car was not on a level, was two or three feet above their
heads.

Jack was the first to get on the plank, and speedily crawled up to the
window. Fortunately a draft was taking most of the smoke to the other
side of the car, so that he could see into the interior quite plainly.

A scene of great confusion met the eyes of the young captain. A number
of broken seats had fallen down on the ceiling of the car and in the
midst of this wreckage lay a short, stocky man with several cuts and
bruises on his face from which the blood was flowing. The man had his
arms and one leg free, but several seats and some handbaggage were
wedged in across his left leg and his stomach in such a manner that he
seemed unable to extricate himself. The fire was creeping up to within a
few inches of his caught foot, and this had caused him to raise his wild
cry for assistance.

"Help! Help!" he repeated, as soon as he caught sight of Jack's face
framed in the broken-out window. "Get me out of here before the fir