. "Jest
bumped a bit. Listen! There's old Jack whistling for brakes."

The shrieking of the switch engine was warning No. 44 in time. They
could make-out her head-light through the leaves of the trees just at
the tangent of the curve a quarter of a mile below. Some figures were
running up the track, for they could see a lantern bobbing up and down,
and soon the voices were quite close.

"What has happened here?" inquired a man with brass buttons, as he
caught a glimpse of the engineer swinging himself painfully off the step
to the ground behind the wreckage.

"The Lord's finger, I reckon," said the engineer. "I swear I saw a
light!" and in a few words he told the story.

A group of passengers had surrounded the heap of boards, ore, iron
wheels, and axles. The head-light of the switch engine had gone out in
the jar, and there was not a face shown in the dim rays from the lantern
that did not pale.

A drummer in a silk travelling-cap struck a match to light a paper
cigarette, but his hand trembled so that he gave up, and sat down on
the ties, and mechanically brushed off his shoes with his
pocket-handkerchief as if it were dusty and broad daylight.

Another whistle sounded up the grade.

"There's no train due," said the curly-headed young brakeman who had
come up with another lantern on his arm. A large crowd of the passengers
of No. 44 accompanied him.

"I presume likely that's the wrecking-train," said the engineer, "come
down to pick you fellows up."

"Get up the track and flag her, Billy! Jump quick!" ordered the
conductor.

[Illustration: "I SAY, YOU PEOPLE, THERE'S A DEAD MAN OR SOMETHING HERE
IN THE ROAD."]

The brakeman started on a run. As he passed the grade crossing he
shouted back,

"I say, you people, there's a dead man or something here in the road,"
and, without a pause, he hurried on.

* * * * *

Rollins opened his eyes and felt the familiar motion of a moving train,
but for an instant he could not call back his wits to think. He was
lying on a mattress on the floor and his head and shoulders were propped
up comfortably. There was a crowd standing about him.

"You're all right, my lad," said a voice. "There are four of us here to
look out for you." The doctor arose from his knees and laughed.

Rollins faintly smiled. "Oh, I'm kind of comfortable," he said.

"The company ought to give him a gold bicycle set with diamonds," said
the conductor.

"I'd rat