et a new
discomfort took its place. So violently did the engine sway, that Bob
was obliged to hang on to the window on his side of the cab to keep from
bouncing to the floor.

Watching out the corner of his eye, as he scanned the track ahead, the
engineer smiled at the boy's trouble in staying on the seat.

Bob, however, soon adapted himself to the engine's motion, and was
finally able to sit without clutching the window-frame.

Noting this, Barney got down, crossed the cab, and putting his mouth
close to the boy's ear, asked:

"Like to run the engine awhile?"

"Would I? I should say so!" returned Bob in delight.

Though his reply was inaudible, the expression on his face was eloquent.

"Then, take hold of my arm, so you won't get thrown out. That's the way.
Steady, now. Climb on to the seat. Good. Now, put your left hand on that
lever. That's what they call the throttle. When you pull it toward you,
it increases the speed; to slow down, you push it away from you."

Proud, indeed, did Bob feel as his hand clasped the smooth handle of the
lever. Never had he expected to run a real, snorting locomotive,
dragging a long line of cars, and the realization that he was actually
controlling the speed, set him a-tingle with delight.

Crowding in behind Bob, the engineer kept watch of the track, but not so
closely that he could not observe and enjoy the boy's pleasure.

After several minutes, Bob turned and shouted:

"Can I pull on the throttle a little?"

"Sure. Open her to the next notch. We've got plenty of steam."

But Bob found it was not so easy to get the notch as it seemed. He kept
gamely at it, however, and at last succeeded.

Till they reached the yard limit of Hastings, the engineer allowed him
to hold the throttle, and when he at last took it and began to ease
down the speed, Bob sighed wistfully.

As the big machine finally came to a stop with a grunt, Barney
exclaimed:

"You ought to be an engineer, boy. You've got the nerve to drive hard.
We did ten miles in twenty minutes--which is going some with this load."

Just then, however, the conductor came up.

"Like it, Bob?" he asked.

"Indeed, I did! Mr. Barney let me drive, and I made ten miles in twenty
minutes."

"Good boy! We'll make a railroad man out of you yet. Think you could
follow me back to the caboose over the cars?"

"I can try," returned Bob.

But before the attempt could be made, the conductor was called to the
station office