he could see nothing with the snow that blew over
it in his eyes. Suddenly Larry rose up, there was a shout and a flounder,
and, though he did not quite know how he got there, Breckenridge found
himself standing close behind his comrade, and in the light of the lantern
held up saw a man drop his hammer. There were other men close by, but they
were apparently too astonished to think of flight.

"It's Larry!" somebody exclaimed.

"Stop where you are," said Grant sharply as one man made a move. "I don't
want to shoot any of you, but I most certainly will if you make me. Are
there any more of you?"

"No," said one of the men disgustedly.

Grant walked forward swinging his lantern until his eyes rested on one
partly loosened rail. "And that is as far as you have got?" he said. "Take
up your hammer and drive the wood key in. Get hold of their rifles,
Charley. I guess they are under that coat."

There was an angry murmur, and a man started to speak; but Grant stopped
him.

"Hammer the wedges in," he said. "It was pure foolishness made me come
here to save you from the cavalry who had heard of what you meant to do,
because we have no use for men of your kind in this country. You haven't
even sense enough to keep your rifles handy, and there will be two or
three less of you to worry decent folks if you keep us waiting."

A man took up the hammer, and then waited a moment, looking at those who
stood about Larry. He could see the faces of one or two in the lantern
light, and recognized that he need expect no support from them. The men
were resolute Americans, who had no desire for anything approaching
anarchy.

"We are with Larry, and don't feel like fooling. Hadn't you better start
in?" one of them said.

The rail was promptly fastened, and Grant, after examining it, came back.

"Go on in front of us, and take your tools along! It will not be nice for
the man who tries to get away," he said.

The prisoners plodded dejectedly up the track until they reached the
calaboose, into which the others drove them. Then Grant and Breckenridge
went back to the locomotive, and the former nodded to the engineer:

"Take us through to Boynton as fast as you can."

"That is a big load off your mind," Breckenridge said as the panting
engine got under way.

But Grant, huddled in a corner, neither moved nor spoke until, half an
hour later, they rolled into a little wooden town and the men in the
calaboose got down. There was nobody