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"Stand aside," he shouted; and there was such a ring of confident command in his voice that both men instantly obeyed. Saggart grasped the lever, and instead of trying to shut off steam flung it wide open. Number Eighty-six gave a quiver and a jump forward. "You old fiend!" muttered John between his teeth.
"That's only six miles ahead," said the engineer; "and in five minutes at this rate we will be running on her time and on her rails. She's always late, and won't be on the side track. I must get to Eighty-six." Saggart quickly made his way through the baggage-coach, climbed on the express car, and jumped on the coal of the tender.
The air-brake was grinding the long train and sending a shiver of fear through every timber, but the rails were slippery with frost, and the speed of the train seemed as great as ever. At the right moment Saggart reversed the engine, and the sparks flew up from her great drivers like catharine wheels. "Brace yourself," cried Saggart. "No. 6 is backing up, thank God!" Next instant the crash came.
At last the flying train plunged into the country, and Saggart pressed his face against the cold glass of the window, unable to shake off his feeling of responsibility, although he knew there was another man at the throttle. He was aroused from his reverie by a touch on the shoulder, and a curt request, "Tickets, please."
The engineer had put away his oil-can, and had taken his place on the engine, standing ready to begin the long journey at the moment the signal was given. John Saggart climbed into the smoking-carriage at the front part of the train. He found a place in one of the forward seats, and sank down into it with a vague feeling of uneasiness at being inside the coach instead of on the engine.
"Reverse her, reverse her!" cried the other engineer, with fear in his voice. "Reverse nothing," said Saggart. "She'll slide ten miles if you do. Jump, if you're afraid." The man from the branch line promptly jumped. "Save yourself," said Saggart to the stoker; "there's bound to be a smash." "I'll stick by you, Mr. Saggart," said the fireman, who knew him. But his hand trembled.
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