LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1433, 19 September 1878, Page 3

LITERATURE.

RUNNING "PILOT."

I?T THE AUTHOR OF " A RACE FOR LIFE." Chapter I. FOUL, PLAY. 'Who is standing pilot this evening?' said the superintendent, or ' boss,' as he was called. • Seth Martin,' was the foreman's reply. ' Tell him to come here, will you; and hurry up!' The foreman hastened away, and both he and Seth Martin must have ' spread themselves,' as the former said, for in a few minutes the engine-driver stood before his chief. The great man took a comprehensive look at the engineer, who flinched not a muscle. His clear steady eyes were as blue as the sky ; a handsome brown beard ornamented his face, which, albeit rather dirty, was full of character and. determination. To use the popular expression, ' he was pure gold down to bed-rock.' The superintendent, satisfied with his scrutiny, nodded to the engine-driver, and said—- ' There's a specie train up out of Collinsville to-night, Seth.' ' I know that,' was the curt response. ' It will require close watching,' continued the chief. 'I s'pose so—l know that,' repaated Seth. 'You arc mighty knowin' this evening, said the sqerintendcnt smiling; ' bail thoro

is one [thing you don't kno',7, Sonny. You don't know that yoa are going to run pilot to that train.'

'Yea, Id\' repl'el the engine-driver. •Wio in thir der to'd you then ? J didn't know it myself till ten minutes agV ' Vou told me this minute, I knew it,' replied Seth, smil'naf, and di-closing his teeth, 'l'm ready, bo s.' ' Martin, you ought to be a judge ; your t*lents are thrown away on tbis line But li-ten ; we've no time to split straws in chaff. Therms a very festive gang of desperadoes hanging ab ut up Dartf»rd way. They niirly wr»cked the through Pacific la=it week. Fortunately the paseenarr* were handv with their sho«ti V-irons, and bullets was rain'n' p etty thick, else there would have been something unpleasant.' 'Wa'al,' said the engine driver, 'go ahead.'

' Now you must run pilot to the specie train, and see that the line's clear up as far as Dartford City. You can shunt at the Trestle Bridge siding, and wait to pull the wagons up the Bunker incline through the cuttings. Once safe there ye can rattle along, and mind ye keep a good look out.' ' You bet!' was Seth's reply. * I'd better take my six shooter, I suppose. We'll have to ftoht, may ?' ' Most likely,'replied the superintendent coolly. ' Keep this quiet. I've got men on the look-out along the line. Who's your mate ?'

'English Tom Atkins,' was the reply. ' He's grit!' 'All, right then,' said the chief. 'Now don't drink; keep a full head of steam; bring back the specie fafe, and ' ' Wa'al ?' drawled the other coolly. ' I'll provide for your family if you're hurt or shot; if not, I'll reward you.' 'ls that all then? Well, good night, boss, and thank ye.' 'Good luck,' was the answer; 'l'll not forget you.' Seth Martin turned away with a nod of acknowledgment, and directed his steps to the shed where his engine was 'standing pilot.' This means that the engine had steam up (or was 'in steam,' to apeak technically) and was ready for any sudden emergfncy. The driver was just as well pleased to run a couple of hundred nrles on a dark night, even with the chance of being shot, as to have an invitation to the ' White House' itself. • Tom !' 'Hallo!' came back in an unmistakable English voice. 'Fire up a bit: we're bound west; specie pilot; ten o'clock. Keep it quiet.' A man unseen by the driver put up his head to listen.

Seth was a man of action, and so was his mate, Tom Atkins. They looked to the engine and their revolvers ; pnt a dozen cartridges in a tin can ; filled a similar can with some old Bourbon whiskey at a saloon close by, whith'r they were followed by the man who had been listening to their conversation, and who noted their preparations. After communicating with some accomplice, this mysterious individual left the saloon and made his way towards the signalbox which stood some distance down the line. As soon as the engine driver and his mate were recognised they were warmly welcomed, for they were favorites. Many drinks were tendered for their acceptance, and declined on various pleas, till at length one man declared the Britisher wanted to fix an insult on a fee-born citizen. He offered Seth and Tom a glass apiece, saying— ' What's up, mate ? Swore off, eh V ' For this evening,' replied Seth, ' but as I'd rather drink than fight just now, I'll take your treat.' So the men each took the proffered glass, but scarcely tasted it; and s r on afterwards Seth, fearing that some inkling of his intended mission might leak out, beckoned to his fireman to follow a 3 soon as possible, and then left the saloon. He lit a cigar, climbed up into the " cab " of his engine (all American locomotives are protected and closed in), and began to smoke. He smoked in comfort for about a quarter of an hour, then he felt * queer.' • These is stronger cigars than usual,' he muttered, and he threw it from him But the oppression on his brain became heavier; he felt very s eepy now. ' I think I'll have a nap ; it's only about nine o'clock. I must; there's an hour yet. I wonder where Tom is. It's my opinion Tom will drink too much, or ' His train of thought was suddenly interrupted. All at once it flashed upon him that he himself had been " drugged " in the saloon! ' That's it; what a thundering idiot I am!' He essayed to rise, but felt quite bewildered. He made hopeless attempts to stand upright, but could do nothing. He was as useless as a child ; but, wo'se thau all, he was conscious of his inability to do his duty. Ten o'clock rang out. He struggled to his feet. His head was spinning round, his feet were heavy as leaden weights. He opened the s'iding-door, but ere he could descend, a blow from behind sent him spinning into space—a splash, and down he sank into a large pond containing a quantity of surplus water for the locomotive tanks At the same moment three men climbed up on the engine, and, with a low but hearty chuckle, started it out from the siding. 'I think we did that neat,' said the shortest of the party. 'I didn't listen to boss for nothin' this time. The specie train will run after all, you see. Oh! they couldn't catch me tripping. No, sir!' * The Savage will do the bridge, I suppose,' said another. * He's to work on the up line, isn't he ?' 'Aye, only on that side. Ye did that Britisher pretty, I must say. He and Seth was kinder cautious too. 1

' I mixed it strong,' said the other, with a savage laugh. ' Did you settle the signals, Abe?'

' Aye ; telegraphed ourselves on special, and then cut the wires and smashed the instruments. We're clear now to Dartford City. What's that?' he added has>ily, as the engine lurched for a second and lifted. ' Only the points. We're out now. We can run easy, I s'pose. She won't burst, I hope. Here goes.' The speaktr, who knew little about engine-driving, turned on the steam, and away they went. He turned his head for a moment. ' There's something moving yonder ; they've found Seth likely.'

But this portion of the gang of desperadoes had found their match in English Tom Atkins. For a moment or two he had been overcome by the drugged whiskey, but a simple and very effective remedy cured him at the cost of a few moments' sickness. Creeping along the ground, for he could not walk, he conceived the idea of following these men, so he held the points open, and sent the ' bravoes' away into the on the up line. He proposed to give the alarm and follow (on the down metals) with a superior force. But fate was drawing the fugitives to destruction. The up line was cut at the bridge. (To he continued.)