LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1434, 20 September 1878, Page 3

LITERATURE.

RUNNING “PILOT.” UY THE AUTHOR OF “ A RACE FOR LIFE.” ( Concluded.) NECK AND NBCK. ‘ Lend me a hand, mate, I'm drowndin’!’ This is what Tom heard as he crawled rather than walked across the metals to seek assistance. ‘ Seth—Seth Martin ; what’s happened to you ?’ ‘ Them varmint tossed me in here when I was half stupid, but the water has done me good. Help me out, Tom, and we’ll fix them yet.’ Tom, who Avas rapidly recovering, lent all the assistance he could ; and then the dripping driver, quickly wringing the water from his clothes, said, Avhen his mate had told him Avhat he had done—- ‘ Don’t breath a syllable to mortal man. I know Hob Franklin’s engine is in steam by now for the cross traffic. We’ll fire her up and run them down. We may save the specie yet Hurry down to the signal-box Avhile 1 get out the engine.’ Tom hastened aAvay as desired, but soon came back with the intelligence that the box Avas empty and the wire cut. ‘ Wo daresn’t say a word now,’ said Seth. ‘ What fools we Avero to take them drinks ! Noav, Tom, shove in some wood while I oil the cranks I’ll leave wood for the foreman ; we must trust him,.’ Ail these preparations Avere made almrst as quickly as they are here described. In oen minutes the engine Avas ready, and as noiselessly as possible the gr eat locomotive was brought out of the shod, but tender first. ‘ Never mind,’ said Soth, when Tom ob-

jccted. ‘We can run about as quick, .Now, are ye ready ?’ Tbe foreman came up at that moment ‘lf re do succeed,’he said, ‘your fortunes are made If you Jail I wouldn’t answer for your lives. Take my revolver,’ he added, ‘ and bo off.’ Seth thanked him, adding gloomily, If we fai 1 , we ll never come back alive For us to be hocussed with “ Bourbon ” is disgrace enough.’ A whistle! The foreman opened the points, and the engine sped away on the down line in fall pursuit of the desperadoes, to save the specie train if posnble. ‘ We’ve no head lamp !’ exclaimed Tom suddenly. *So much the We don’t want to advertise ourselves to-night. There’s a flash of something ; guess we’ll have a storm.’ The remark was not uncalled for. The gleam of lightning every now and then appeared to rest upon the steel handles and glint along the rails, There was a moaning sound in the air, a feeling of oppression, while occasionally a heavy plash of rain would drop upon the roof of the ‘ cab ’ in which the men journeyed. They absolutely flew along the track. Over the apparently boundless prairie the line was laid. Not a station for miles. A few watering places at intervals alone broke the level character of the prospect when the fitful liahtning lit up the surroundings. Pitch dark overhead except when the flashes came; and the only light below, the rapidly moving glare of the furnace fire on the ‘ road.’ ‘lts past eleven,’said the driver. ‘We ought to hare pulled them up. We’ve run this thirty miles in the half-hour. There’s Buffalo Creek,’ he added as they skimmed past. ‘Well then, Hartford is only another thirty, and the Trestle siding on the top of the cutting is only twenty-five.’ ‘We most pass them at the curve, below. Hollo ! look out, mind that hand lamp.’ Tom turned the slide and looked ahead. Seth shut off steam.

There they tender foremost, or they would have seen our fire. We'll wait on them gently tiU they get on to the Trestle curve. Then we’ll “ wire in” and drop them. Steady, mate.’ The engine came silently to a stand-still. The gent'e hiss of the steam, which was just raising the valves, wa* the only audible sound. Brosd flashes of sheet lightning lit up the heavy masses of cloud but no thunder followed. Seth looked to his revolver. Tom fed the fire and they waited : it was their only chance —a surprise. For quite twenty minutes the men waited; the engine in front bad long ago disap. peared. At last Seth said, ‘ Now, Tom, is our time ! I’ll run them a race down to Dartf >rd City, and if I get there first, there’ll be scalps to sell to morrow. We’ll that curve before they see us, and come in all flying. Are you ready ?’ Tom signified his consent, and away darted the ponderous engine across the boundless prairie at top speed. On, on ! never mind the rough t r ack ; it’s death if you leave it, it’s death most likely if you remain. There is one chance, and only one —if you reach Dar ford City and give the alarm! * Press on. Seth ; it’s nigh midnight.’ S > whispered Tom, as the engine swung round the sharp curve. There, seemingly motionless, was the other engine. Faster and f ister rattled the pursuer. They were Jieen at last. The men were visible through the gla=s for an instant. ‘ Lie down !’ roared Seth.

Only just in time; two bullets came crashing overhead ; another hit the handle of the steam whistle and sent out a scream of dedance into the night. Seth rose slowly and pistol in hand, watched the foe. * He’s goin' to race us, but he don’t know the trick of firin’ “No. 200,” Tom. We’ll pass him and then ” Seth’s face, as he spoke and clutched his revolver, was sufficient to explain his meaning without words. On, on, speeding across the prairie ! Now Seth was gaining, now the others shot ahead. * More wood into the furnace ; pile it on, Tom,’ cried Seth - that’s it—now —’ A bullet from Seth’s steady hand passed through the glass of the other engine, and shattered the driving-arm of the man who held the regulator. ‘ Bully !’ exclaimed the delighted Seth. ‘ Now for another log.’ The fire was blown up, and like an arrow the engines flew along; but no more shots were exchanged, for as they were running neck and neck for one instant, Seth perceived a lighten the line ahead, and before his companion was aware of his intention, shut off the steam. The other engine fled away into the darkness, leaving Seth and Tom far behind. ‘ What do you shut off for ?’ cried Tom in amazement. ‘ Look ahead and you’ll know,’ was the grim reply. Tom looked ahead. A we’rd light was playing on the track, a halo of unearthly appearance. It shimmered and moved about like a will-o’-the-wisp It was a most ghastly white mist - a ghostly warning. ‘ What can it be ?’ said Tom, his superstitious terrors being now excited. ‘What is it ?’ ‘lt’s a light, that’s all,’ said Seth with a fiendish grin. 1 1 know it though ; I ve seen it before. There's somebody underneath the rails in the bridge, and you bet, they’re cutting the track fm the specie train !’ ‘ Gracious Heaven, and that engine !’! ‘ That engine will be in the river in two minutes,’ said Seth Martin, ‘ Oh ! hurry up and save them if we can,’ exclaimed Tom. ‘Go ahead.’ • Gently, mate, gently ; let them get on a bit.’ He turned on steam, but they bad passed half the distance in the direction of the light, a loud crash was heard, and amid screams of human agony the trestle bridge sank down —down —gntly, slowly, but surely, to the stream below. The pouderous engine dipped forward, gave one heavy roll, righted again, and then, turning completely over, fell with a thundering noise into the canon below. The lights were suddenly extinguished, and the piercing screams of wounded and scalded men arose, mingled with the hissing steun and the dull roar of the thunder. The storm had burst. ‘Canght in their own trap,’ exclaimed Seth. ‘ Serves them right I Poor critters, I’m kinder sorry too.’ ‘ Let us help them,’ cried Tom. ‘ Help ! yes; let ns run on to Hartford and stop the traffic ; the specie is due in ten minutes.’ ‘ Cross that bridge ?’ exclaimed the fireman. ‘ Yes, sir, across that bridge. I’m a-goin’ to try it,’ replied Seth. ‘ Will you chance it ?’ ‘ Yes,’ was the brave answer ; ‘ its kill or cure!’ 1 Here goes, then ; shake hands. God bless ye, mate; if we don’t meet again tell them I died at my post like a man.’ The driver and fireman clasped hands in silence, and Seth, turning on the full pressure of steam, the engine gathered itself up for its final race. Not a sound escaped either of the men.

Side by side they stood. As they approached they could see a red glare. The bridge had caught fire. As tbev shot past a form or two hurried quickly out of sight some of the desperate band now cowed and crushed. In a moment more the bridge was in full view. The crackling timb rs of the up line were all burning around the mighty monster engine, which still emitted smoke and flame. As a flash of lightning will in one brief second reveal a l surrounding objects distinctly, so the glare of '.he engine furnace lis up the scene below. The engine dashed along —a roar, a creaking noise, the flame leaped np beneath—and the danger was over. The down line had not been undermined, f As tncy slackened speed a loug deep whistle was heard, and a dim speck was seen like a pin’s head on ihe line in front. ‘There’s the specie, Tom. We’vo done our duty. Run down easy and then see if we can’t help the unfortunate loafers under the bridge. It was a narrow squeak !’ It was indeed! The specie train was saved though, and the filibusters taken in the act. Three were drowned, and two more so terribly injured that they died soon after from the effects. Seth and Tom were rewarded, and the former was subsequently made inspector ; but he and Tom often talk of the summer night when they Were so nearly killed while running oilot. Henry Frith.