over him tugging with might and main to break the cords which
held their victim.
The boys had discovered that the express which they had ex
pected to whiz by had for some reason taken the side track and
was bearing down upon them.
Frantic with fear they tore madly at the stubborn cords, but
they resisted all their efforts. Bob was now working furiously.
The thought of his pocket-knife flashed across his mind. He
drew it out and made a slash at the rope, but in his excitement
he struck with the back of it and the blade closed, cutting his fin
gers to the bone; but, without heeding the intense pain, he opened it
again and bent over the prostrate boy. His hand shook so that he
could scarcely find the cords. Slowly he cut them away. But
too slowly, for the engine was upon them. The glare of the
headlight dazzled their sight. With one mighty wrench they
broke the last cord and dragged the limp body from the track just
as the engine, with a groan and shriek, reached the spot where
he had lain.
Fearful of detection, the boys bore Stanford swiftly away, and
when they dared stop they found him in a deep swoon.
“ Thank heaven we aren’t murderers!” gasped Bob as soon as
he could get his breath.
“He isn’t dead, is he?” asked Brickey, in a frightened
whisper.
“No, it isn’t that bad; he’s just fainted. But what on earth
are we to do? We can’t leave him alone,” answered Bob.
“We’d better be sure that he is alive,” ventured another.
“ Stand back and give him air.”
The rest moved aside while Bob and two others worked over
him to restore him to consciousness. In a 'few moments he
slowly opened his eyes, stared blankly around, and then sank
again into a stupor The boys then realized in what a weak con
dition their victim really was.
“Something has got to be done quick,” asserted Bob in a
trembling voice. “What can we do, fellows? Say, can’t we
take him to your room, Jim ? It’s the nearest. He can stay there
to-night, and no doubt he’ 11 be all right in the morning. ’ ’
“Yes, but suppose he isn’t; how the deuce am.l to get out of
tins ? , f
. ‘[ oh> if he sllollld be worse rll see to having him moved early
in the morning,” answered Bob.
The Free Lance,
[December,