Page:Ralph on the Railroad.djvu/974

150 No. 999 acted splendidly, but it was impossible to slow down under two hundred feet.

"Both trucks off—she's toppling!" yelled Fogg, with a backward glance.

Each instant Ralph waited for the crash that would announce a catastrophe. It did not come. The coach swayed and careened, pounding the sleepers set on a sharp angle and tugging to part the bumpers. Ralph closed the throttle and took a glance backwards for the first time.

"The coach is safe, Mr. Fogg," he spoke. "Get back and see how badly the passengers are mixed up."

There's nothing coming behind us?" asked the fireman.

"No, but tell the conductor to set the light back as far as he can run."

"Alright."

"The Night Express!" gasped Ralph the next moment, in a hushed whisper, as he caught the faint echo of a signal whistle ahead of them in the distance.

An alarming thought came into his mind. Nothing could menace them ahead on the out track and nothing was due behind, but the coach attached to No. 999 stood on a tilt clear across the in track.

Along those rails in ten minutes' time, unaware