Page:St. Nicholas, vol. 40.1 (1912-1913).djvu/624

424 was waiting; and, as soon as they were aboard, it pulled from the depot.

forest fires, which had now become threatening, had been burning in the northern part of the State for several days, although, because of the direction of the wind, the smoke had not yet reached Beelton. It first became perceptible to those on the train some ten miles north of Scott’s home town. Five miles farther, the flitting landscape had taken on a light blue haze, and the pungent odor of burning leaves began to invade the rear coach, where Scott, the station-agent, and the conductor sat in adjoining seats.

“That does n’t look very good!” observed the station-master, nodding toward the window. “If the smoke gets denser, things will be blind blue at the Junction. You don’t think you are taking chances in running at this speed?” he asked of the conductor.

“No; it ’s a straight track, and Smith is a careful driver,” was the reply. “He has orders to make time to the Junction. We are four hours behind, you know. But if the smoke gets too thick, he will slow down a bit.”

On the train rushed, and soon the haze of smoke almost concealed the trees a hundred yards from the track. The car itself was faintly blue, although the ventilators had been closed. With his face close to the window, the station-agent began watching the telegraph-poles as they swept by, for signs of a break in their number, or trailing wires.

“If the fire has reached the tracks, and burned some of the poles down, it ’s probably near the Junction,” the conductor remarked. “The smoke would be heavier here if the fire was much nearer.”

“That would depend on the wind,” said the station-master, anxiously. “It appears to be blowing from the northeast; and in that case—”

“Here it is now!” cried Scott from the window. “And there ’s a pole down!”

The next instant brakes were thrown on with a suddenness that shot all three from their seats to the floor. Before they had regained their feet, the train had screeched and ground to a stop.

The conductor sprang hastily for the door. Scott and the station-master followed. As they stepped out upon the platform, a wave of heat smote them. They dropped to the ground, and peered ahead through the fog of smoke. On the right-hand side of the track, the woods were on fire; and, as far as they could see ahead, lay a line of prostrate telegraph-poles, still burning. A crash and a shouting from the head of the train sent them forward on the run. Stumbling about the baggage-car, they pulled up with a cry.