Part 5 (1/2)
George helped the girl down, antic.i.p.ating Edgar, who seemed anxious to offer his a.s.sistance, and they walked forward until they could see into the pit. It was nearly forty feet in depth, for the embankment, softened by heavy rain, had slipped into the lake. In the bottom a huge locomotive lay shattered and overturned, with half a dozen men toiling about it. The girl stopped with a little gasp, for there was something strangely impressive in the sight of the wreck.
”It's dreadful, isn't it?” she exclaimed.
Then the men who had come with them gathered round.
”Where's the fireman?” one of them asked. ”He was too late when he jumped. Have they got him out?”
”Guess not,” said another. ”See, they're trying to jack up the front of her.”
”Aren't you mistaken about the man?” George asked, looking at the first speaker meaningly.
”Why, no,” replied the other. ”He's certainly pinned down among the wreck. They'll find him before long. Isn't that a jacket sleeve?”
He broke off with an exclamation, as Edgar drove an elbow hard into his ribs; but it was too late. The girl looked around at George, white in face.
”Is there a man beneath the engine? Don't try to put me off.”
”I'm afraid it's the case.”
”Then why did you bring me?” she cried with a shudder. ”Take me away at once!”
George explained that he had forgotten the serious nature of the accident. He hastily helped her up and turned away with her, but when they had gone a little distance she sat down on a boulder.
”I feel badly startled and ashamed,” she exclaimed. ”I was enjoying it, as a spectacle, and all the time there was a man crushed to death.”
Then she recovered her composure. ”Go back and help. Besides, I think your friend is getting into trouble.”
She was right. The man Edgar tried to silence had turned upon him, savage and rather breathless.
”Now,” he said, ”I'll fix you mighty quick. Think I'm going to have a blamed Percy sticking his elbow into me?”
Edgar glanced at the big and brawny man, with a twinge of somewhat natural uneasiness; but he was not greatly daunted.
”Oh, well,” he retorted coolly, ”if that's the way you look at it! But if you're not in a desperate hurry, I'll take off my jacket.”
”What did you prod him for, anyway?” another asked.
”I'm sorry I didn't jab him twice as hard; though I'd have wasted my energy,” Edgar explained. ”The fellow has no sense, but that's no reason why he should be allowed to frighten a pretty girl.”
His antagonist looked as if a light had suddenly dawned on him.
”Is that why you did it?”
”Of course! Do you think I'd attack a man of nearly twice my weight without some reason?”
The fellow laughed.
”We'll let it go at that. You're all right, Percy. We like you.”