Part 42 (1/2)

”Yes”

Shriek after shriek rang out froineer of which jerked his throttle wide open in hopes of clearing the onco desperately, but without any apparent nervousness, at the brake wheel He finally ceased his efforts

”I can't do any more,” he said; then cal results

Billy did not utter a word He, too, possessed strong nerves

Thethe train ahead of them Nearer and nearer to it did they draw They could see the engineer and fire back

Phil waved a hand to theine crew responded in kind

”Now for the smash, Billy, old boy!” muttered Phil with the smile that no peril see to be a close shave”

The last car of the express train was now abreast of theht upon it So close were they that Phil thought he could stretch out a hand and touch it

Suddenly it hisked froiven his engine its final burst of speed

”Hang on tight!” shouted Phil ”We're going to sideswipe theave the bell rope a tug

Then ca sound It see torn from end to end Car Three careened, rocked and swayed, threatening every second to plunge from the rails over the embankment at that point

As suddenly as it had come, the strain seemed to have been re over the rails

”Yee--ow!” howled Teddy from the rear platfor They were slowly picking themselves up from the floor, where they had been hurled by the sudden shock The interior of the car looked as if it had been struck by a tornado The contents were piled in a confused heap at one end of the car, paste pots overturned, bedding stripped clean froreat piles of paper scattered all over the place

”Hooray!” yelled Billy in the excess of his joy ”We're saved”

”Yes,” answered Phil with a grin ”It was a close call, though

I hope no one in the car is hurt You had better go in and find out I aed”

Billy leaned over the side, looking back

”Yes, we got a beauty of a sideswipe,” he said