Part 14 (1/2)
He had pointed to a plank one end of which, in some manner, had become torn up from the roadbed. All of the boys rushed for this plank and turned and twisted it until they had the fastened end under the snow loose. Then they rushed over to the burning car and placed the plank on a slant from the snow to the broken-out window which, because the overturned car was not on a level, was two or three feet above their heads.
Jack was the first to get on the plank, and speedily crawled up to the window. Fortunately a draft was taking most of the smoke to the other side of the car, so that he could see into the interior quite plainly.
A scene of great confusion met the eyes of the young captain. A number of broken seats had fallen down on the ceiling of the car and in the midst of this wreckage lay a short, stocky man with several cuts and bruises on his face from which the blood was flowing. The man had his arms and one leg free, but several seats and some handbaggage were wedged in across his left leg and his stomach in such a manner that he seemed unable to extricate himself. The fire was creeping up to within a few inches of his caught foot, and this had caused him to raise his wild cry for a.s.sistance.
”Help! Help!” he repeated, as soon as he caught sight of Jack's face framed in the broken-out window. ”Get me out of here before the fire reaches me!”
”We'll do it!” answered Jack. ”Come on, Randy. I think the two of us can do the trick,” he added to his cousin, who had come up behind him on the plank.
”Want any more help?” questioned the others simultaneously.
”If we do we'll let you know quick enough.”
Jack dropped down into the car, and Randy followed. They landed among a ma.s.s of broken gla.s.s and other wreckage, but to this paid no attention.
”Here, Randy, take hold of this seat and pull it back,” ordered Jack; and between them they set to work with vigor.
But it was no mean task to get all of the wreckage off of the trapped pa.s.senger. There were half a dozen heavy suitcases among the broken seats, and these the boys hurled through the broken windows, where they were picked up by those outside and carried to a safe place. In the meanwhile the flames were creeping closer, and now a sudden change in the air caused a heavy volume of smoke to drift toward them.
”Gee! this is getting fierce,” spluttered Randy, and began to cough, while the tears started from his eyes.
”Don't leave me! Please don't leave me!” pleaded the pa.s.senger under the wreckage. ”I don't want to be burnt up!” and then he said something in a foreign tongue which the others did not understand.
The last bit of wreckage was the hardest of all to get away from where it rested across the man's stomach. This was wedged in between the ceiling and the side of the car, and the boys had to use all their strength before they could dislodge it. But at last it came loose, and then the man was able to sit up.
”Here, we'll help you,” cried Jack, as the pa.s.senger seemed to be too weak to regain his feet. He and Randy caught the fellow under his arms and, standing him upright, dragged him to the window upon which the end of the plank rested. They shoved him out, and he went rolling and sliding down the plank into the snow. Randy followed him quickly, and then came Jack.
[Ill.u.s.tration: HE WENT ROLLING AND SLIDING DOWN THE PLANK INTO THE SNOW.]
The rescue had occurred none too soon, for the wind was now coming up, and soon the overturned car was a ma.s.s of smoke and flames from end to end. The boys left the plank where it was, and a.s.sisted the rescued pa.s.senger to the little railroad station, where all the others who had been injured had already been taken.
The short, stocky man was very much excited and he thanked the lads over and over again for what they had done.
”I wish I was a rich man,” he said sadly, and now they noticed that he spoke with a decided accent. ”If I was rich I would pay all of you well for what you have done. It was very n.o.ble--very n.o.ble indeed! I shall never forget it.”
”We don't want any reward,” answered Jack.
”You young gentlemen do not look as if you needed any reward,” said the man, with a little smile, as he noted how well dressed the youths were.
”I am a poor man, so I can offer you nothing but my thanks, but those I give you with all my heart. And now may I ask your names?”
They told him, and all shook hands. He said his name was Herman Crouse, and that he was a farmer working a small place some miles away. He was plainly dressed and evidently far from wealthy.
While the boys were a.s.sisting Herman Crouse to the little railroad station, others had gone into the burning car and picked up such baggage and other things as could be gotten out. Then the car, which was nothing but an old rattletrap affair, was allowed to burn up.
Of course the accident had caused a great deal of excitement, and telegrams were at once dispatched to Leeways and Timminsport for a.s.sistance.
”I think I'll send word home that we are all right,” said Jack. ”The folks may hear about this accident and worry over it,” and as soon as he had an opportunity he sent a message, and Gif and Spouter did the same.
As the trains from the north ran no farther on that branch than Enwood, all of the pa.s.sengers on board had been bound for either that place or Timminsport. Consequently many of those who were injured remained in the town, while the others were made as comfortable as possible on the other train and taken to Timminsport. Fortunately, no one had been killed or fatally hurt. Herman Crouse remained at Enwood. He thanked the boys again most heartily when they left him.