ounted officer galloping swiftly toward them. An officer
dropped off one of the cars of the train, which, fortunately, had not
been touched by the explosion, and hurried to meet the newcomer.

"Who is in charge of this train?" demanded the horseman, throwing
himself from his mount without waiting for the animal to come to a
stop.

"I am," was the officer's brief response.

"You are ordered to proceed forward at once under full speed," was the
command. "The Tenth Royal Dragoons are hemmed in by at least 10,000
Germans two miles ahead, and unless you arrive in time they will all
be slaughtered."

The officer in command of the train looked hurriedly about.

"Hicks!" he called loudly. "Hicks!"

There was no reply, and the officer shouted again. Then Hal stepped
forward.

"If Hicks was your engineer," he said, "there is no use calling him.
He is dead."

"Dead?" exclaimed the officer.

"Yes; that shell struck right beside him. The fireman also was
killed."

"Great Scott!" exclaimed the officer. "Then what am I to do? Hicks was
the only engineer with us right now. The others have gone to their
quarters, and by the time I could get them here it would be too late."

"Well," said Hal quietly, "if you want a volunteer, I am willing to
tackle it for you."

"You?"

"Yes; I have made some slight study of a locomotive, and, while I have
never run one any great distance, I have ridden many miles in the cab
of an engine in lumber camps in the United States."

"And I can fire the engine," Chester broke in.

"Well," said the officer, "something has to be done at once; and, if
you are willing to take a chance, so am I. Get aboard."

He turned and rushed hurriedly back to his car, while Hal and Chester
leaped aboard the locomotive. In response to a signal, Hal released
the brakes, gently opened the throttle, and the great engine began to
forge slowly ahead.

Gradually the lad opened the throttle wider, and the huge locomotive
commenced to gain momentum, until at last it was rushing along like
some mad thing. Chester, in the meantime, was busy with a shovel.

A moment, it seemed to the two lads, and the sound of firing rose
above the roar of the locomotive, and the spat spat of bullets against
the armored sides could be heard. But Hal did not falter. Rather, the
engine seemed to leap ahead with even greater speed.

From the rear came the signal to slow down, and, under Hal's firm
hand, the terrific speed of the trai