f in search of some one. He carried a heavy-headed
stick in his hand and looked excited; but not much more so than an
anxious or late passenger might be.

Mr Sharp went straight towards the madman--still sauntering with his
head down, however; and John Marrot could see that another man, whom he
knew to be a detective, was walking round by the side of the platform,
with the evident intention of taking him in rear. The moment Thomson
set eyes on the superintendent he recognised him, and apparently divined
his object in approaching, for he started, clenched his teeth, and
grasped his stick. Mr Sharp instantly abandoned all attempt at
concealment and ran straight at him. Thomson, probably deeming
discretion the better part of valour, turned and fled. He almost ran
into the arms of the detective, who now made sure of him, but he doubled
like a hare and sprang off the platform on to the rails. Here one or
two of the men who were engaged in washing or otherwise looking after
empty carriages, seeing what was going on, at once sought to intercept
the madman, but he evaded two or three, knocked down another, and,
finding himself alongside of a detached engine which stood there with
steam up ready to be coupled to its train, he leaped upon it, felled the
driver who was outside the rail, oiling some of the machinery, seized
the handle of the regulator and turned on full steam.

The driving-wheels revolved at first with such tremendous rapidity that
they failed to "bite" and merely slipped on the rails. Thomson was
engineer enough to understand why, and at once cut off part of the
steam. Next moment he shot out of the station, and, again letting on
full steam, rushed along the line like an arrow!

It chanced that the passenger-superintendent was on the platform at the
time. That gentleman had everything connected with the traffic by
heart. He saw that the points had been so set as to turn the run-away
engine on to the down line, and in his mind's eye saw a monster
excursion train, which had started just a few minutes before, labouring
slowly forward, which the light engine would soon overtake. A collision
in a few minutes would be certain. In peculiar circumstances men are
bound to break through all rules and regulations, and act in a peculiar
way. Without a moment's hesitation he ran to John Marrot and said in an
earnest hurried voice--

"Give chase, John! cross over to the up-line, but don't go too far."

"All ri