e steam was released, and the huge drivers stirred,
turning slowly on the tracks. But there was a shout. Delaney's posse,
dogs and men, swung into view at the turn of the road, their figures
leaning over as they took the curve at full speed. Dyke threw everything
wide open and caught up his revolver. From behind came the challenge of
a Winchester. The party on the Lower Road were even closer than Delaney.
They had seen his manoeuvre, and the first shot of the fight shivered
the cab windows above the engineer's head.

But spinning futilely at first, the drivers of the engine at last caught
the rails. The engine moved, advanced, travelled past the depot and
the freight train, and gathering speed, rolled out on the track beyond.
Smoke, black and boiling, shot skyward from the stack; not a joint that
did not shudder with the mighty strain of the steam; but the great iron
brute--one of Baldwin's newest and best--came to call, obedient and
docile as soon as ever the great pulsing heart of it felt a master hand
upon its levers. It gathered its speed, bracing its steel muscles, its
thews of iron, and roared out upon the open track, filling the air with
the rasp of its tempest-breath, blotting the sunshine with the belch
of its hot, thick smoke. Already it was lessening in the distance, when
Delaney, Christian, and the sheriff of Visalia dashed up to the station.

The posse had seen everything.

"Stuck. Curse the luck!" vociferated the cow-Puncher.

But the sheriff was already out of the saddle and into the telegraph
office.

"There's a derailing switch between here and Pixley, isn't there?" he
cried.

"Yes."

"Wire ahead to open it. We'll derail him there. Come on;" he turned to
Delaney and the others. They sprang into the cab of the locomotive that
was attached to the freight train.

"Name of the State of California," shouted the sheriff to the bewildered
engineer. "Cut off from your train."

The sheriff was a man to be obeyed without hesitating. Time was not
allowed the crew of the freight train for debating as to the right or
the wrong of requisitioning the engine, and before anyone thought of the
safety or danger of the affair, the freight engine was already flying
out upon the down line, hot in pursuit of Dyke, now far ahead upon the
up track.

"I remember perfectly well there's a derailing switch between here and
Pixley," shouted the sheriff above the roar of the locomotive. "They use
it in case they have to