t of
commission and the car sped on.

The three Mexican guards now appeared on the platform and gazed
wildly up the track where they could see the fight going on
between the bandits and their companions.

"What shall we do, Senor?" asked one of them.

"Search me," from Billie. "How long is this grade?"

"It is down hill all the way to Pitahaya."

"How far is that?"

"Ten kilometers from Pachuca."

"That must be about three miles farther," said Adrian.

"Correct," from Billie, "but unless it's a mighty steep up-grade
the other side of Pita-what's-its-name, we're going so fast we'll
not stop till we've run away past it."

"Well, what of it? We can coast back, can't we?"

The car gave a lurch to one side that almost threw the boys off
the platform.

"We're certainly going some," called Adrian. "Hang on!"

And hang on they did until they dashed past the little station of
Pitahaya and after several minutes began to slow down.

"This is a little better," Adrian finally remarked as the car
showed some sign of coming to a stop.

"Yes, indeed," from Billie. "I suppose we'll come to a dead stop
soon. Do you think she'll start back on her own hook, or shall we
have to start her?"

"We'll soon see," and see they did, for a couple of minutes later
the car came to a stop.

For some minutes the five occupants of the car waited to see if
it would start back down the grade. When it did not they got off
to decide what could be done.

"It's a mighty steep hill," Billie ventured. "Looks as though the
five of us ought to start it. Let's try."

The five put their shoulders against the car and pushed with all
their might, but it refused to budge.

"If we only had a crowbar," said Adrian, "we could start it in a
jiffy. Suppose some of you look in the car. There might be one
there."

The three Mexicans jumped to obey.

Directly they appeared in the doorway with a large claw-bar in
their hands.

"Will this do?" asked one.

"Sure! Throw it off," said Billie, "and I'll soon start the old
caboose."

Picking up the bar, Billie inserted the claw under one of the
wheels while Adrian stood with his hand on the car rail ready to
spring aboard.

At the first attempt the claw slipped and nothing happened, but
at the second attempt the wheels yielded a little.

"This time she'll go," Billie called. "All aboard!"

Adrian sprang onto the car as Billie bore down upon the bar and
the wheels began to revolve.

"Never mi