the car.
However, even nightmares come to an end, and they were suddenly startled
by having a red light flashed in their faces. And then a friendly Irish
voice accosted them in unmistakable brogue.

"So it's here you are!" cried the voice, the speaker swinging the
lantern high so as to get a good look at them. "And it's glad Oi am to
be seein' ye. Be there any more in the car wid yez?"

"I don't think so," replied Mr. Bradley, surprised to find that his
voice was trembling and that the hand he raised to wipe his forehead
shook like a leaf. If it had been himself alone who had been in
danger--but the young folks!

As they descended to the platform the girls looked about them with wide,
frightened eyes, while their hearts pounded suffocatingly.

The faces of the boys were white, but they plunged immediately into the
work of rescue. Men came running from the farms about. All who could get
lanterns had them, and the lights were seen swinging down the roadside
or in the ruined cars, searching for any one who might be pinned under
the wreckage.

Most of the passengers had already been accounted for, but there were
one or two who must still be found. Mr. Bradley picked his way through
the debris to the front of the train, while Mrs. Gilligan and the girls
followed him slowly.

"I wonder how it happened," said Violet, and it was the first time she
had spoken since the accident. "Oh, girls, I'm frightened to death!"

"I wonder if anybody was hurt," said Laura, her eyes dark with
excitement.

"I don't think so," Billie answered. "The damage seems to be mostly at
the front of the train. We may have run into another train. Oh, look!"
she cried suddenly, pointing with trembling finger to the wreck of the
car in front of them. "Fire, girls! The car's on fire!"

With horrified eyes the girls followed her pointing finger and saw a
malignant tongue of flame shoot out--then another--and another.

"It's the baggage car!" screamed Laura, as men, attracted by the blaze,
came running from all directions. "Billie, your trunk!"

"My trunk! my trunk!" wailed Billie distractedly. "Oh, it will be burnt
up! All my money and everything!"

"Say, Chet, look! The baggage car's on fire!"

It was Teddy's voice, and Billie looked up to see him beside her staring
unbelievingly at the burning car.

"Oh, Teddy," she cried, clutching his arm desperately, "my trunk's
burning up! Can't you do something--can't you?"

Teddy gave a low whistle