it's ten to one, and
on a man's back at that, we'll do it different." With a quick, peculiar
movement of his arm he drew a pistol, and, pointing it squarely at
Cameron, cried, "Get back!"

I caught a flash of his eye through the blood that streamed down his
face. I wouldn't have given a switch-key for the life of the man who
crowded him at that minute. But just then Lancaster came up, and before
the crowd realized it we had Foley, protesting angrily, back in the cab
again.

"For Heaven's sake, pull out of this before there's bloodshed, Foley," I
cried; and, nodding to Buckley, Foley opened the choker.

It was a night run and a new track to him. I tried to fire and pilot
both, but after Foley suggested once or twice that if I would tend to
the coal he would tend to the curves I let him find them--and he found
them all, I thought, before we got to Athens. He took big chances in his
running, but there was a superb confidence in his bursts of speed which
marked the fast runner and the experienced one.

At Athens we had barely two hours to rest before doubling back. I was
never tired in my life till I struck the pillow that night, but before I
got it warm the caller routed me out again. The East-bound Flyer was on
time, or nearly so, and when I got into the cab for the run back, Foley
was just coupling on.

"Did you get a nap?" I asked, as we pulled out.

"No; we slipped an eccentric coming up, and I've been under the engine
ever since. Say, she's a bird, isn't she? She's all right. I couldn't
run her coming up; but I've touched up her valve motion a bit, and I'll
get action on her as soon as it's daylight."

"Don't mind getting action on my account, Foley; I'm shy on life
insurance."

He laughed.

"You're safe with me. I never killed man, woman, or child in my life.
When I do, I quit the cab. Give her plenty of diamonds, if you please,"
he added, letting her out full.

He gave me the ride of my life; but I hated to show scare, he was so
coolly audacious himself. We had but one stop--for water--and after that
all down grade. We bowled along as easy as ninepins, but the pace was a
hair-raiser. After we passed Arickaree we never touched a thing but the
high joints. The long, heavy train behind us flew round the bluffs once
in a while like the tail of a very capricious kite; yet somehow--and
that's an engineer's magic--she always lit on the steel.

Day broke ahead, and between breaths I caught the glory of a sunr