sh I was a rich man," he said sadly, and now they noticed that he
spoke with a decided accent. "If I was rich I would pay all of you well
for what you have done. It was very noble--very noble indeed! I shall
never forget it."

"We don't want any reward," answered Jack.

"You young gentlemen do not look as if you needed any reward," said the
man, with a little smile, as he noted how well dressed the youths were.
"I am a poor man, so I can offer you nothing but my thanks, but those I
give you with all my heart. And now may I ask your names?"

They told him, and all shook hands. He said his name was Herman Crouse,
and that he was a farmer working a small place some miles away. He was
plainly dressed and evidently far from wealthy.

While the boys were assisting Herman Crouse to the little railroad
station, others had gone into the burning car and picked up such baggage
and other things as could be gotten out. Then the car, which was nothing
but an old rattletrap affair, was allowed to burn up.

Of course the accident had caused a great deal of excitement, and
telegrams were at once dispatched to Leeways and Timminsport for
assistance.

"I think I'll send word home that we are all right," said Jack. "The
folks may hear about this accident and worry over it," and as soon as he
had an opportunity he sent a message, and Gif and Spouter did the same.

As the trains from the north ran no farther on that branch than Enwood,
all of the passengers on board had been bound for either that place or
Timminsport. Consequently many of those who were injured remained in the
town, while the others were made as comfortable as possible on the other
train and taken to Timminsport. Fortunately, no one had been killed or
fatally hurt. Herman Crouse remained at Enwood. He thanked the boys
again most heartily when they left him.

"Maybe some day I shall be able to pay you back for your goodness to
me," said he. "If it comes that way, I shall certainly do it," and then
he shook hands once more.

"I guess he's a German all right enough," remarked Jack, when the boys
were once again in the train and it was moving forward, the track having
been cleared. "He spoke with a very strong German accent."

"Yes, and his name is undoubtedly German," said Randy. "But he was a
pretty decent sort, anyway."

"Oh, a good many of the German-Americans, so-called, are all right,"
said Gif. "Why, there are thousands of them in the army and in the navy,
as