I had seen one, some little time back, when I had struck a light. This
was a gleam of hope. Out came the matches once more, but my hands were
so shaky that I had scarcely opened the box when it slipped from my
fingers and its precious contents were scattered on the ground. This was
a new trouble. I was down upon my knees at once, groping about to find
them. It was a hopeless task in the dark, and, after wasting much time,
I was forced to light the first one I found to look for the others, and,
when that died out, I had only four in my hand, and had to leave the
rest and go on my way for the time was getting short and my great desire
was to find a recess which should afford me shelter in case of need.
But, although I grudgingly lit one match after another and walked for
some distance with my hand rubbing against the wall, I could find
nothing of the kind.

At length, I don't know what time it was, or how far I had walked, I saw
before me, a long, long way off, a dim speck of light. At first I
thought, with a sudden rush of gladness, that it was daylight, and that
the end of the tunnel was in sight; then I remembered that it was now
evening and the sun had long set, so that it must be a lamp; and it was
a lamp. I began to see it plainly, for it was coming nearer and nearer,
and I knew that it was an approaching train. I stood still and looked at
it, and it was at that instant that the whole ground beneath me seemed
to be shaken. The rail upon which one of my feet was resting thrilled as
if with an electric shock, sending a strange vibration through me, while
a sudden rush of wind swept down the tunnel, and I knew that the express
was upon me!

I shall never forget the feeling that took possession of me: it seemed
as if, into that one moment, the experiences of years were
crowded--recollections of my childhood--tender thoughts of my
wife--dreams of the future, in which I had meant to do so much, all
thronged in, thick and fast upon me. Could this be death? I gave a wild,
despairing cry for help. I prayed aloud that God would not let me die. I
had lost all presence of mind; no thought of standing back against the
wall came to me. I rushed madly forward in a frenzy of despair. The
sound of my voice, as it echoed through that dismal place, was drowned
in an instant by the sharp, discordant scream of the express. On I
dashed, right in front of the goods train; the yellow light of the
engine shone full upon me; death was at