and that almost unbearable drag in every muscle. A
freight train passed--only a few rods away. He thought he could never
climb that bank. "One more--one--more--one more," mumbled Connie in his
ear.

He shook himself angrily. Of course he could make that bank,--if he
could only rest a minute,--he was not cold,--just a minute's rest to get
his breath again--a moment would be enough. God, what was he thinking
of? It was not weariness, it was the chill of the night that demanded a
moment's rest. He strained Connie closer in his arms and struggled up
the bank.

At the top, he dropped her beside the track, and fell with her. For a
moment the fatal languor possessed him.

A freight train rounded the curve and came puffing toward them. Prince,
roused by springing hope, clambered to his feet, pulling the little
pocket flash from his pocket. He waved it imploringly at the train, but
it thundered by them.

Resolutely bestirring himself, he carried Connie to a sheltered place
where the wind could not strike her, and wrapped her as best he could in
his coat and sweater. Then, lowering his head against the driving wind,
he plunged down the track in the face of the storm.

CHAPTER XXII

HARBORAGE

Less than a mile down the track, Prince came to the tiny signal house
for which he had been looking. The door was locked, and so numb and
clumsy were his fingers that he found it hard to force it open. Once
on the inside, he felt that the struggle was nearly over. This was the
end. Using the railway's private phone, he astonished the telegraph
operator in Fort Morgan by cutting in on him and asking him to run
across to the nearest garage with a call for a service car.

For a long moment the operator was speechless. Did you ever hear of
insolence like that? He told Prince to get off that wire and keep his
hands away from railway property or he would land in the pen. Then he
went back to his work. But Prince cut in on him again. Finally the
operator referred him to the station master and gave him the
connection. But the station master refused to meddle with any such
irregular business. This was against the law, and station masters are
strong for law and order. But Prince was persistent. At last, in
despair, they connected him with the district superintendent.

"Who in thunder are you, and what do you want?" asked the
superintendent in no gentle voice.

"I want some of those sap-heads of yours in Fort