one of them felt competent to run the engine to Bromberg.
No one dared to attempt it. The distance was nearly one hundred miles.
What was to be done?

3. The steamer stopped at the wharf, and those who were going on by rail
came flocking to the station. They had eaten breakfast on board the boat,
and were all ready for a fresh start. The train was in readiness in the
long station house, and the engine was steaming and puffing away
impatiently in the distant firing house.

4. It was past nine o'clock. "Come, why don't we start?" growled an old,
fat Swede, who had been watching me narrowly for the last fifteen minutes.
And upon this there was a general chorus of anxious inquiry, which soon
settled to downright murmuring. At this juncture some one touched me on
the elbow. I turned, and saw a stranger by my side. I thought that he was
going to remonstrate with me for my backwardness. In fact, I began to have
strong temptations to pull off my uniform, for every anxious eye was fixed
upon the glaring badges which marked me as the chief officer of the train.

5. However, this stranger was a middle-aged man, tall and stout, with a
face of great energy and intelligence. His eye was black and
brilliant,--so brilliant that I could not gaze steadily into it, though I
tried; and his lips, which were very thin, seemed more like polished
marble than human flesh. His dress was black throughout, and not only set
with exact nicety, but was scrupulously clean and neat.

6. "You want an engineer, I understand," he said in a low, cautious tone,
at the same time gazing quietly about him, as though he wanted no one to
hear what he said. "I do," I replied. "My train is all ready, and we have
no engineer within twenty miles of this place." "Well, sir, I am going to
Bromberg; I must go, and I will run the engine for you." "Ha!" I uttered,
"are you an engineer?" "I am, sir--one of the oldest in the country--and
am now on my way to make arrangements for a great improvement I have
invented for the application of steam to a locomotive. My name is Martin
Kroller. If you wish, I will run as far as Bromberg; and I will show you
running that is running."

7. Was I not fortunate? I determined to accept the man's offer at once,
and so I told him. He received my answer with a nod and a smile. I went
with him to the house, where we found the engine in charge of the fireman,
and all ready for a start. Kroller got upon the platform, and I followed
him. I