feeling relieves itself. "He's doin' the las' kindness he
can to him," said the brakeman to the conductor, "and by the Lord,
he's giv' his own life to do it!"

The flames had pierced the roof, and streamed up to the sky. Through
the sickening, dull roar they heard the Bishop's voice again:

"Demming, are you gone?"

The cracker struck a loose piece of wood, and sent it clattering down.
"Yes, Bishop, that wuz me. I'm safe on th' groun'. Good-by, Bishop. I
do feel 'bleeged ter you; an', Bishop, them chickens _wuz_ the fust
time. They wuz, on my honah. Now, Bishop, shet yo' eyes an' pray, fur
it's a-comin!"

The Bishop prayed. They could not hear what he said, below. No one
heard save the uncouth being who clung to the window, revolver in
hand, steadily dying the creeping red death. But they knew that, out
of sight, a man who had smiled on them, full of life and hope, but an
hour ago was facing such torture as had tried the martyr's courage,
and facing it with as high a faith.

With one accord men and women bent their heads. Jim, the brakeman,
alone remained standing, his form erect, his eyes fixed on the two
iron lines that made an angle away in the horizon. "Come on!" he
yelled, leaping wildly into the air. "Fo' the Lord's sake, hurry!
D---- him, but he's the bulliest runner!"

Then they all saw a man flying down the track, axe in hand. He ran up
to the car side. He began to climb. A dozen hands caught him. "You're
a dead man if you get in there!" was the cry. "Don't you see it's all
afire?"

"Try it from the outside, Colonel!" said the conductor.

"Don't you see I haven't time?" cried Talboys. "He'll be dead before
we can get to him. Stand back, my men, and, Jim, be ready to pull us
both out!"

The steady tones and Talboys's business-like air had an instantaneous
effect. The crowd were willing enough to be led; they fell back, and
Talboys dropped through the window. To those outside the whole car
seemed in a blaze, and over them the smoke hung like a pall; but
through the crackling and roaring and the crash of falling timber came
the clear ring of axe blows, and Talboys's voice shouting, "I say, my
man, don't lose heart! We're bound to get you out!"

"Lordy, he don't know who 'tis," said Demming. "Nobody could see
through that thar smoke!"

All at once the uninjured side of the car gave way beneath the flames,
falling in with an immense crash. The flame leaped into the air.

"They're gone!" cried the co