our aid, and, if you have nothing further to say, I
shall return to the picnic grounds."

"I don't think you will," said Bemis, roughly placing himself in
Ralph's path.

"Why not?" inquired the young fireman calmly, grasping his cudgel with
a closer grip.

"Because--say, Ike, grab him, quick! If he won't deal with us and we
can get him a prisoner, Farrington will pay us. You know he always
wanted to get rid of him."

Ralph prepared to meet the enemy squarely. Slump and Bemis rushed
towards him. Before they could begin the fight, however, a man burst
through the underbrush whom Ralph recognized as a Stanley Junction
police officer detailed on picnic duty.

"Found you, my friends, have I?" he hailed the two fellows. "Grab one
of them, Fairbanks, I've got the other. I was on the lookout for them.
They stole a purse from the basket of an old lady in the picnic
grounds a few hours ago. Slump? Bemis? Well, you are a fine pair, you
are!"

The officer insisted on arresting them, the more so that upon
recognizing them now he suddenly remembered that a reward had been
offered for their apprehension by the railroad company. The
crestfallen plotters were taken to the train and locked up in one end
of the express car.

Ralph went to them after a spell and tried to learn something more
from them, but they were now sullen and vengeful.

In due time the train was backed down to the main track, the engine
detached made a run for water, and, returning, stood some little
distance from the cars.

The fireman and engineer left the engine to help their families gather
up their traps and take them aboard the train. Ralph was busy in the
cab. He was looking over the gauges when a sudden blow from behind
stretched him insensible on the coal of the tender.

As he slowly opened his eyes Ralph saw Slump and Bemis in the cab. In
some way they had escaped, had stolen the locomotive, and were
speeding away to liberty.

"Just heard a whistle. It must be the Dover Accommodation," Slump was
remarking. "Get off and open the siding switch, Mort."

This Bemis did, and the engine started up again. Ralph thrilled at the
words Slump had spoken. He was weak and dizzy-headed, but he made a
desperate effort, staggered to his feet and sprang from the cab.

Had the locomotive remained at the picnic grounds, the train would
have been switched to the siding again until the Accommodation passed.
As it was, unwarned, the Accommodation would crash int