air of wire nippers from his pocket.

Snip! Tom now had two ends of wire in his hands. That would have been
enough, had Reade chosen to bury the ends and conceal all evidence of his
work. However, he believed that a more workmanlike way could be found.

From the same pocket Tom drew out a three inch piece of pure rubber cable,
wrapped in water-proof tape. This he fastened to the severed ends of the
wire, binding the whole as neatly as a lineman could have done.

"Rubber is believed to be a pretty good insulator," chuckled Reade, as he
finished. "I don't believe the spark is made that can jump three inches
of rubber. Certainly magneto-power can't do it. Now, let me see what sort
of a trail-concealer I am."

Tom laid the wire back in the ground, covering it carefully with his hands.

"I wish I dared strike a match, so that I could judge better just how my
work looks," he sighed. "However, I don't believe Mr. Sambo Ebony will
think it discreet to strike any matches either, so he won't find the place
where I've been fooling with his work.

"Now, I'll get back out of sight, where I belong," muttered Tom, rising
cautiously. "I hope, though, I can find a place where I can see the look
on that darkey's face when he tries his magneto and waits for the bing!
from out yonder. Oh, Sambo, you simply can't have any idea of how I've
been wishing it on you tonight!"

As the bushes grew thickly hereabouts, and there were many hollows in the
surface of the earth, Reade had little trouble in finding what he believed
to be a satisfactory hiding place. It enabled him to hide his head within
fifteen feet of the handle of the magneto.

A soft, southerly wind blew in from the Gulf. As long as he could Reade
fought drowsiness. Again and again he opened his eyes with a start.

"I mustn't do this," Tom told himself angrily. "No gentleman will go to
sleep at the switch---when it's his train that is coming!"

Yet still he found himself nodding. Had he deemed it safe Tom would have
sprung up and walked about briskly. But this, he knew, was to invite
being discovered by the returning negro.

So, at last, despite himself, Tom fell asleep.

How much time had passed he never knew. At last, however, he awoke with a
start. Reproachfully he rubbed his eyes.

"Not a bit too soon!" he muttered, as his ears caught sound of an
approaching step, and his eyes showed him the hulking form of the massive
foe. "Here comes my black man