of the men about
the journey, and, learning that they were approaching his former home,
the town of Bedford, he had looked up the route and the time of arrival
at their next stopping place. He had a quick mind, and he remembered
about where they should be at the time the accident occurred. In that
way he was able to determine that, unless they struck something, they
were in comparatively little danger.

"Off the track--that's all!" repeated Benny Turton as he looked down
from his berth at Joe. "Isn't that enough? Wow! What's going on now?"

The train had stopped with a jolt. The air brakes, which the engineer
had flung on at the first intimation of danger, had taken hold of the
wheels with a sudden grip.

"This is the last stop," said Joe, and he smiled up at Benny. He could
do so now, for he felt that their coach, at least, was safe. But he
was anxious as to what had happened to the others. Helen, with many of
the other women performers, was in the coach ahead.

Benny crawled down from his berth, and stood looking at Joe.

"It doesn't seem to worry you much," he remarked.

"Not as long as there's nothing worse than this," Joe answered.
"You're not hurt, are you?"

"Only my feelings."

"Well, you'll get over that. Let's see what's up."

By this time the aisle of the car was filled with excited men
performers. They all wanted to know what had happened, their location
and various other bits of information.

"The train jumped the track," said Joe, who appeared the coolest of the
lot. "We don't seem to have hit anything, though at first I thought we
had. We're right side up, if not exactly with care."

"Where are we?" demanded Tonzo Lascalla.

"We ought to be near Far Hills, according to the time table," Joe
answered. "If I could get a look out I could tell."

He went to the end of the car and peered out. It was a bright
moonlight night, and Joe was able to recognize the locality. As a boy
he had tramped all around the country within twenty-five miles of
Bedford, in the vicinity of which they now were, and he had no
difficulty in placing himself. He found that he had guessed correctly.

By this time there was an excited crowd of trainmen and circus
employees outside the coaches which had left the rails. Joe and some
of the others slipped on their clothes and went out to see what had
happened.

Joe's first glance was toward the coach in which he knew Helen rode.
He was relieved to see tha