much in knowing how to get into a hole as You are in knowing how to get
out. An engineer never shows the stuff he is made of to such good
advantage as when he gets into a hole; and he is sure to get there, for
one of the traits of a traction engine is its natural ability to find a
soft place in the ground.

Head work will get you out of a bad place quicker than all the steam you
can get in your boiler. Never allow the drivers to turn without doing
some good. If you are in a hole, and you are able to turn your wheels,
you are not stuck; but don't allow your wheels to slip, it only lets you
in deeper. If your wheels can't get a footing, you want to give them
something to hold to. Most smart engineers will tell you that the best
thing is a heavy chain. That is true. So are gold dollars the best
things to buy bread with, but you have not always got the gold dollars,
neither have you always got the chain. Old hay or straw is a good
thing; old rails or timber of any kind. The engineer with a head spends
more time trying to give his wheels a hold than he does trying to pull
out, while the one without a head spends more time trying to pull out
than he does trying to secure a footing, and the result is, that the
first fellow generally gets out the first attempt, while the other
fellow is lucky if he gets out the first half day.

If you have one wheel perfectly secure, don't spoil it by starting your
engine till you have the other just as secure.

If you get into a place where your engine is unable to turn its wheels,
then your are stuck, and the only thing for you to do is to lighten your
load or dig out. But under all circumstances your engine should be
given the benefit of your judgment.