"You?"

"Yes; I have made some slight study of a locomotive, and, while I have
never run one any great distance, I have ridden many miles in the cab of
an engine in lumber camps in the United States."

"And I can fire the engine," Chester broke in.

"Well," said the officer, "something has to be done at once; and, if you
are willing to take a chance, so am I. Get aboard."

He turned and rushed hurriedly back to his car, while Hal and Chester
leaped aboard the locomotive. In response to a signal, Hal released the
brakes, gently opened the throttle, and the great engine began to forge
slowly ahead.

Gradually the lad opened the throttle wider, and the huge locomotive
commenced to gain momentum, until at last it was rushing along like some
mad thing. Chester, in the meantime, was busy with a shovel.

A moment, it seemed to the two lads, and the sound of firing rose above
the roar of the locomotive, and the spat spat of bullets against the
armored sides could be heard. But Hal did not falter. Rather, the engine
seemed to leap ahead with even greater speed.

From the rear came the signal to slow down, and, under Hal's firm hand,
the terrific speed of the train was checked. Then also from the rear
there came the sound of firing. The rapid-firers on the train had been
unloosed, and their leaden messengers were spelling death in the ranks of
the Germans, of whom the train was now in the middle.