Chester, with blood flowing from a gash in his forehead, was the first
to pick himself up. In falling his head had come in contact with a
sharp projection of some kind. He was terribly dizzy, but his head was
still clear.

He stooped over Hal, and at that moment the latter raised himself on his
elbow and then got to his feet unsteadily.

"Great Scott! What was that?" he gasped.

Chester did not reply. Instead he swung out from the cab and glanced
back over the train--or rather where the train had been. And what a
sight met his gaze!

The train of armored cars was gone. Alongside the track lay pieces of
wreckage, and many bodies and pieces of what had once been machine guns.

Hal peered over Chester's shoulder.

"Another shell," he said slowly. "But how does it happen we were not
killed also?"

"I don't know," said Chester, "but I judge the shell must have struck in
the middle of the train. Look, there is nothing left but the engine."

It was true. In some unaccountable manner the engine had escaped scot
free. At that moment Hal, who had glanced out from the other side of the
cab, made a startling discovery.

"Wow!" he shouted. "Here come the Germans again--thousands of 'em. We are