to a shout to make himself heard above the roar of the speeding
locomotive.

"I don't know," Hal shouted back.

"Then you had better slow down. The tracks in front may be torn up and we
would certainly be killed."

"You are right," shouted Hal.

Quickly he closed the throttle and applied the brakes. The huge mogul
trembled violently and shook all over, but its speed was soon slackened.

Looking behind, the two lads saw that they had left their pursuers far in
the rear, and both breathed more freely.

"How far are we going on this thing, anyhow?" Chester demanded. "Don't
you think we had better get off and walk back?"

"What! and leave the engine in the hands of the enemy? Not much. Besides,
I am certain the British must control this road at the other end or it
would have been destroyed by this time. We'll just keep on going and see
what happens."

"Well, something will happen, all right," said Chester. "I can feel it in
my bones. However, you are the doctor. Forward it is, then."

The locomotive was going more slowly now, Hal always keeping a keen eye
ahead. For perhaps five minutes they rode along without incident; then
suddenly Hal, without even a word to Chester, "opened her up" again.