only worrying about the delay. Mr. Mabie will have to wait so long."

"But, Frank, they must wire the news, and he will know the reason for
our hold-up," said Will quickly, and the others all agreed that this
must be so.

Less than an hour later the last spark had been extinguished. Then men
climbed all over the trestle to ascertain just how much it had been
weakened by the fire.

There was a difference of opinion among them, some declaring that it was
as good as ever, and the others shaking their heads solemnly, as they
prophesied all manner of dire things if the through train, with its
heavy sleepers, attempted to go over.

While some gangs of men were hastily bracing up a weak spot with what
material lay close at hand, kept for an emergency of this sort, a
freight train that happened to be on a siding at the station, was pushed
out on the trestle to discover how the situation stood.

The chums watched operations with their hearts in their mouths,
figuratively speaking; but no catastrophe followed, and it began to
appear that, after all, the express might pass over in safety.

Another trial was given, this time with the heavy freight engine
attached to some of the largest flats, laden with steel beams. The
trestle bore the strain handsomely.

"That settles it, fellows. Back to our car for us. We're going across!"
sang out Jerry as he turned and made off down the track.