surprise a party went ahead to examine the bridge."

"Well, what was the result?" asked the superintendent, who had listened
with great interest to the boy's thrilling, yet straightforward, account
of his hazardous ride. "You took a fearful risk."

"The bridge was not gone, sir, and the train passed over in safety. The
tramp had lied to us."

"And you had your dangerous ride for nothing?"

"Yes, sir, unless you could consider a notice to quit work a reward. Mr.
Gammon accused Mr. Baxter of being intoxicated, and said we had got
caught on the track to tell that story to get out of a bad scrape. I
knew it was useless to talk with him, so I have come to you."

"What sort of a job do you want?" asked General Lyons, showing by his
tone that he had not been displeased by the boy's story.

"Anything that is honest, sir, and will give me fair wages, with a
chance to rise."

"So you have an eye to the future. Perhaps you hope to have the
management of a road yourself some time."

"It shall be no fault of mine, sir, if I do not."

"Nobly said, my boy; and it is possible you hope to be superintendent of
the Pen Yan."