Come, we'll go through
the cars. It's quicker."
We ran through the coaches until we had reached the front of the
train. Hawkins went out upon the platform.
The Alcomotive was apparently intact. The engineer stood over the
machinery, white as chalk, and his lips mumbled incoherently.
"What is it?" cried Hawkins.
"How'n blazes do I know?" demanded the engineer.
"But didn't you stop her?"
"Certainly not. She--she stopped herself."
"What perfect idiocy!" cried the inventor "You must have done
something!"
"I did not!" retorted the engineer. "The blamed thing just stood
stock-still and near bumped the life out of me! Say, mister, you come
up here and see what----"
"Oh, it's nothing serious, my man. Now, let me think. What could have
happened? Er--just try that lever at your right hand."
"This one?"
"Yes; pull it gently."
"Hadn't we better git them people out o' the train first?" asked the
engineer. "You know, if anything happens, people just love to sue a
railroad company for damages, and----"
"Pull that lever!" Hawkins cried angrily.
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