CHAPTER V
THE RELIEF TRAIN
"What are your plans, Mr. Ringold?" asked Blake, as he and his chum,with C. C., sat in the Pullman car, talking over the situation.
"I really haven't had time to make any very definite ones," answered themanager. "I'm taking out a supply of money, I don't mind saying that,"he went on, and Mr. Piper suddenly gave a quick look about the coach,and uttered a stagy hiss, as a caution to be silent.
"What's up now?" asked Joe.
"I don't think it's wise to speak so plainly about money," replied thegloomy comedian.
"You might be robbed, Mr. Ringold."
"Did you see any suspicious characters following us?" the manager wantedto know.
"Well, I wouldn't say they were exactly suspicious," went on the actor,"but I did see two men hanging around us when we were having our baggagechecked in the depot. They seemed very anxious to know where we weregoing."
"Is that so?" asked Mr. Ringold, and he seemed unusually interested."What sort of looking chaps were they?"
The actor described them. Blake and Joe looked at each other quickly.
"I don't seem to recognize them as friends of mine," went on themanager, musingly.
"I should say not!" cried Blake. "Certainly not friends! Say, I'm surethose men were James Munson, and one of his tools, Jake Black. They madea lot of trouble for us, and at the fire, last night, Munson and I hadan argument. Do you think they can be following us?"
"It's just as well to be on the safe side," said Mr. Ringold. "Supposeyou boys take a look through the train, and see if you can pick themout. I don't like the idea of being followed by a rival moving pictureman, when I may have a chance to get some exclusive and valuable films."
Blake and Joe each went through half the train, but they saw no signs ofMunson, or his crony. The boys even penetrated to the smoking car, wherethe two suspects would probably stay, but they were not there.
"False alarm, I guess," reported Blake, when he and Joe had completedtheir search.
"Well, they were hanging around, all right," declared the sad actor,"though they may not be here now. But, just the same, I wouldn't mentionabout having so much money--not in public. Something might happen, Mr.Ringold."
"I think there is little danger. I have only a small part of it in cash.The rest is in letters of credit, that are only good when I have signedthem. I'm not worrying.
"But as to plans. The only thing I see to do is to go direct toHannibal, and see if we can get on the trail of the missing ones there."
"That does seem to be about the only thing to do," agreed Blake. "I wishwe were there now. It's maddening to know you've got a lot to do, andnot be able to do it. I want action!"
"And so do I!" cried his chum.
However, there was nothing for it but to wait until they reached theflooded district. On and on sped their train, making but few stops. Whenthey did reach a large city, the boys would go out and buy the latestpapers, to get news of the flood along the Mississippi.
The reports were not reassuring. The rains still continued at intervals,and the rivers, not only the Mississippi, but tributary streams also,were rising, which added to the swollen condition of the big waterway.
Pitiful tales of suffering of men, women and children began to filterin, and it was reported that relief measures were being undertaken bythe various states. In some places the National Guard was being orderedout, to aid in rescue work, and several detachments of the Regulars hadbeen sent to the flooded districts.
The first day and night passed without incident to our friends speedingto the West. No trace was seen of Munson, or any of his tools, and itwas certain that if he had not boarded the train in New York, at whichstation the actor said he had seen him, the rival was behind, and notahead of our friends.
"What's the matter, Blake?" asked Mr. Ringold, on the second day out."Are you restless?" for the youth was pacing up and down the aisle ofthe car.
"Yes, I am, Mr. Ringold," he answered. "I wish I had something to film.I'm tired sitting around."
"You didn't mind it when we were out in the country," remarked Joe.
"No, but then we were on a vacation, and we were entitled to a rest. Butnow we're back on the job again, and I want action. I almost wishsomething would happen, to give me a chance to make a film."
"Don't say that! Don't say that!" cried Mr. Piper, with upraised hand."Don't wish for anything to happen, or it may. This train is going veryfast, and there may be a smash-up any minute."
Hardly had he spoken, than there sounded the sudden application of theair brakes. The wheels groaned and whined under the pressure, and thetrain came to a quick stop.
"There!" cried the gloomy comedian. "What did I tell you? That's whatyou get for wishing for an accident!"
"I didn't wish for one," replied Blake, quickly, as he reached for thecarrier containing his moving picture camera, "and I don't believe it isan accident. Anyhow, nothing has happened to us," he added. "But I'mgoing to see what it is. Come on, Joe."
The two boys, as well as Mr. Ringold, the actor, and several otherpassengers, hurried from the car, as the train had now come to a fullstop. And what Blake and Joe saw was a danger signal set against thetrain, on the approach to a long bridge that spanned a turbulent stream.
"What's the matter?" asked Joe, of a trainman.
"Bridge is weakened by high water," was the answer. "The bridge-tendermust have discovered it suddenly, for he flashed down the signal againstus in a hurry. The engineer had to put on the emergency air, in order tostop in time."
They all walked forward along the track to the first span of the bridge.It looked to be all right, but the rushing, muddy water that flowedbeneath it was close to the ties and rails.
"I think one of the piers is weakened a little," said the bridge-tender."And if the water rises much more she'll tear away, sure. I've sent forthe repair gang. They're only five miles away, and they may be able tobrace it temporarily."
"Then we'll be delayed?" asked Mr. Ringold.
"I'm afraid so," answered the conductor. "I can't take any chances withthis train on a weak bridge."
Of course he was right, but everyone fretted over the delay, especiallyour friends, who wanted to start their rescue work.
"Well, I've got something to film, anyhow!" cried Blake. "I'll makepictures showing the repairs to the bridge."
The construction and wrecking crews were soon on hand, and a carefulexamination disclosed the fact that the bridge had been slightlyweakened.
"But we can brace her temporarily--that is, unless the water risessuddenly," said the foreman.
"Our first taste of the flood," murmured Blake, as he and Joe set up thecamera to make moving pictures.
The boys were much interested in the work of strengthening the bridge,and got some good views of it. The work took several hours, but wasfinally completed enough for the train to proceed slowly--in twosections.
The locomotive took over part of the cars, shunted them to a switch, andthen pulled over the remainder. The train was then made up again, andproceeded. But considerable time had been lost.
The night passed without incident, and on arriving at the junctionpoint, a large city, where they were to change trains, the boys found afurther chance to make films.
"What's going on?" asked Blake, as he saw, in the depot, a number ofsoldiers boarding the cars. Boxes, bales and barrels were also beingrushed into baggage and express cars.
"One of the relief trains, for the flood victims," said a depotattendant. "They're rushing food and supplies to the homeless ones, andthe soldiers are going to help in the rescue work."
"More pictures, Joe!" cried Blake. "We've got time before our trainleaves to make a short film of this rescue train."
The Moving Picture Boys and the Flood; Or, Perilous Days on the Mississippi Page 6
