CHAPTER X.
A WILD RIDE.
The engine rocked crazily as it dashed along, and the boys hung on towhatever offered for dear life. Around curve after curve they shotwith a lurch, the locomotive threatening at every turn to leave therails.
"Where is the end of this road?" asked Chester of Hal, raising hisvoice to a shout to make himself heard above the roar of the speedinglocomotive.
"I don't know," Hal shouted back.
"Then you had better slow down. The tracks in front may be torn up andwe would certainly be killed."
"You are right," shouted Hal.
Quickly he closed the throttle and applied the brakes. The huge mogultrembled violently and shook all over, but its speed was soonslackened.
Looking behind, the two lads saw that they had left their pursuers farin 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 otherend or it would have been destroyed by this time. We'll just keep ongoing and see what happens."
"Well, something will happen, all right," said Chester. "I can feel itin my bones. However, you are the doctor. Forward it is, then."
The locomotive was going more slowly now, Hal always keeping a keeneye ahead. For perhaps five minutes they rode along without incident;then suddenly Hal, without even a word to Chester, "opened her up"again.
Once more the huge locomotive jumped forward.
"What's the matter now?" cried Chester, springing to Hal's side.
"Matter!" shouted Hal. "Look ahead."
Chester peered out, and drew his head back with an exclamation.
"More Germans, eh!" he muttered, and then shouted. "You do the drivingand I'll keep her hot."
"Good!" Hal called back, never taking his eyes from the road ahead.
Apparently the Germans were unconscious of the approach of thelocomotive, for they did not even glance in its direction. Troopersstood beside either side of the track, and several groups werestanding between the rails.
Closer and closer the engine approached, and still they did not move.A moment later and the great steel monster was upon them. There was asudden shout, but it was too late--for some, at any rate.
The great locomotive caught them as they attempted to jump from thetrack, and hurled them in all directions. Hal and Chester ducked lowinside the cab, and it was well that they did so; for, as the engineshot past, hundreds of bullets sped through the cab, and hundreds moreflattened themselves against the steel-protected sides. It was closework, and no mistake.
"Whew!" breathed Chester, after they had safely run the gauntlet ofthe German fire and Hal had once more reduced the speed of thelocomotive. "That was close."
"Too close for comfort," Hal agreed.
"I wonder how many we killed back there," said Chester.
"I don't know, but I am sure it was enough. It seemed to be theirlives or ours."
"It's only a few more gone to the Happy Hunting Ground in a mistakencause," said Chester slowly. "But, as you say, it was either they orus. There was nothing else we could do."
"No," said Hal, "there wasn't; but, just the same, it gave me a coldchill as they went flying through the air. It was terrible."
Both lads were silent for a time, as the locomotive continued on itsway. It was getting dusk now, and Hal was forced to reduce the speedof the engine even more. They went slowly along, both lads keeping awary eye ahead for Germans.
Darkness came on, and still they rode along. Their speed was littlebetter than a walk, and it was well that Hal had decided todiscontinue his reckless driving.
From ahead, a sudden red glare went up to the sky, followed almostinstantly by a report like that of a thousand cannons. The locomotivecame to a stop with a jolt as Hal applied the brakes.
"What's up now?" demanded Chester.
"I don't know; but that explosion sounded to me as if there weresomething wrong ahead. I wouldn't be surprised if the Germans haddynamited the bridge."
"By George! I believe you are right," exclaimed Chester. "I wouldn'thave thought of it, and if I had been in your place at the throttlethe chances are we would have gone over if such is the case."
"Well," said Hal, "I'll climb down, take a walk ahead andinvestigate."
"I'll go with you," declared Chester.
"No, you won't. You stay here and watch the engine."
"You are right, as usual," said Chester. "But don't be any longer thanyou can help."
Hal agreed, and a moment later Chester lost sight of him in thedarkness.
Slowly and cautiously Hal made his way along the track. As he movedstealthily around a curve in the road the cause of the explosionbecame apparent. It was even as he had feared. His quick wit haddetected the meaning of the explosion and none too soon.
Just ahead, where a short time before had been a bridge spanning adeep chasm, there was now nothing but space. The bridge had been blownup. Had Hal applied the brakes to the engine one minute later, inspite of the fact that it was traveling very slowly, both boysprobably would have been carried over the embankment to certain death;for it is doubtful that either, in the darkness, would have noticedthe absence of the bridge in time to leap to safety.
And now Hal could make out a number of rapidly moving figures. To hisdismay, he saw that they were moving in his direction. He turnedquickly and ran back to the locomotive, where Chester was anxiouslyawaiting his return.
"Out here, quick!" he cried, and Chester, in response to his command,leaped to the ground.
Hal once more jumped aboard the locomotive, unheeding Chester's cry ofwonder, released the brakes, and threw the throttle wide open. Then hedropped sprawling to the ground, while the engine dashed madly downthe track.
Hal was not badly hurt and was quickly on his feet.
"What's the matter?" asked Chester in alarm.
"Matter is that the Germans are coming this way," answered Hal. "Come,let's get away from here while we have a chance. We may be able toescape in the darkness."
"But why did you start that engine down the track like that?"
"Well, I couldn't see that it was any use to us any longer, and it maydispose of a few more Germans. They are walking up the track inforce."
This appealed to Chester.
"Good!" he cried, and both stopped in their tracks to listen.
A second and there came to their ears a sudden startled shout,followed by a fearful yell, a moment of silence, and then a crash.
"Good-by engine," said Hal. "That's a good job done. You perishednobly. Now," to Chester, "let's get away from this spot as fast as wecan."
They turned their faces in the direction from which they had come, andset out at a brisk pace. They plodded along for an hour through theopen country, finally coming to a dense woods.
"Guess we had better try and lose ourselves in here," said Chester.
"Right you are," agreed Hal.
They entered the friendly shelter of the trees. Here they were forcedto travel more slowly. They made good progress, however, and at theend of another hour had covered considerable distance.
"I guess we are safe enough as long as we can stay in the woods," saidChester.
"Don't be too sure," declared Hal. "It's the unexpected that alwayshappens."
The words were hardly out of his mouth when the truth of them wasproved. As they emerged from where the trees were thickest into alittle clearing a sudden, guttural command brought them to an abruptstop.
"Halt!" came a voice. "Halt, or I fire!"
Boy Allies on the Firing Line; Or, Twelve Days Battle Along the Marne Page 10
