Through the Air to the North Pole | Page 5

the
boards to which they were clinging, when the whole string of freight
cars seemed to crumple up like a collection of paper vehicles.
There was a grinding, sickening crash, a succession of heavy jolts, a
piling up of one car on top of another, a splintering of wood, a rending
of iron and steel, and then with one terrible smash, with one final roar,
the runaway freight piled itself up in a mass of shattered cars against
the sand hill, at the base of which the rails came to an end. It was a
fearful wreck.
"Hold fast!" were the last words Jack cried to his companion. His voice

sounded faint above the din.
"Where are you, Jack?" he heard Mark shout in reply.
Then all became dark, and the boys lost their senses as they were
hurled into the splintered mass of wreckage.
CHAPTER III
A STRANGE RESCUER
"For de land sakes, Perfessor, hurry up! Heah's de stupenduousness
conglomeration dat eber transcribed dis terresterial hemisphere!"
exclaimed a stout, jolly looking colored man a few seconds after the
crash of the wreck had ceased echoing.
"What is it, Washington?" asked a mild mannered elderly gentleman,
with long flowing hair and beard, who, with the negro, had been
walking in a field close to the railroad.
"I doan perzackly know, Perfessor, but it seems like there was a
discontinuation ob de transportation facilities, when some sudden
construction on de elongated tempestuousness attached to de railroad
made de cars go bump! bump! Bang! Smack! Crash!"
"Washington! Washington! When will you stop using words that don't
mean anything!" cried the old man, hurrying forward. "I presume you
mean there has been a railroad wreck?"
"That's it, Perfessor. De extenuatin' circumstances ob transmigration--"
"That will do, Washington!" said the aged man, somewhat sternly.
"You must stop talking, and act. This is no time for foolishness. There
may be people hurt. Come along and let us see what we can do."
"Yes, sah!" replied the negro, calming down.
Then the two hurried down along the track, piled high with the debris

of the runaway freight train.
"My! My! This is a terrible wreck!" cried the old man, as the two
climbed over the mass of wreckage.
"Hi, Perfessor!" called the colored man, suddenly. "I've found
something!"
"What is it, Washington?"
"It's a boy, an' he dead!"
"Oh, that's too bad!"
"An' heah's another, an' he's dead! Dis catafterme is de most--"
"Now, Washington, remember what I told you. No big words wanted at
the present time. Where are the boys?"
"Here, Perfessor," and the negro showed the old man where Mark and
Jack were lying, close together on a pile of sand. The professor bent
over them. He felt of their hearts and listened to their breathing.
"Here!" he cried, suddenly. "They're not dead! They're only stunned!
Maybe we can save them! Hurry, Washington, and carry them to my
cabin. You take one and I will bring the other!"
"You don't need to carry any ob 'em," answered the colored man. "Dis
chile is strong 'nuff, I reckon, to tote dem two boys," and, suiting the
action to the words, he stooped down, put an arm around each of the
prostrate forms and lifted one on each shoulder. "'Bout face! Forward
march!" he cried.
With the old man following, the negro made his way along a path that
led over the fields, until he came to a long and rather narrow shed built
on the edge of the woods.
"Be sure no one is in sight before you go in!" cautioned the old man, as
he opened the door, which was fastened with several padlocks. "It

would never do to have my secret discovered now."
"Nobody in sight, master!" exclaimed the colored man, as he turned,
with the two unconscious boys on his shoulders, and gazed about "De
coast am clear."
"Then hurry inside and we will see what we can do for the poor lads. I
fear they are seriously hurt."
The negro slipped in as the old man held the door open, hurriedly
closing it afterward, and bolting it on the inside.
"Put them on my bed," went on the gray-haired man. "Then hurry back
to the wreck! There may be more people hurt, whom you can aid. Don't
stop to talk, but hurry back. I will see to the boys."
Not very willingly the negro left the shed. When he was gone, and the
door was securely fastened after him, the old man went over to where
Mark and Jack lay, both still unconscious.
"Poor lads!" sighed the old man. "I hope I can save them."
He went rapidly to work. Loosening the clothing of the boys he soon
found that no bones were broken. Then from a medicine chest he took
several bottles.