THE two ran, plunging up the distorted track which swelled and shook beneath them, toward the coming train. As they came abreast of the second little station, known as the West End station of Summerville, an idea shot like hope itself through the confused brain of the hurrying boy. "I know where the torpedoes are!" he cried, shrilly. "The torpedoes they put down to stop trains! I've seen 'em. I play with the superintendent's boys sometimes. If I was bigger I could bu'st open the doors and windows and find 'em." "I'se an ole man," shouted the Negro, "but I'se been a tough one befo' Freedom. I sole for two thousand dollars onct. I kin smash 'most anythin' yer give me, honey, if hi'm put to 't. If der's anythin' wantin' to be bu'sted to stop dat ar train, I reckon I kin bu'st." [Illustration: "I SOLE FOR TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS ONCT."] Whirling along, in the dark and the uproar, the two panting figures rushed against the little station. It was very dark. In a lull of the raging earth the distant whistle of the train could be distinctly heard. [Illustration: "THE RAGGED OLD ARM THAT FELLED IT DOWN."] "In there!" cried the boy. "There! _There!_ Oh, don't you think perhaps my papae took some _other_ train? Oh, she's coming! I'll help. I can help. Oh, the door's too big for me!" But not too big for the ragged old arm that felled it down as an axe fells the last rings of a stricken tree. Not too big for the remnant of strength in the once muscular slave. Not too big for the fiery old heart that trouble and toil and hunger and loneliness had never quenched. The door went down--glass crashed--another door yielded--two wild figures fell into the superintendent's private office. The little one climbed like a monkey upon a shelf he knew of, and then the two rushed out of the rocking building into the resounding air, on which human shrieks smote steadily, as it was said they did all that awful night. Again, the whistle of the train--near now--nearer-- [Illustration: "THE LITTLE ONE CLIMBED LIKE A MONKEY UPON A SHELF."] As the pathetic couple ran up the torn and twisted track, Donny began to sob aloud; but all he said was, "Papae! Papae! Papae!" "Gib 'em to me, sonny," said the Negro, with the authority of age and danger. "I kin run faster'n you, honey! Goramercy, _dar she am_!" [Illustration: "THE OLD MAN SEIZED THE TORPEDOES."] The old man seized the torpedoes, and rushing away with them, vanished in the darkness. The unknown, collarless dog followed him. Donny, sobbing and calling his father's name, pushed on as well as he could by himself. As he ran he tried to say his prayers, but all he could remember was, "Our Father who art in heaven." [Illustration: "THIS COMFORTED THE LAD INCREDIBLY."]