"Thank you, comrades," said Andrews, modestly. "But don't waste any time on me; I only did what any other man would have done in my place. Let's get to work again--time's precious." At a hint from him George clambered up a telegraph pole, taking with him a piece of cord by which he afterwards drew up an axe. Then he cut the wire, while others in the party were removing three rails from the track in the rear of the train. The rails were afterwards deposited in the baggage car occupied by the men, as were also some wooden cross-ties which were found near the road-bed. "All this may be a waste of time," said Andrews. "We shall probably be in Chattanooga before any one has a chance to chase us." "Yet I have a presentiment that we shall be chased," cried Macgreggor. "I believe there will be a hot pursuit." His hearers, including Andrews, laughed, almost scornfully. "Just wait and see," returned Macgreggor. "A Southerner is as brave, and has as much brains as a Northerner." We shall see who was right in the matter. CHAPTER VI AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE On sped the fugitive train once more, and in a few minutes it had stopped, with much bumping and rattle of brakes at the station called Adairsville. Hardly had the wheels of the faithful old "General" ceased revolving before a whistle was heard from the northward. Andrews peered through the cab up the track. "It's the regular freight," he said, and calling to the station hands who were gaping at "Fuller's train," as they supposed it must be, he told them the customary story about the powder designed for General Beauregard. They believed the leader, who spoke with his old air of authority, and they quickly shunted his "special" on to the side track. No sooner had this been accomplished than the freight made its appearance. As the engine of the latter passed slowly by "The General" Andrews shouted to the men in the cab: "Where's the passenger train that is on the schedule?" "It ought to be right behind us," came the answer. "That's good," whispered Andrews. "Once let us pass that passenger, and we'll have a clear road to the very end of the line." In the meantime the freight was moved past the station and switched on to the siding, directly behind the "special," there to wait the arrival of the passenger train. George began to grow restless, as the minutes passed and no train appeared. At last, with the permission of Andrews, he jumped from the cab, and walked over to the platform, Waggie following close at his heels. He looked anxiously up the track, but he could see nothing, hear nothing. Two young men, one of them a civilian and the other evidently a soldier who was home on furlough (to judge by his gray uniform and right arm in a sling), were promenading up and down, and smoking clay pipes. "I don't understand it," the soldier was saying. "They talk about sending powder through to General Beauregard, but it's an utter impossibility to do it."