This was scarcely a satisfactory apology, and Walter Burrage might have continued to decline to accept the proffered hand had he not observed the look of anxiety on the beautiful face of his sister and divined its meaning. “All right, Swift,” he said, permitting the young soldier to grasp his fingers. “I didn’t think you a cad in the old days at the academy, and I don’t wish to think so now.” “We all have our likes and dislikes,” said Swift significantly. “Now, for instance, Mr. Merriwell never liked me very much, and so why should I like him?” “If I do not like a man,” said Frank, “it is not my way to sneer about him behind his back. I have a way of saying to his face what I have to say.” Swift flushed, and it was plain that he longed to make a savage retort, but he did not consider such a course wise just then. “I am not seeking a quarrel with an old schoolmate,” he declared, “so let’s talk of something else. How in the world do you happen to be here, Walt?” Ignoring Frank, he turned to Inza’s brother. Inza drew Merry down on the seat beside her father, saying in a low tone: “I’m sorry Walter came in with you, for I do not trust Roy Swift. A word from him to the ones interested would get Walter into a dreadful scrape. I told Walt it was dangerous for him to accompany us to Fardale, but he did not seem to think so, and he laughed at my fears.” Frank did his best to reassure her, telling her there was no reason why Swift should wish to injure her brother. While they were talking thus there came a sudden jarring shock, followed by a frightful crash, and the passengers were hurled from their seats as the car plunged down an embankment. A part of the train had left the track! At the first jar Merry had leaped to his feet, the reeling car flung him fairly over the back of a seat. Then came the terrible shock that followed. For a moment Frank was stunned. He had heard the sound of splintering wood, and for a few moments an awful silence followed. Then rose the shouts of the injured and the groans of the dying, for the engine and three cars of the train were piled in a splintered, shattered heap in the ditch at the foot of the embankment, and one of the three was the coach occupied by Merriwell and the others. Frank stirred, and found one leg pinned down. All around him seemed to be débris. He heard the cries of the injured, and the sound chilled his blood. “Inza!” That was his first thought. “Where is she?” Still pinned fast, he tried to look around in search of her. There were shrieks for help. He saw a man crushed and silent beneath a heavy mass that had flattened his chest. The horror of it all began to dawn upon him. Then Frank struggled with sudden desperation to set himself free and find the girl he now knew he loved. He wondered for one moment if his foot and ankle had been crushed, but only for that one moment did he think of himself.