“Half an hour, at least, on an average. That will make an hour and ten minutes; and the steamer will do it in an hour and a quarter. I think the colonel has a pretty good show,” I continued, as the train reached Spangleport, and I blew some desperate whistles to warn idlers about the track. “You are a Wimp!” “No. I’m a Top.” “Don’t talk so before the other fellows. If you do they will think you have sold out to the enemy.” “Can’t a fellow express an honest opinion?” I asked, warmly. “Not when it don’t jibe with the public sentiment.” “I don’t know about that. I’m not afraid to tell Major Toppleton what I think.” “Don’t you do it.” “If he wants to come out ahead, as of course he does, it would be better for him to look the facts and contingencies fairly in the face.” Faxon was thinking of the matter, and by mutual consent both of us were silent. CHAPTER VI. A MISSION OF PEACE. I could not exactly see that I was a traitor to the Toppletonian interest because I believed that a steamer could successfully compete even with a “lightning express.” I intended to serve my employers faithfully, and believed that I had done so. Perhaps it was imprudent for me to express an opinion; but I knew that Colonel Wimpleton was a man of energy and determination, and that he would not be content to remain long in the shade. I observed that Lewis Holgate listened very attentively to all that was said, though he made no remarks. Since his father had run away with the money he had stolen, the family were hard pressed to get a living. Lewis was about my own age, and was regarded as a smart fellow. The intimacy between our families had brought us together somewhat, and I knew that he aspired to be a “young engineer.” He had worked with his father a great deal, and knew an engine very well. It was necessary for him to go to work, to assist in supporting his mother and his brothers and sisters. He had told me how sorry he was for what his father had done, and I pitied him. Through my influence he had obtained the place to “fire” on the new locomotive, and now received a salary of three dollars a week. Lewis worked with me a while on the dummy, and was competent to run it. The crime of his father had to some extent broken his spirit, and thus far he had behaved very well, better than his antecedents led me to expect--for he had been rather noted in Ucayga as a bad boy. My mother commended me warmly for what I had done to help him, and declared she was very glad to see me manifest a Christian spirit towards him. My father said I was foolish to try to serve such a fellow; but I was best satisfied with the judgment of my mother.