I had purchased a ticket for only seven miles, but it was my intention to stay on just as long as the conductor did not notice it, so presently he came in, collected my ticket, and at the same time remarked, "I believe this ticket carries you to Roundville." I did not speak, but merely nodded a reply. The station master had evidently put him wise to my game, so I saw the jig was all up for me. When we reached the next station, the conductor looked in the coach and yelled, "All out for Roundville." I immediately arose from my seat and before the train had fairly stopped I jumped from the platform, on the side opposite the station, and ran along the track unobserved to the baggage car, where I boarded the blind. There I rode for several miles and at the next stop I alighted. In this village I spent the day. I passed the time chopping wood for an old lady, who gave me food in recompense for my work. That night I caught the nine o'clock local. Everything went well until we struck a big grade going down the mountain side, and when descending at a rapid speed the fire box of the engine fell out, and I was almost literally covered with coals from the engine as they were positively sifted on me. As soon as the engineer discovered what had taken place he brought the big monster to a standstill on the side of the slope. As fate would have it, it had been raining considerably that night, and there were great pools of water by the side of the track, so before the train came to a full stop I jumped from my position and rolled over by the side of the track in the cold water, for already my garments had begun to burn, and in two or three places the coals had eaten through the clothing and blistered the flesh, which was horribly tormenting. This drenching in the water soon put out the fire on my clothes, but I lay there to make certain. When the train halted I was lying in the gully by the side of the last coach, so near that I could plainly hear the inquiries of the passengers as to the cause of the delay. There in the water I remained some five minutes, and then I got up and stole quietly along the side of the coaches to the engine. The men were still working on the fire bin, so, to avoid discovery, I concealed myself in the bushes by the side of the track. We were there fully half an hour, and during that time I thought I would surely freeze, for my clothes were drenched, and there was no possible means to dry them. The engineer and the fireman soon adjusted the bin and it was not long before we were on our way. It was now about midnight and there was only the station master at each of the little stations, so I was not so likely to be discovered. I rode on quietly until the flagman came to give the engineer some orders, and he could not help seeing me, for I was stretched across the platform, over which he had to pass on his way to the engine.