The Boy Scout Fire Fighters; Or Jack Danby's Bravest Deed

e Thunderbolt go t

t forty-two there's the second section of the Thunderbolt, when there's one running

next station

om the city. 'Tisn't much more of a station than this. Just a

. "It's eight o'clock now, and that doesn't leave so very muc

k Hudson to talk to Tom Binns and watch his key, which might at any moment click out some important

uish it, in accordance with the strictest of all Scout rules for camping. Fires left carelessly burning after a picnic have caused many a terrible and disast

too, he thought he heard a hoarse and raucous laugh. But he decided, after stopping to listen once or twice, that he had been mistaken, and he

ny adverse happening as a result. But that was not thorough, nor was it the way of a Scout. A wind may shift at any moment, and a fire that is p

o live embers remained to start it up anew. Then he washed h

d hear slight sounds, and then, insistent,

d then found, to his surprise, that it was "H-K,"

dson answer?" h

must, surely, be Hudson. He could not fail to hear the chatter of his sounder, and yet he was i

for the door of the cabin. Instead, he crept up quietly toward the side, where the

ecurely tied up, so that there was no chance for him to work himself free. He could hear what went on, but he could do nothing, and there was no chance for him to rea

is key," said Jack to himself.

free the operator when the door into the freight station opened, and three burly men, dresse

ee, but in vain, for one of the ruffians had his hand over hi

inns, and the nearest station, as he knew, was eleven miles distant. But he felt that he must try to find out, at least, what the attack meant. Hudson, as the assailants must know, had no money to m

him that terrified him a thousand tim

on the onrushing Thunderbolt to gain their ends. That was why they had put Hank Hudson out of business, why they were guarding Tom Binns with such care, crippled as he seemed to be. Men in their desperate

caught him spying on them they were likely to have little mercy fo

elf, grimly. "I'm going to stay right by this window and try to hear what they say to one

his eyes and the upper part of his face, but Jack, trying desperately to discover something that would enable him to identify them should he ever have the chance, picked out lines about the lower parts of their faces that would, he thought, make it impossible for him to mistake them sho

n't worn those masks," said Jack, to himself. "The masks made me lo

ooking at his watch, "got them tied? I thou

'd have been here long ago," said Tom, scowling f

lve minutes yet, even if she's on time. Wi

be saying a lot more when we get

s a change. "B-D-B-D-" clicked the instrument, and Jack knew that the sender had given up H

ed intently to the wire conversation that fo

e matter with Hudson? I've been try

st be asleep or sic

perator ordered down. But it'll have to run behind the Th

t'll tie up th

lo

I'll pas

ng for was an hour late. All sorts of things might happen in an

the limited was twenty minutes over

throw her off the

for yourself if

the suggestion. The others fi

hose kids are tied up safe enough. No need to stay here.

ation was empty, save

pounding away, and calling B-D, B-D, in frantic efforts to

rush, but with the hand of an inexperienced operat

it would be stopped before it could rush on to destruction. Then, swiftly, he rushed over to the chair in which Hu

son. "I didn't know you knew how

sage in time to stop the

n to i

so fast that Jack, who was only an amateur and a begi

and the train will be held up. They're going to send help, too. I hope those fellows don't c

ot a gun, Hank

, too. They gave us new automatic revolvers-only

train wreckers, as they returned, were heard

he called to Huds

there with your pistol. Don't shoot unless you have to, but remember that the

again. Hudson had thrown the ropes about his body again, and had s

here a good hour ago. Wonder if that clicking key means that there's anything loose that w

up your

voice, give the order. The operator had nerve-they w

around to

others stood in helpless surprise. The one who had crie

savagely. "I'll shoot

nother of the men, with a savage curse. "Tha

ed into th

to the men. "Now, keep your hands up and you won't get hurt. You won't need

beside Hudson. Then he released Tom Binns, and in the same moment there was the sound of a distant whistle. A few minutes later an en

"This is a fine haul. Omaha Pete, Tom Galway, and 'Frisco Sammy. Glad to see you, boys! There are rewards of about eleven thous

y, had effected such a capture, and he was unstinting in his praise when he heard the story.

ay have given you the chance and helped to save

to see that you get what's coming to you, too, rewards and all. The road can