A wild ride.

The engine rocked crazily as it dashed along, and the boys hung on to whatever offered for dear life.  Around curve after curve they shot with a lurch, the locomotive threatening at every turn to leave the rails.

“Where is the end of this road?” asked Chester of Hal, raising his voice to a shout to make himself heard above the roar of the speeding locomotive.

“I don’t know,” Hal shouted back.

“Then you had better slow down.  The tracks in front may be torn up and we would certainly be killed.”

“You are right,” shouted Hal.

Quickly he closed the throttle and applied the brakes.  The huge mogul trembled violently and shook all over, but its speed was soon slackened.

Looking behind, the two lads saw that they had left their pursuers far in the rear, and both breathed more freely.

“How far are we going on this thing, anyhow?” Chester demanded.  “Don’t you think we had better get off and walk back?”

“What! and leave the engine in the hands of the enemy?  Not much.  Besides, I am certain the British must control this road at the other end or it would have been destroyed by this time.  We’ll just keep on going and see what happens.”

“Well, something will happen, all right,” said Chester.  “I can feel it in my bones.  However, you are the doctor.  Forward it is, then.”

The locomotive was going more slowly now, Hal always keeping a keen eye ahead.  For perhaps five minutes they rode along without incident; then suddenly Hal, without even a word to Chester, “opened her up” again.

Once more the huge locomotive jumped forward.

“What’s the matter now?” cried Chester, springing to Hal’s side.

“Matter!” shouted Hal.  “Look ahead.”

Chester peered out, and drew his head back with an exclamation.

“More Germans, eh!” he muttered, and then shouted.  “You do the driving and I’ll keep her hot.”

“Good!” Hal called back, never taking his eyes from the road ahead.

Apparently the Germans were unconscious of the approach of the locomotive, for they did not even glance in its direction.  Troopers stood beside either side of the track, and several groups were standing between the rails.

Closer and closer the engine approached, and still they did not move.  A moment later and the great steel monster was upon them.  There was a sudden shout, but it was too late—­for some, at any rate.

The great locomotive caught them as they attempted to jump from the track, and hurled them in all directions.  Hal and Chester ducked low inside the cab, and it was well that they did so; for, as the engine shot past, hundreds of bullets sped through the cab, and hundreds more flattened themselves against the steel-protected sides.  It was close work, and no mistake.

“Whew!” breathed Chester, after they had safely run the gauntlet of the German fire and Hal had once more reduced the speed of the locomotive.  “That was close.”