“That will do very well.  Conductor, give the trainmen the rifles from the baggage car and let them act under Mr. Foster.  Now, boys, I am sure you will do your duty.  That is all.”

From the next station Sinclair telegraphed “All ready” to the superintendent, who was pacing his office in much suspense.  Then he said a few words to his brave but anxious wife, and walked to the rear platform.  On it were several armed men, who bade him good-evening, and asked “when the fun was going to begin.”  Walking through the train, he found each platform similarly occupied, and Foster going from one to the other.  The latter whispered as he passed him: 

“Major, I found Arizona Joe, the scout, in the smokin’ car, and he’s on the front platform.  That lets me out, and although I know as well as you that there ain’t any danger about that rear sleeper where the madam is, I ain’t a-going to be far off from her.”  Sinclair shook him by the hand; then he looked at his watch.  It was half-past eight.  He passed through the baggage and express cars, finding in the latter the agent sitting behind his safe, on which lay two large revolvers.  On the platform car he found the soldiers and their commander sitting silent and unconcerned as before.  When Sinclair reached the latter and nodded, he rose and faced the men, and his fine voice was clearly heard above the rattle of the train.

“Company, ’ten_tion_!” The soldiers straightened themselves in a second.

“With ball cartridge, load!” It was done with the precision of a machine.  Then the lieutenant spoke, in the same clear, crisp, tones that the troops had heard in more than one fierce battle.

“Men,” said he, “in a few minutes the Perry gang, which you will remember, are going to try to run this train off the track, wound and kill the passengers, and rob the cars and the United States mail.  It is our business to prevent them.  Sergeant Wilson” (a gray-bearded non-commissioned officer stood up and saluted), “I am going on the engine.  See that my orders are repeated.  Now, men, aim low, and don’t waste any shots.”  He and Sinclair climbed over the tender and spoke to the engine-driver.

“How are the air-brakes working?” asked Sinclair.

“First-rate.”

“Then, if you slowed down now, you could stop the train in a third of her length, couldn’t you?”

“Easy, if you don’t mind being shaken up a bit.”

“That is good.  How is the country about the —­xth mile-post?”

“Dead level, and smooth.”

“Good again.  Now, Lieutenant Halsey, this is a splendid head-light, and we can see a long way with my night glass.  I will have a—­”

“—­2d mile-pole just past,” interrupted the engine-driver.

“Only one more to pass, then, before we ought to strike them.  Now, lieutenant, I undertake to stop the train within a very short distance of the gang.  They will be on both sides of the track, no doubt; and the ground, as you hear, is quite level.  You will best know what to do.”