Then there's the southbound passenger train."
"At Adairsville?" asked Tom.
"No, at Calhoun," answered Andrews. "There is the same danger with that as
with the freight. If we don't come within an hour of the time we're due, it
has a right to go ahead and meet us at the next station." They were
rounding a curve which gave them a clear view of the track behind for
several miles. The pursuing engine was not in sight.
The speed of the _General_ slackened. Tom glanced ahead and saw
Adairsville.
"Are we going to stop?" he asked.
"Yes. I want to get that freight started south. They might wait, when they
see that this is not the passenger train. Work up a full head of steam
while we're here, Knight."
Tom put more fuel upon the fire. The train slid into the station at
Adairsville and stopped. The freight train was standing on the side-track,
ready to pull out. Andrews jumped to the platform:
"I'm running this special train to Chattanooga," he announced. "Some of
Beauregard's troops have been cut off by Mitchel. Is the passenger train
waiting for me at Calhoun?"
"I don't know," answered the amazed station agent. The conductor and the
engineer of the freight train came running up.
"What's this--what's this?" asked the conductor.
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