One man
was breaking the walls of the car with the iron bar, throwing the boards
back as he pounded and wrenched them loose. Then, suddenly, the blaze
increased and the car was filled with smoke. Flames leaped several feet in
the air, mounting high and higher until they spread out against the roof of
the car.
"More logs, Tom."
Tom recognized Shadrack's voice. He passed log after log back.
The train emerged from the tunnel. The car was leaving a trail of smoke
behind it; flames were darting from the side doors and flowing back against
the walls. Several of the men climbed into the tender, wiping their eyes
and coughing. More followed them until the tender seemed overflowing.
"All out, I guess," said Ross. "Whew! that's a hot fire."
"Where's Shadrack?" demanded Tom. They glanced about from one to another.
Shadrack was not among them.
Tom jumped up to the edge of the tender and let himself down into the
freight car.
"Shadrack!" he called; then louder, "Shadrack! Shadrack!"
There was no answer. The dense smoke choked and blinded him. "Shadrack!" He
ran down the car, holding his breath and dodging the flames. "Shadrack!"
"Here!"
"Where?"
"Outside."
Tom swung out around the end of the car and found Shadrack on the ladder,
climbing and fighting the waves of smoke which drifted back upon him,
enveloping him, from the side door.
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