I
`up brakes' again, and then I told Flanagan, my fireman,
to go back to the baggage-car, and see if they would lend
me some tobacco. You see, we wanted to talk, and we
didn't want him to see. `Mr. Todhunter and I will feed
her till you come back,' says I to Flanagan. In a
minute after he had gone, August Todhunter came forward
on the engine; and, I tell you, she did fly!
"`Not too fast,' said Bill, `not too fast: too fast
is as bad as too slow.'
"`Never you fear me,' says I. `I guess I know this
road and this engine. Take out your watch, and time the
mile-posts,' says I; and he timed them. `Thirty-eight
seconds,' says he; `thirty-seven and a half, thirty-six,
thirty-six, thirty-six,'--three times thirty-six, as we
passed the posts, just as regular as an old clock! And
then we came right on the mile-post you know at Old
Flander's. `Thirty-six,' says Bill again. And then she
took the switch,--I can hear that switch-rod ring under
us now Mr. Ingham,--and then--we were clear!
"Wasn't it grand? The range was a little bit up,
you see, at first; but it seemed as if we were flying
just straight across. All the rattle of the rail
stopped, you know, though the pistons worked just as true
as ever; neither of us said one word, you know; and she
just flew--well, as you see a hawk fly sometimes, when he
pounces, you know, only she flew so straight and true!
I think you may have dreamed of such things.
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