By three o'clock in the afternoon he was thoroughly exhausted by the
strain. The eager crowds had sapped his last ounce of vitality.
The conductor of the train looked at him with pity and whispered:
"I'll save you at the next station."
The leader smiled his gratitude for the sympathy but wondered how it
could be done.
At the next stop, the Senator had just taken his position on the rear
platform, lifted his hand for silence and said:
"Friends and fellow citizens--"
The engine suddenly blew off steam with hiss and roar and when it ceased
the train pulled out with a jerk amid the shouts and protests of the
crowd. The grateful speaker waved his hand in regretful but happy
farewell.
The conductor repeated the trick for three stations until the exhausted
speaker had recovered his strength and then allowed him a few brief
remarks at each stop.
From the moment the train entered the State of Mississippi, grim,
earnest men in groups of two, three, four and a dozen stepped on board,
saluted their Chief and took their seats.
When the engine pulled into the station at Jackson a full brigade of
volunteer soldiers had taken their places in the ranks.
The Governor and state officials met their leader and grasped his hand.
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