46 THF FACE OF THE FIELDS 



head on, and topping a little hill I swept down 

 upon a freight train, the black smoke pouring 

 from the stack, as the mighty creature got itself 

 together for its swift run down the rails. 



"My horse was on the gallop, going with the 

 track, and straight toward the coming train. The 

 sight of it almost maddened me — the bare 

 thought of it, on the road to Boston ! On I went; 

 on it came, a half — a quarter of a mile between 

 us, when suddenly my road shot out along an 

 unfenced field with only a level stretch of sod 

 between me and the engine. 



"With a pull that lifted the horse from his feet, 

 I swung him into the field and sent him straight 

 as an arrow for the track. That train should carry 

 me and my eggs to Boston ! 



" The engineer pulled the rope. He saw me 

 standing up in the rig, saw my hat blow off, saw 

 me wave my arms, saw the tin pail swing in my 

 teeth, and he jerked out a succession of sharp 

 halts ! But it was he who should halt, not I ; and 

 on we went, the horse with a flounder landing the 

 carriage on top of the track. 



" The train was already grinding to a stop ; but 

 before it was near a standstill, I had backed off 



