Dave Porter in the Far North: or, The Pluck of an American Schoolboy. Stratemeyer Edward
think we must be off the track."
"It's a wonder the train didn't go over."
"It couldn't go over, for we are down in a cut."
As one end of the car was up and the other down, the boys knew something serious was the matter. Taking up their hand baggage, they followed some of the passengers outside and jumped down in the snow.
It did not take long to learn the truth of the situation. A turnout on the track had become clogged with ice, and the locomotive and two cars had jumped the track and bumped along the ties for a distance of two hundred feet. Nobody had been hurt, and even the train was not seriously damaged, although one pair of car-trucks would have to be repaired.
"I don't believe they can get the cars and the locomotive back on the track right away," said Dave. "They'll have to have the wrecking train and crew down here."
When appealed to, the conductor said he did not know how soon they would be able to move again. Probably not in three or four hours, and maybe not until the next morning.
"I'll have to walk back to Raytown and telegraph to headquarters," he explained.
"We are in a pickle, and no mistake," was Roger's comment. "I must say I don't feel like staying on the train all night – it's too cold and uncomfortable."
In the group of passengers was Isaac Pludding, storming angrily at everything and everybody.
"It's an outrage!" he declared, to a bystander. "I must get to Oakdale by seven o'clock. I've got a business deal for some cattle I must close. If I don't get there, somebody else may buy the cattle."
"I hope he gets left," said Phil, softly.
"So do I," returned Dave.
"If we could only hire a big sleigh and some horses, we might drive to Oakdale," suggested Ben.
"Hurrah, that's the talk!" cried Dave. "There must be some farmhouse near here."
"Say, if you can get a sleigh, I'll pay my share, if you'll take me along," put in Nat Poole, eagerly. He hated to think of being left behind.
"All right, Nat, I'm willing," said Dave, generously.
"We've got to find the sleigh first," added the senator's son.
"And see if we can get horses enough to pull it," said Ben. "Some farmers won't let their horses out in such a storm as this – and you can't blame 'em much, either."
"If we can't get a sleigh, perhaps we can stay at some farmhouse all night," suggested Sam.
All of the party climbed through the snow to the top of the railroad cut and then looked around for some buildings.
"I see a light!" cried Phil, and pointed it out, between some bare trees.
"It's a house; come on," replied Dave, and set off without delay, the others following. "Who knows but that somebody else may want to ride, and if so, we want to be first to get a sleigh."
It was rather a toilsome journey to the farmhouse. Between them and the place were a barn and a cow-shed, and just as they passed the former there arose a fierce barking, and three big black dogs came bounding toward the students.
"Look out! The dogs will chew us up!" yelled Nat Poole, in terror, and started to retreat.
"Down!" called out Dave, who was still in advance. "Down, I say! Charge!" But instead of obeying, the big dogs continued to approach until they were within a dozen feet of the students. Then they lined up, growled fiercely, and showed their teeth.
"Let us get into the barn," suggested Roger, and flung open a door that was handy. Into the building they went pell-mell, Dave being the last to enter. One dog made a dart at the youth's leg, but Dave gave him a kick that sent him back. Then the door was slammed shut and latched, and the students found themselves in utter darkness.
"Wonder if they can get in any other way?" asked Phil, after a second of silence, during which they heard the dogs barking outside.
"I doubt if any of the doors are open in this storm," answered Shadow.
"Let us get up in – in the loft!" suggested Nat Poole. He was as white as the snow outside and his teeth were chattering from something else besides the cold.
"That's a good idea," said Dave. "But we must have a light to learn where the loft is. Anybody got a match?"
Nobody had such an article, and a groan went up. Nat Poole was appealed to, for the others knew he had been smoking on the train.
"My matchbox is empty," said he. "I am going to hunt for the loft ladder in the dark."
"Be careful, or you may run into some troublesome horse," cautioned Dave.
The boys moved slowly around in the dark. They could hear the sounds of several horses feeding and the barking of the dogs. Then, quite unexpectedly, came the cracking of a board, a yell of alarm from Nat Poole, and a loud splash.
"Help! I am drowning! Save me!"
CHAPTER IV
WHAT HAPPENED AT THE BARN
"Nat has fallen into the water!"
"Where is he? I can't see a thing."
"He must have gone down in some cistern."
These and other cries rang out, and all of the boys of Oak Hall were filled with consternation. Dave had located the splash fairly well, and as quickly as he could he felt his way in that direction.
"Nat, where are you?" he called out.
"Here, down in a cistern! Help me out, or I'll be frozen to death."
Dave now reached the edge of the cistern. Two of the boards which had covered it had broken, letting Nat down quite unexpectedly. Fortunately there was only three feet of water in the cistern, so there was no fear of drowning. But the water was icy and far from agreeable.
As Dave leaned down to give Poole his hand, the door of the barn was flung open and a farmer strode in, a lantern in one hand and a stout stick in the other. The man held the light over his head and looked around suspiciously.
"Wot yeou fellers doin' here?" he demanded.
"Come here with the light – one of our party has fallen into the cistern!" cried Dave.
"Into the cistern, eh? Mebbe it serves him right. Ain't got no business in my barn," answered the farmer, as he came closer.
"We ran in because your dogs came after us," explained Roger.
"An' where did yeou come from? Ye don't belong around here, I know."
"We came from the train – it's off the track," said Dave. "But help us get this boy out first and then we'll explain."
"Train off the track? Well, I snum!" cried the farmer. Then he set down the lantern and aided in bringing Nat Poole to the flooring of the barn. "Putty cold, I'll bet a quart o' shellbarks," he added, grinning at the lad's wet and shivering figure.
"Can't we get him into the house by the fire?" asked Ben. "We'll pay you for your trouble."
Now if there was one thing Shadrach Mellick loved, it was money, and at the mention of pay he was all attention. He asked a few questions, and then led the way out of the barn and towards his house. The dogs wanted to follow, but he drove them back.
"Their bark is worse nor their bite," he explained. "They wouldn't hurt yeou very much." Then he asked about the train, and the students gave him the particulars of the mishap. In the meantime Mrs. Mellick bustled around and got Nat Poole some dry clothing and allowed him to change his garments in a side room that chanced to be warm.
The boys soon learned that Shadrach Mellick owned a sleigh large enough to accommodate the entire party, and also four good, strong horses. For ten dollars he agreed to take them to Oak Hall, stopping at Oakdale on the way, to see if the school sleigh was waiting for them.
"The sooner we start the better," said Dave. And then he added in a whisper to Roger and Phil: "If we don't, some other passengers from the train may come up here and offer him more money for his turnout."
"Let