Harold Bindloss

“ In the auld days a division boss was a kin' o' Pharo, and an express engineer a great man. Train-hands and round-house slouches, such as ye, were the brickmakers."
"Well," remarked a third, "if Jake Thomson brings the Experimental in on schedule, he'll be as big a man as you."
Forbes did not answer, but mused about his son-in-law, who, tormented by poignant anxiety and perhaps bodily pain, was hurrying the heavy train through the blinding storm. ”

“ Behind came a row of box-cars that vanished as they passed. The engineer took her to the water tank, and then leaned, white-faced and shaking, against a locker as Forbes climbed on board.
"How's Jeannie? Has she come through?" he gasped.
"She's doing weel," Forbes said. "But hand up, man! Ye're looking like a ghost."
Jake sat down on the locker, slack with the reaction relief had brought, but the lines on his forehead indicated physical stress and pain. His jaded fireman was occupied outside the cab.
"It's true?" he said. "The operation went all right? She'll get better?" ”

“ One needs steady nerve to bring in the heavy train on time when wash-outs remove the gravel under the rails, and when the wires go down and the track is lost in blinding snow. Moreover, Forbes had a failing not very uncommon in Canada and the Old Country. ”

“ A few cars will not matter if she makes her time."
Panting steadily, Number 09997 climbed a long grade, and Forbes looked at his watch when the quickening motion told him that she had crossed the summit.
"Noo," he said, "hand tight while I race her in! "
The bush in front was open—the gale had swept the track—and the fireman braced himself for the maddest part of the run, as Forbes hurled the Experimental down hill. ”

“ Forty miles to Franklin—perhaps the worst bit on the line, and we're behind schedule now."
"I doot ye canna make it," Forbes replied. "Noo, mark me weel, my lad. Ye never were a driver, though ye got and held the job; I've seen ye strained and shaky when ye cam off the train. But ye're educate', and the bosses think weel o' ye. If ye can make good for a year or two, it's a superintendent's post ye'll get, but there's no promotion if ye put a failure til your name." ”

“ Ten minutes later the locomotive stopped a moment at the switches and then rolled slowly back to the cars. The fireman was occupied with his tanks and coal, and only noticed that the cab door was quickly opened and shut. A lantern, flickered, somebody shouted, and there was a horrible harsh grating as Number 09997 pulled out.
"It's fierce. I just hate to hear a big train start when she's been standing in the frost," the fireman remarked, and then paused and gazed at the driver open-mouthed. "Now, what the——"
"Civility's no expensive," Forbes rejoined. ”

“ He loved his daughter as he had loved his wife, who died long since and left him with the child, and for three weeks had watched beside her sick-bed with tense anxiety. The surgeon from Toronto had, however, left that day. ”