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 THE LAKE SHORE SERIES. 
 
 LIGHTNING EXPRESS; 
 
 OK, 
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 
 
 BY 
 
 OLIVER OPTIC, 
 
 AUTHOE OF " TOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," " THE ARMY AND KAVT STORIES," 
 
 "THE WOODVILLE STORIES,'' "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," 
 
 " XUE STARRY FLAG SERIES," ETC. 
 
 BOSTON : 
 LEE AND SIIEPAKD, PUBLISHERS. 
 
 KEW YOUK: 
 LEE, SIIETAHD AND DIM, INGHAM. 
 
 1810.
 
 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, 
 By WILLIAM T. ADAJVIS 
 In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, 
 
 tlectrotyped at the 
 
 Boston Stereotype Foundry, 
 
 19 Spring Lane.
 
 
 TO 
 
 HI YOUNG FEIEND 
 
 JAMES DEWITT CARSON 
 
 IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.
 
 TSE LAKE SHORE SEMIES, 
 
 1. THROUGH BY DAYLIGHT ; or, The Young Engineer 
 
 of the Lake Shore Railroad. 
 
 2. LIGHTNING EXPRESS; or, The Rival Academies. 
 
 3. ON TIME; or, The Young Captain of the Ucayga 
 
 Steamer. 
 
 4. SWITCH OFF: or. The War of the Students. 
 
 5. BRAKE UP; or, The Young Peacemakers. 
 
 6. BEAR AND FORBEAR; or, The Young Skipper of Lake 
 
 Ucaj'ga.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 Lightning Exphess is the second volume of the Lake 
 Shore Series, and has been published in Oliver Optic's 
 Magazine, Our Boys and Girls. The story, like its prede- 
 cessor, relates to the Lake Shore Railroad, though the war 
 between the rival academies occupies a considerable portion 
 of the book. Waddie "Wimpleton and Tommy Toppleton, as 
 they appear in these volumes, are not strangers, in real life, 
 to the writer; and probably all his readers are familiar with 
 similar young gentlemen in their own spheres. 
 
 The author has endeavored to keep the moral movement of 
 the story up to the proper standard, and is not afraid that 
 any reasonable young man will like either Tommy or Waddie 
 well enough to imitate their conduct, while he is satisfied that 
 all will be pleased with the moral heroism of "Wolf Penniman, 
 and will indorse his views of Christian duty. 
 
 Habbisom Square, Mass., 
 
 July 21, 1869. 
 
 (6)
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 A Stockholders' Meeting 11 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 The Stockholders in Council 22 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 The" President of the Road 34 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 Off fob th£ Camf 45 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 A Breezt Prospect ahead 57 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 A Mission of Peace G9 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Major Tommy gets mad 81 
 
 (7)
 
 8 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 Charge Bayonets! ..... 93 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 Feathers and the Engineer 104 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 Keeping the Peace 116 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 At the Horse Shoe 128 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 Up the Lake 139 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 If thine Enemt hunger „ « 150 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 Colonel WmPLEiON bids high 162 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 She Impending Battle 174 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 fHE Battle of the Horse Shoe 186 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 The Prisoner of "War 198
 
 COXTENTS. 
 
 9 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 Rescuing a Prisoner 210 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 A Ttrannical Son 222 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 The Lightning Express Train 233 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 Making vf Time 244 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 The New Fireman - . . . 254 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 The President and the Engineer 2CG 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 The President has a Fall 278 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 The President in Trouble 290 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 The New Steameb 300
 
 LIGHTNING EXPRESS; 
 
 OK, 
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 A stockholders' meeting. 
 
 « y^RDER, gentlemen, order!" said Mr. Tommy 
 \_^ Toppleton, rapping his gavel on the desk 
 before him. "While I am president of the Lake 
 Shore Railroad, I will have order!" 
 
 Tommy was the son of his father; on this ques- 
 tion there could be no dispute. Not only was his 
 father a great man, but Tommy, in his own esti- 
 mation, was a great man also ; on this question, 
 unfortunately, there was some dispute. Perhaps it 
 was the young gentleman's misfortune, certainly it 
 was not his fault, that he was the only son of a 
 
 (11)
 
 12 LIGHTXING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 very rich father, and had been indulged until he 
 was, so far as the circumstances would admit, a 
 spoiled child. He had many excellent qualities ; 
 but he had come to think that among the boys he 
 was the central figure, and that without him they 
 were nothing, and could do nothing. 
 
 Tommy regarded other boys, even the students 
 of the Toppleton Institute who were his equals in 
 wealth and social jDosition, as in some sense foot- 
 balls for his capricious toes. Many of his conij^an- 
 ions did not like him, because he "jDut on airs," 
 because he was overbearing and tyrannical to his 
 inferiors, and because he always claimed the high- 
 est position and the loftiest dignity among them. 
 When the Lake Shore Railroad Company was or- 
 ganized, he was elected one of the board of direct- 
 ors, and then by them was chosen president. He 
 had filled this office from the beginning, and he 
 expected always to fill it. 
 
 The company had been in operation about a year, 
 during which time it had dealt mainly with imagi- 
 nary certificates of stock, bonds, rolling stock, and 
 other material, the object being to give the stu-
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 13 
 
 dents a knowledsje of railroad business. The actual 
 building of the road had rendered the company 
 somewhat more real; but, as all the proj^erty "svas 
 in fact owned by Major Toppleton, who held the 
 bonds of the company for its full value, it was still 
 to the students an educational rather than a prac- 
 tical business enterj^rise. The real owner, there- 
 fore, was the real manager of the road. He told 
 the directors what votes to pass, and they were 
 ]>liant enough to obey. All the forms of electing 
 officers, appointing the superintendent, road-master, 
 engineers, and other officers, were punctiliously ad- 
 hered to. 
 
 The capital stock of the company was two hun- 
 dred thousand dollars, represented by two thousand 
 shares of one hundred dollars each, which had been 
 apportioned among the students of the Institute, in 
 unequal parts. Some owned one hundred shares, 
 others only two or three. Tommy Toppleton was 
 the happy possessor of a quarter part of the capital 
 stock of the concern, and threw five hundred votes, 
 each representing a sliare, in a stockholders' meet- 
 ing. An account was kept with each owner of
 
 14 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OE 
 
 stock, and transfers from one to another were fre- 
 quent. I am sorry to detract from the dignity of 
 the enterprise by confessing that a share, whose par 
 value was one hundred dollars, was frequently bar- 
 tered away for a pint of pea-nuts, though, as the 
 road, like many others, was mortgaged for its full 
 value, perhaps the compensation was adequate. 
 
 Two thousand mortgage bonds of one hundred 
 dollars each had been issued, duly signed by the 
 officers, and bearing interest at seven per cent. As 
 the company had no receipts for the first quarter 
 of the year, the railroad was heavily in debt, and 
 the students were not likely to be burdened with 
 any extra spending money from their dividends. I 
 had run the dummy during the fall and winter, 
 carrying passengers as far as Grass Springs ; not for 
 the fun of it, but at regular fares — twenty cents 
 to Spangleport, five miles distant, fifty cents to the 
 Springs, thirteen miles, and between the two latter 
 points, thirty cents. There had been considerable 
 travel, enough to make a breeze with the steam- 
 boat company, though not enough to pay the inter- 
 est and expenses of running.
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 15 
 
 As the students were not permitted to neglect 
 their studies for the purpose of serving as con- 
 ductors and engineers, outsiders had been employed 
 to some extent. Major Toppleton did not regard 
 the Lake Shore Railroad as a mere plaything. Dur- 
 ing the winter he had procured his charter, and he 
 had expended an immense sum of money on the 
 road since he commenced, for his ideas had enlarged 
 as he progressed, and he intended to have a regular 
 line to TJcayga, at the foot of the lake. In a quiet 
 way he had bought up the stock of the steamboat 
 company, and a report was circulated in the spring 
 that the boats would run only between Middleport 
 and Ilitaca, at the head of the lake, when the rail- 
 road was completed. The Centreporters were filled 
 with horror and indignation, for this scheme would 
 leave them no means of communication with TJcay- 
 ga, on the great lines of railroad, except by the way 
 of Middleport, and would compel them to patron- 
 ize the hated Lake Shore line. But this project was 
 only rumored ; it had not yet been developed. 
 
 The assembly in wliich Mr. Tommy Toppleton 
 insisted that order should be preserved while he
 
 16 LIGIITNIXG EXPKESS, OK 
 
 was the president of the Lake Shore RaUroad, was 
 the annual meeting of the stockholders, at which the 
 election of officers was to take place. By permis- 
 sion of Major Topplcton I was allowed to own five 
 shares in the road, though, as I was not a member 
 of the Institute, I was not eligible as a purchaser 
 of stock. But I felt an interest in the enterprise, 
 1 and an interest in the method of conductinc: the 
 business, and I had purchased my stock at a' fear- 
 / ful depreciation from the par value. One of the 
 ', fellows, by the name of Limpenfield, had run out 
 of pocket money, and being sorely tempted to en- 
 joy a feast of cream cakes, I had taken advantage 
 of his necessities, and bought five shares for twenty- 
 five cents! 
 
 The meeting threatened to be rather stormy, for 
 I happened to know that there were two tickets 
 in the field for a board of directors, on one of 
 which the name of Tommy Toppleton did not ap- 
 ' pear, though the canvassing had been so carefully 
 •i conducted that the person principally concerned had 
 no suspicion of his own unpopularity, and least of 
 all that the stockholders would have the audacity
 
 THE EIVAIi ACADEMLES. 17 
 
 to tip him out of his exalted position. But this 
 question had not yet come to an issue/ The ex- 
 citement was over another matter. 
 
 "I move you that we proceed to the election of 
 officers at once," said Barnscott. 
 
 "I move you that we adjourn to Grass Springs!" 
 shouted Wetherstane. 
 
 "Second the motion!" added Putnam. 
 
 " Order, gentlemen ! What motion do you sec- 
 ond, Putnam?" demanded the president. 
 
 "The motion to adjourn to Grass Springs, of 
 course." 
 
 "What do we want to adjourn to Grass Springs 
 for?" demanded Barnscott. 
 
 " Question ! Question ! " called the crowd. 
 
 " There is no motion before the stockholders ! " 
 roared Tommy, hammering the desk vigorously with 
 liis gavel, for he was a model presiding officer, and 
 would no more have served in this capacity Avithout 
 a gavel than he would have gone to meeting with- 
 out a coat. 
 
 " Mr. President, I made a motion," said Barnscott. 
 
 "So did I," added Wetherstane. 
 2
 
 18 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 "Neither of them is before the house. Gentle- 
 men, you interrupt the comjiany's business by your 
 disorder. I insist that the proceedings be conducted 
 with parliamentary propriety." Tommy had been to 
 the legislature with his father when the charter was 
 obtained, and indulged in technical phrases which 
 all the students did not fully comprehend. 
 
 " I move you — " 
 
 "Order!" screamed Tommy, at the top of his 
 lungs, and as savage as a yellow wasp 
 
 " I move you — " 
 
 " Order ! " repeated the vigorous jKeiident, indi- 
 cating each of the movers by pointing at them 
 with his gavel. "Take your seat, Barnscott! Sit 
 down, AYetherstane ! This business shall be done 
 in an orderly manner, or not at all ; " and Tommy 
 swelled up till he was as big as the presiding 
 officer of the Senate of the United States. 
 
 "I thought this was a free country, and that 
 the stockholders of the Lake Shore Railroad had 
 a right to speak in the meetings," growled the irre- 
 pressible Barnscott. 
 
 " Sit down ! " thundered Tommy.
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 19 
 
 "I have a certificate for ten shares; and that 
 gives me the right to speak and to vote in this 
 meeting," added the indignant Wetherstane. 
 
 "Take your seat, or I will have you put out of 
 the hall ! " yelled the president. 
 
 "I'll sell my stock to any fellow that wants it 
 for a stick of molasses candy," continued the wrathy 
 Barnscott. " What is the use of owninsr stock if 
 you are to be muzzled like a mad doir ? " 
 
 " Shall we have order, or not ? " cried the presi- 
 dent, disgusted with the irregular proceedings of 
 the turbulent stockholders. 
 
 "Order! Order!" shouted a respectable majority 
 of the assembly. 
 
 Tommy was evidently out of breath, and disposed 
 to resort to disagreeable measures. The meetin"- 
 was held iu the chapel of the Institute, and the 
 |)rincipal, if not the major, was within calling dis- 
 tance. Katlier tlian have a lecture from either of 
 ihem, the violent makers of motions subsided for a 
 time, and permitted the president to do the lec- 
 turing. Tommy took a swallow of water from a 
 tumbler on the desk, and then looked majestically
 
 20 LIGHTNING EXPEESS, OR 
 
 around the room, as if to satisfy himself that no 
 further disorder was intended, and that the turbu- 
 lent ones were disposed to listen to his remarks. 
 
 "Gentlemen, order is Heaven's first law, and it 
 must be the first law of the Lake Shore Railroad 
 Company, especially in a meeting of its stockhold- 
 ers," Tommy began, and then 25aiised, looking as 
 solemn as an owl at noonday, to note the effect of 
 his impressive words. 
 
 As no one objected to this proposition. Tommy 
 took another swallow of cold water, and proceeded 
 with his remarks. 
 
 "No business can be done while we are in con- 
 fusion," he continued, with due seriousness, as he 
 straightened back his neck. " This is a parliamenta- 
 ry assembly, like the legislature of the state, and 
 we purpose to do all things in a parliamentary 
 manner. Such bodies, met together for purposes 
 of debate, are subject to certain well-established 
 rules, sanctioned by usage, and governed by prece- 
 dents." 
 
 " Whew ! " whistled Briscoe. " I wonder what 
 book he stole that from."
 
 TOE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 21 
 
 "I beg your pardon, Mr. President, but I made a 
 motion, which was properly seconded," interrupted 
 "Wetherstaue, quite mildly now. "I don't think any 
 other business can be brought before the house till 
 that one has been settled." 
 
 "The motion was in order, — a motion to adjourn 
 is always in order, — but it was not properly before 
 the stockholders. The motion does not become a 
 question, and is not before the house, until it has 
 been stated by the presiding officer. A motion can- 
 not be entertained until it has been seconded ; and 
 made and seconded, it does not become a question 
 until it has been stated by the president. One ques- 
 tion must be disposed of before another can be en- 
 tertained. Gentlemen, I insist upon order. I am 
 now ready to hear any motion;" and Tommy, hav- 
 ing laid down the law, intended that everybody 
 should abide by it.
 
 22 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE STOCKHOLDERS IN COUNCIL. 
 
 R. TOMMY TOPPLETON" had reduced the 
 riotous assembly before him to a tolerable 
 degree of subjection. The president was obliged to 
 embody in his own person the dignity of the Lake 
 Shore Railroad, since those in front of him refused 
 to be conscious of the glory of being stockholders. 
 He was ready to hear any motion, and it was evi- 
 dent that he intended to keep the peace. But the 
 boys were really excited. They had been discuss- 
 ing the interests of the road, and some of their 
 projects would certainly jDrove to be treasonable to 
 the house of Toppleton. It must be confessed that 
 a great many of them could not see the difference 
 between their own interests and those of the road ; 
 and being excited, they did not set a good exani- 
 ple to their elders in Congress and other delibera-
 
 "^^^^^plll
 
 TIHl' EIVAL ACADEMIES. 23 
 
 tive bodies, but behaved very much like full-grown 
 men on similar occasions. 
 
 "Mr. President," said Wetherstane, sjiringing to 
 his feet, as soon as it was evident that a motion 
 was in order, 
 
 "Mr. President," called Barnscott, almost at the 
 same instant. "I move — " 
 
 " Wetherstane has the floor," interposed the im- 
 partial presiding officer, vigorously pounding the 
 desk with his gavel ; and I must say he made 
 noise €a|Dugh to entitle him to preference as one 
 of the gentlemanly conductors on our road, where 
 noise seemed to be at a premium. 
 
 " "What sort of way is that ? " d^emanded Barn- 
 scott. " I have the floor." 
 
 " Wetherstane attracted my attention first, and 
 he has the floor," replied Tommy, decidedly. 
 
 " I was up first," persisted Barnscott. 
 
 "Take your seat, sir!" roared the president; and 
 the pine boards of which the lid of the desk was 
 composed were in imminent danger of being frac- 
 tured by his gavel. 
 
 " Mr. President, I rise to a point of order," said 
 Leonox.
 
 24 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OB 
 
 " Order, gentlemen ! " roared Tommy. " I have 
 decided that Wetherstflne has the floor. If any 
 stockholder is so disi^osed, he can appeal from the 
 decision of the chair." 
 
 Under ordinary circumstances, Tommy Topj)leton 
 did not permit any appeal from the decision of the 
 chair, and always insisted upon having his own way ; 
 but it Avas in the nature of a triumph for him to 
 direct the deliberations of his fellow-students, and 
 to introduce forms and methods of which the ma- 
 jori^.y of them had never heard. ^m 
 
 "J ajDpeal from the decision of the chair," added 
 Lennox. 
 
 "Points of order necessarily take precedence of 
 all other questions," said Tommy, with the utmost 
 dignity and self-possession. 
 
 " Ahem ! " coughed a fellow in the crowd, which 
 brought down a regular board-splitter from the 
 gavel. 
 
 "The chair decided that Wetherstane had the 
 floor. An appeal is taken. The question now be- 
 fore the house is, Shall the decision of tbe chair 
 stand as the decision of the stockholders? This
 
 THE KIVAL ACADEMIES. 25 
 
 question is debatable, and the presiding officer may 
 participate in the discussion. You will all see that, 
 occupying a position where I can see all the mem- 
 bers of the assembly, I could not very well make 
 a mistake in regard to who spoke first. I am quite 
 confident that Wetherstane had said 'Mr. Presi- 
 dent' befiDre Barnscott opened his mouth." 
 
 Various opinions were cxjiressed by individual 
 stockholders, and they were about equally divided 
 on the merits of the question. Each claimant for 
 the floof had half a dozen advoi^ates, who were 
 confident that their man had spoken first. It was 
 really a matter between Tommy and the stock- 
 holders, which they were likely to decide as they 
 loved or hated the president. 
 
 " Question ! Question ! " called the students, when 
 they began to be weary of the fruitless debate. 
 
 "Those, in favor of sustaining the decision of the 
 chair will manifest it by saying, 'Ay.'" 
 
 "Ay!" shouted many voices. 
 
 " Those opposed say, ' No.' " 
 
 " No ! " responded the determined opponents of the 
 president.
 
 26 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 "It is a vote!" said Tommy, who was not quite 
 willing to believe that one of his decisions could 
 be reversed by a majority. 
 
 "A vote!" exclaimed Lennox. "Why, Mr. Presi- 
 dent — " 
 
 " Silence, sir ! A vote cannot be debated," thun- 
 dered Tommy, with awful dignity. " Any member 
 has the riglit to doubt the vote, and call for a 
 count." 
 
 " I doubt the vote, Mr. President, and call for a 
 count," added Lennox. ^^m 
 
 " The vote is doubted," said Tommy, rapping vio- 
 lently to repress the noise aud confusion. "Those 
 in favor of sustaining the decision of the chair will 
 rise and stand uncovered till counted." 
 
 " Uncovered ? " demanded Briscoe. " Shall we take 
 our things off? " 
 
 " Order ! " 
 
 Tommy's friends, and those who had not back- 
 bone enough to vote against his decision, rose and 
 were counted. I voted with this side because I 
 really believed that Wetherstane had spoken first. 
 * "Twenty-one," said the president, after he had
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 27 
 
 counted the affirmatives ; and I noticed that hia 
 lips were compressed, as if to subdue some angry- 
 emotions which he felt at the result. 
 
 " Those opposed stand till counted." 
 
 A large majority, obtaining pluck from mere num- 
 bers, sprang to their feet. 
 
 "xVU up! All up !"» shouted the more demonstra- 
 tive, of the rebels, who had doubtless been to town 
 meetings in their day. 
 
 " Order ! " screamed Tommy, more fiercely than 
 ever ; n||f the vote, to him, looked like factious 
 opposition. "Eighty-six in the negative," he added, 
 when he had completed the count. 
 
 Silence reigned in the hall then, and perhaps 
 many of the students were appalled to think of 
 Avhat they had done. They had actually voted 
 down the high and mighty Tommy Toppleton, 
 whose word was law. The experience of the na- 
 tions that deliberative bodies are not favorable to 
 llie rule of tyrants was in a fair way to be realized 
 by the heir of the house of Toppleton. The boys 
 watched the president, expecting an outburst of 
 indignation and wrath at his defeat; but, happily,
 
 *2S LIGIITiSnXG EXPRESS, OR 
 
 the dignity of tlie presiding officer prevailed over 
 the feelings of the individuul, and with a mighty , 
 struggle he repressed his emotions. As I have had 
 occasion to say before, Tommy was in the main a 
 good fellow; he would have been a first-rate one 
 if he had not been spoiled by the weak indulgence 
 of his father and mother. He had been taught to 
 have his own way, and his passions were a volcano 
 within him, ready to break out whenever he was 
 thwarted. I am inclined to think this was^he first 
 time he had ever conquered himself^ and 'restrained 
 his wrath when defeated. 
 
 "The decision is in the negative," added Tommy, 
 with admirable self-possession for one of his tempera- 
 ment. "Barnscott has the floor." 
 
 " Mr. President," said the lucky claimant, "I move 
 that we proceed to the election of officers for the 
 ensuing year." 
 
 "Second the motion," added Faxon. 
 
 "It is moved and seconded that the stockholders 
 proceed to the election of officers," continued Tom- 
 my, who could not see why all this storm had been 
 created on so simple a proposition. "The question 
 is now before the house."
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 29 
 
 " Mr. President ! " shouted Wethcrstane, loud 
 enouirh to have been heard on the other side of 
 tTcayga Lake. 
 
 " Wetherstane," replied Tommy, indicating that the 
 speaker had the floor. 
 
 "I move you that we adjourn to Grass Springs 
 at two o'clock this afternoon," added the young gen- 
 tleman, who, beyond the possibility of a doubt, had 
 tlie floor now. 
 
 " Second the motion," added Putnam. 
 
 " It nPknoved and seconded that we adjourn to 
 Grass Springs at two o'clock this afternoon," repeat- 
 ed the president, wondering what this movement 
 meant. 
 
 " What's to be done with my motion ? " demanded 
 Barnscott. " I thousrht one tliinoj had to be settled 
 before another was brought uj^." 
 
 "A motion to adjourn is always in order," said 
 tlic president. 
 
 "31r. President, I rise to a point of order," in- 
 terjjo.sed Skotchley, a quiet kind of fellow, who had 
 studied deeper into parliamentary law than even 
 Tijniiny Toj)[)leton, for he had been the jiresiding 
 oflicer of a juvenile debating society.
 
 30 LIGHTNING EXPEESS, OR 
 
 " State your point, Skotchley." 
 
 "I respectfully submit that the motion to adjourn 
 is not in order, for the reason that, to entitle it to 
 precedence, it should simply be a motion to adjourn 
 without fixing a time." 
 
 Tommy was nonplussed. The question took him 
 out of his depth. lie had Cushing's Manual in his 
 pocket, but it Avould not be dignified to consult it 
 in the presence of the stockholders. However, he 
 knew that Skotchley was well posted, and he deemed 
 it prudent to follow his lead. ^^ 
 
 " The chair decides that the point is well taken, 
 and that the motion to adjourn is not in order," 
 said he, though probably he would not have been 
 so pliant if he had not been opposed to the sub- 
 stance of the motion. " By the ruling out of this 
 motion, Barnscott's is now in order." 
 
 " That's a pretty how d'ye do ! " exclaimed Putnam. 
 
 " Order ! The motion to proceed to the choice 
 of officers is now before the house." 
 
 " Mr. President, I move to amend the motion by 
 the addition of the words, ' at Grass Springs at two 
 o'clock this afternoon,'" said Wetherstane.
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 31 
 
 " Second the motion," added Putnam, who was 
 evidently "in the ring," for he seconded only the 
 Grass Springs motions. 
 
 Tommy stated the amendment, and there was a 
 silence of a minute or two, for a wonder. Then 
 Barnscott did not see why the amendment had 
 been brought forward, and wanted to know what 
 Grass Springs had to do with election of officers. 
 He evidently was not " in the ring." lie should 
 vote against the amendment, and he hoped all the 
 rest of tlSe stockholders Avould do the same. 
 
 " Mr. President," said Briscoe, Avho had more 
 pluck than most of his companions, " who ever 
 heard of the stockholders of a railroad holdin<r a 
 meeting for the election of officers right in the 
 place where they do their business? It is con- 
 trary to custom, and I protest against any innova- 
 tions. They always have a free train, and take the 
 stockholders to a place where there is a good hotel. 
 After they have voted, they have a first-rate supper 
 at the expense of the corporation. If they don't 
 always do it, tliey always ought to do it. I am 
 in favor of having this meeting at the hotel in
 
 32 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 Grass Springs, and, after the business is done, of 
 eating as good a supper as the landlord can get 
 up for us." 
 
 " Question ! Question ! " shouted the stockhold- 
 ers, who seemed to be unanimously in favor of 
 following the precedent. 
 
 Barnscott made a speech in favor of an imme- 
 diate election. He did not believe stockholders 
 usually had a dinner ; but, as he continued his re- 
 marks rather longer than prudence justified, he was 
 intejTupted by calls for the question. # 
 
 " Are you ready for the question ? " said Tommy, 
 who did not know what to make of the remarkable 
 proceedings of the company. " You can vote what 
 you please, fellows ; but carrying out the A'ote is 
 quite another thing. You can vote that Lake Ucay- 
 ga dry up if you like, but it won't dry up." 
 
 " Dry up ! " shouted some of the ruder ones. 
 « Question ! " 
 
 " Those in favor of amending the motion will say 
 'Ay,'" added the president. 
 
 The motion was carried by a majority of three to 
 one. The original motion was then passed by a vote
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 33 
 
 of the same ratio. Briscoe then moved that the 
 directors be instructed to make the arrangements 
 for the meetina: and the dinner in the afternoon, 
 which was also carried. The meeting then ad- 
 journed ; but it was clear enough to Tommy Top- 
 pleton that the stockholders were taking things into 
 their own hands, and that his father would have 
 something to say in regard to the astounding vote. 
 5
 
 34 LIGHTNING EXPKBSS, OS 
 
 CHAPTER HI. 
 
 THB PRESIDENT OP THE ROAD. 
 
 "^"TTHAT does all this mean, Wolf?" said Mr. 
 T T Tommy Toppleton to me, after tlie stock- 
 holders' meeting had adjourned. 
 
 " What does it mean ? " I repeated, moved by the 
 condescension of the high and mighty scion of the 
 house of Toppleton in addressing me, and, in some 
 sense, making a confidant and adviser of me. 
 
 Probably he came to me because he was rather 
 confused in regard to the identity of his friends. As 
 president of the Lake Shore Railroad, he had ren- 
 dered a decision from which the stockholders had 
 appealed, and he had been beaten by a vote of four 
 to one. He was vexed and mortified at the result, 
 and was disposed to regard it as a personal insult. 
 He had always had his own way, and could see no 
 reason why he should not always have it. In the
 
 THE ETVAL ACADEMIES. 35 • 
 
 excitement of building the road, the students had 
 regarded him as the representative of his father, 
 who was doing an immensely gi*eat thing to add to 
 the popularity of the Toppleton Institute ; and hig 
 offensive manner, his domineering, haughty, and even 
 tyrannical conduct, had hardly been noticed. But, 
 after the road had lost its novelty, the lordly de- 
 meanor of the little magnate was not relished, and 
 he was beginning to feel the effects of his con- 
 duct. 
 
 I did not like to tell Tommy even as much of the 
 real tmth as I knew myself, and the leaders of the 
 opposition had not taken me into their confidence. 
 It was an ungracious task to inform the high-spir- 
 ited, uncurbed, and wilful young gentleman that his 
 fellow-students were dissatisfied with him, and that 
 an attempt to run him out of his office was to be 
 made. But Tommy put the question squarely to 
 me, and I could not well avoid the issue. He evi- 
 dently regarded me as a dependent of the house of 
 Toppleton, whose will could only be the reflection 
 of that of his employers. 
 
 " What does it mean? That's what I Avant to
 
 36 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 know," added Tommy, his flice lighted up with an 
 excitement which thi*eatened a storm. 
 
 "The fellows seem to be disposed to do things 
 as other corporations do," I replied, cautiously, for 
 I did not wish to rouse the sleeping lion in the 
 little lord. 
 
 " Wasn't I fair and impartial ? " demanded he. 
 
 " I think you were," I replied ; and I did not lose 
 sight of the fact that he had decided against Barn- 
 scott, whose motion he favored, when he gave the 
 floor to Wetherstane. 
 
 "The stockholders voted me down just as though 
 they meant to insult me," continued Tommy, smart- 
 ly. "Do you know why they want to go to Grass 
 Springs to elect officers?" 
 
 "For the sake of the dinner, I suppose," I an- 
 swered. " But, Tommy, there is going to be an 
 opposition to you, at this election." 
 
 " An opposition to me ! " exclaimed the president, 
 amazed at the intelligence. 
 
 "I have only heard it whispered among the fel- 
 lows." 
 
 "What have I done that the fellows should be 
 down upon me ? "
 
 THE KIVAL ACADEMIES. 37 
 
 " I don't know that I ought to say anything 
 about it, Tommy. It is really none of my business. 
 I shall vote for you." 
 
 " If you know anything about it, tell me," contin- 
 ued Tommy, ratlier imperiously. 
 
 " I only know that there is another ticket for 
 directors in the field," 
 
 "And my name is not upon it?" 
 
 "No, it is not." 
 
 Tommy stamped his foot upon the floor, and 
 looked decidedly ugly. I was rather sorry that I 
 had said anything, though it was better for him to 
 be prepared for the result before it was announced. 
 
 " TVolf, I don't blame you for this ; but I want 
 you to tell me all about it," said he, after he had 
 partially choked down his wrath. " What have 1 
 done to set the fellows against me ? What do they 
 say about it?" 
 
 "They say you put on airs — that you order them 
 around as thougli you were their master." 
 
 " Well, I am president of the road," said he, as 
 if this were a fiuflicient explanation ; and I think he 
 really considered it very unreasonable in the stu- 
 dents to object to his conduct.
 
 38 LIGHTNIlfG EXPRESS, OB 
 
 "I only tell you what the fellows say." 
 
 "Wolf, do you think I have put on airs?" de- 
 manded he. 
 
 " So far as I am concerned myself, I haven't a 
 word of fault to find," I replied, evasively. 
 
 " You ! Well, you are only a hired hand," added 
 he, with refreshing candor. " Do you think I have 
 treated the fellows badly?" 
 
 " Not badly ; but you know they are rich men's 
 sons, and consider themselves as good as you are." 
 
 "But my father built this road, and pays for every- 
 thing. Not a single one of these fellows ever gave 
 a cent for anything." 
 
 " I don't believe the money makes any difference.'* 
 
 "Why don't you say I'm to blame, if you think 
 so?" snapped he, impatiently. 
 
 " I believe if you had not been quite so sharp with 
 the fellows they would have liked you better," I an- 
 swered, desperately. "You tell them to do this and 
 that, and order them just as though they were ser- 
 vants in your father's house. They won't stand it. 
 They are not paid for their work, as I am." 
 
 " Thank you ; yon are very complimentary. I sup- 
 pose you will call me a tyrant next," sneered he.
 
 THE KIVAL ACADEMIES. 39 
 
 " I am only telling you what I have heard the fel- 
 lows say," I meekly responded. 
 
 " "Why didn't you tell me this before ? " snarled 
 he ; and I was fully convinced then, if I had not 
 been before, that honest counsel to such a person 
 is a thankless task. 
 
 Tommy walked up and down the hall precisely as 
 his magnificent fither would have done, if he had 
 been vexed and disconcerted. I had told him whole- 
 some truth, for which he was not grateful to me. 
 
 " Come with me. Wolf," said he, imperiously, after 
 he had considered the matter a while. 
 
 The rest of the students were scattered about 
 the building and play-ground of the institute, talking 
 over the meeting, or electioneering for the great oc- 
 casion, in the afternoon, if Major Toppleton did not 
 veto the proceedings. I followed Tommy over the 
 lawn, where many of the students were assembled 
 in groups. He took no notice of them, unless it 
 was to cast angry and scornful glances at them. He 
 led the way to his father's house, where wc found 
 the major in his library. 
 
 " Father, we may as well burst up the Lake Shoro
 
 40 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 Railroad, so far as tbe students are concerned," said 
 the irate and disgusted president of the company. 
 
 "What's the matter now, Tommy?" asked the 
 major, looking up from the newspaper he was reading. 
 
 " They are going to run me off the ticket for 
 directors," growled Tommy, dropping heavily into 
 an arm-chair, as though the end of the world had 
 come, and there was nothing more to live for. " They 
 Bay I have been putting on airs." 
 
 " Perhaps you have. Tommy ! " suggested the 
 major, who, for some reason or other, was disposed 
 to receive the intelligence very good-naturedly. 
 
 " I am the president of the road, and have only 
 done my duty. Fm not going down on my knees 
 to those who are under me." 
 
 "But a certain degree of gentlemanly forbearance 
 and consideration is prudent in business relations," 
 added the major. " Now let me hear what the mat- 
 ter is, and we will see what can be done." 
 
 Between Tommy and myself we told the great 
 man what had transpired at the hall, and announced 
 the vote of the stockholders, relating to the ad- 
 journed meeting and the dinner. The major actu-
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 41 
 
 ally laughed at the impudence of the boys. He 
 was a politic man when policy paid better than 
 violence. There was certainly a breeze among the 
 stockholders of the Lake Shore Railroad. Tommy 
 was in peril of losing his office, which would leave 
 the owner of the road without a suitable representa- 
 tive in the board of directors. The movement must 
 be checked, or the connection of the Institute with 
 the road must be dissolved. 
 
 The major was ready to act. The vote of the 
 stockholders was to be carried out in substance. A 
 free train to Grass Spring was to be run at one 
 o'clock; and, at the invitation of the president, a 
 supper was to be served at the hotel after the 
 njeeting. This course would conciliate the refrac- 
 tory stockholders, and save the present directors from 
 the accident of being turned out of office. Tommy 
 seemed to be of the opinion that the stockholders 
 ought to be compelled to vote for him, rather than 
 coaxed into it; but he yielded to the superior expe- 
 rience of his father, and consented to feast the elect- 
 ors. He was instructed to invite all the students 
 to the supper, and to have it specially understood 
 that it was his cntcrtaiumeut, not the company's.
 
 42 LIGHTXING EXPRESS, OB 
 
 There was yet another question to be settled by 
 the students, but not in their capacity as stockhold- 
 ers. The military department of the Institute was . 
 still maintained, in spite of the novelty of the rail- 
 road. The boys were organized as a battalion of 
 two companies, and it is hardly necessary to say 
 that Tommy was the major. It was the custom of 
 the Institute to camp out for a week during what 
 was called the home vacation, because the students 
 did not generally go home during this period. The 
 stockholders' meeting was held on the Saturday pre- 
 ceding this vacation, and it was necessary to deter- 
 mine where and when the camp should be formed, 
 for this question was left to the students. It was 
 proposed to hold the meeting after the stockhold- 
 ers adjourned, when the major would call the bat- 
 talion to order. 
 
 It was possible, if not probable, that the camping 
 out would be dispensed with the present year, for the 
 new locomotive and cars had just arrived, and were 
 lodged in the houses erected for them. The major 
 had instructed me — or rather the board of directors 
 had done so — to run the new engine on Monday.
 
 THB EIVAL ACADEMIES. 43 
 
 It was thons^ht that the students would not be in- 
 clined to camp out with this new excitement in 
 Btore for them. 
 
 The road was in order as far as Grass Springs, 
 and in a few weeks it would be completed to Ucay- 
 ga. I ran regular trips to the former place, every 
 two hours, on the dummy, which was now so de- 
 graded by contrast with the locomotive, that it was 
 of small account. But the students did not seem 
 to feel that degree of interest in the new order of 
 things which had been expected. They were excit- 
 ed when the locomotive and cars arrived ; shouted, 
 yelled, and screamed till they were hoarse ; but the 
 fact that the engine was not to be used as a play- 
 thing by any one who desired to do so, operated as 
 a damper upon the boys. Perhaps Tommy, more 
 than any one else, was responsible for this state of 
 things ; for his domineering spirit had disgusted his 
 fellow-students. 
 
 In my next trip on the dummy Major Toppleton 
 went to Grass Springs, and ordered the supper fof 
 the stockholders. At one o'clock I was in the cab 
 of the new locomotive, which, in compliment to the
 
 44 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OB 
 
 occasion, was to make its first trip to the SjDrings. 
 It was a beautiful machine, of about two thirds of 
 the ordinary size. The cars were of a correspond- 
 ing size. Never was an engineer prouder and hap- 
 pier than I was when I ran the engine out of the 
 house. I had borrowed some flags and decorated it 
 for the great occasion. Faxon was with me in the 
 cab, though Lewis Holgate, the sou of Christy, who 
 had robbed my father, was employed as fireman. 
 
 At the appointed time the students appeared, and, 
 after giving sundry cheers for the train, took tlieir 
 seats, and I started the locomotive. I felt like a 
 real engineer then. The boys screamed as the train 
 moved off, and in half an hour we put on the brakes 
 at Grass Springs. The students hastened to tlie 
 hotel where the meeting and the supjDer were to 
 take place. Leaving the engine in charge of Lewis, 
 I hastened to the meeting, where I intended to 
 electioneer for Tommy Toppleton.
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 45 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 OFF FOK THE CAMP. 
 
 " fT^HE time to which this meeting was adjourned 
 
 J- has arrived, gentlemen, and you are requested 
 to come to order," said Tommy Toppleton, rapping 
 on the table with the gavel, which he had been 
 careful to bring with him. 
 
 "Mr. President," said Baruscott, springing to his 
 feet, with half a dozen others, all anxious to make 
 the first motion. 
 
 " Barnscott," replied Tommy, giving him the floor. 
 
 " I move you we proceed to the choice of officers." 
 
 " Second the motion," added Putnam. 
 
 " It is moved and seconded that we proceed to 
 the election of officers," repeated the president. 
 
 "Question! Question!" shouted the stockholders; 
 for there was now no diflferenco of opinion on this 
 point.
 
 46 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 The motion was carried without opposition. I 
 had intended to make a little speech myself before 
 any business was done. Indeed, it had been ar- 
 ranged by Tommy and his father that I should do 
 so; but Barnscott was too quick for me. 
 
 "Mr. President," I shouted, as soon as the vote 
 was declared, "I have a word to say to the stock- 
 holders, if you will allow me to speak directly to 
 them." 
 
 "Go on! Go on!" yelled the students. 
 
 "Gentlemen, though what I have to say does not 
 exactly belong to the business on hand, I hope it 
 won't be taken amiss," I began. "By the vote of 
 the stockholders this morning, the expenses of the 
 supper to be provided for the company at this hotel 
 were to be paid for out of the treasury of the cor- 
 poration. It is well known that the company is in 
 debt, that the interest on its bonds has not been 
 paid. The president, therefore, in consultation with 
 the munificent patron of the road, did not think it 
 right to use the funds of the company in paying 
 for a 6ui)per." 
 
 " Aie we to have no supper ? " demanded Wether- 
 Btane.
 
 THE ETVAL ACAJJEMIES. 47 
 
 "We are," I replied, earnestly. "The liberality 
 of the president of the road is well known to all 
 of you, and I have the pleasure of informing you 
 that he has decided to provide the supper at his 
 own expense. It is my pleasant privilege, there- 
 fore, to invite you, in behalf of President Topple- 
 ton, to a supper* at this hotel, after the adjournment. 
 I wish the stockholders especially to understand that 
 this invitation is extended by the president in his 
 private capacity." 
 
 Some applause followed my speech ; but it was 
 by no means as general and hearty as I desired. 
 It was an electioneering movement, and with this 
 invitation before them, I did not see how the stock- 
 liolders could well avoid reelecting Tommy. I saw 
 the leaders of the opposition looking significantly at 
 each other, as though they regarded my movement 
 as a diversion against their scheme. A committee 
 to collect, count, and declare the vote was appointed 
 by tlie chair, and indorsed by the meeting; and I 
 had the honor to be one of the three. 
 
 During the voting, intense excitement prevailed 
 iii the hall. It was a general jabber. As fur a»
 
 48 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OB 
 
 my duties would permit, I had been at work for 
 Tommy. I had vised all my powers of persuasion 
 to induce certain large stockholders to vote for him; 
 hut, as fast as I made an impression, it seemed to 
 he removed by the opposition, and when the meet- 
 in ec assembled I was not sure that I had converted 
 a single share, for each of which a vote was given. 
 But Tommy was reasonably confident of an election. 
 He threw five hundred votes for himself to begin 
 with, as the representative of so many shares; and 
 one more than the same number, in addition, would 
 elect "him. If he could not get so many votes, he 
 was more unpopular than any of his friends sus- 
 pected. 
 
 " Have all the stockholders voted ? " shouted Tom- 
 my. "If so, I declare the poll closed!" 
 
 The committee retired to sort and count the bal- 
 lots, taking with us the stock book, in order to 
 detect any illegal voting. I do not think any 
 similar occasion among full-grown men excited more 
 interest and anxiety than this election. Tommy 
 Toppleton was really on trial for insolence and 
 tyranny, and the result was to be his acquittal or
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 49 
 
 conviction. We counted the votes ; and Faxon, who 
 was the chairman, and a friend of the president, led 
 the way to the hall, with the result written on a 
 piece of paper in his hand. 
 
 "Order, gentlemen!" called Tommy; and his un- 
 steady voice indicated the anxiety with which he 
 waited the issue. " You will listen to the report 
 of the committee." 
 
 "Whole number of votes, two thousand," read 
 Faxon, while breathless silence pervaded the hall. 
 "Necessary to a choice, one thousand and one. 
 Thomas Toppleton has eight hundred and eighty- 
 two ; " and the chairman read the rest of the names 
 on the same ticket, who had nearly all the vote. 
 "Edward Skotchley has twelve hundred and eigh- 
 teen." 
 
 The chairman then declared that Edward Skotch- 
 ley, and the others on both tickets, except Tommy, 
 were elected. Some faint applause followed the 
 announcement ; but most of the students appeared 
 to be appalled at what they had done. The presi- 
 dent's face was as red as a blood beet, and I ex- 
 pected his wrath would boil over. Even the supper 
 4
 
 50 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OB 
 
 had not saved him, and certainly it was a hard case. 
 I was sorry for Lira, while I could not approve of 
 his haughty and overbearing manner. I went up 
 to the desk with the intention of giving him what 
 I considered good advice. 
 
 "Don't get mad, Tommy," said I, in a low voice, 
 but so that he could hear me. 
 
 " It's an insult," added he, between his closed 
 teeth. 
 
 "Never mind if it is. Don't let them see that 
 they are punishing you," I added. 
 
 This last remark of mine had the desired effect ; 
 and, to my astonishment, he smiled as blandly as 
 though nothing had happened. He did not relish 
 the idea of letting his enemies triumph over him, 
 and though he now looked like peace itself, I was 
 satisfied that the punishment of the rebels was re- 
 served for another occasion. 
 
 "Mr. President!" 
 
 Both Tommy and myself looked to see who had 
 the audacity to break the imj^ressive silence that 
 still reigned in the haU. It was Skotchley — Ed 
 ward the Silent, as he was often called, on account 
 of his quiet way.
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 51 
 
 " Skotcliley," said Tommy, who, though he did 
 not regard his successful rival very favorably, was 
 hypocrite enough to smile sweetly upon him. 
 
 " Mr. President, I wish to say that my name was 
 used without my knowledge or consent. I voted 
 for the old board myself, and am so well satisfied 
 with the president, that, even if I considered myself 
 qualified for the position, — which I do not, — I 
 could not accept it." 
 
 "Toady!" snuffed some of the students. 
 
 Skotchley glanced at the knot of stockholders 
 from whom the offensive word had come. The 
 quiet dignity of his manner silenced them. 
 
 " Under no circumstances could I, or would I, 
 accept this office," added Skotchley, as he seated 
 himself, amid the applause of Tommy's friends. 
 
 The speaker was not excused ; but he adhered 
 to his purpose, and the students Avcre obliged to 
 ballot again. Tommy's singular conduct in not get- 
 ting mad made a sensation. The students could 
 not comprehend it. "While the second ballot was 
 ill progress, he sat at the taljle, cool and smiling. 
 I am satisfied it was this conduct alone whicb
 
 52 LIGIITXING EXPRESS, OB 
 
 created a reaction in his favor ; for on the second 
 ballot he was elected by a majority of one hundred 
 and eleven. He accepted the position, and thanked 
 the stockholders for their continued favor, as coolly 
 as though nothing had occurred to disturb the cur- 
 rent of his thoughts. 
 
 The present incumbents of the other elective 
 offices were chosen without opposition, and the 
 fluiTy was over; but it was clear enough, if Tom- 
 my did not mend his ways, he would never be 
 elected again. The affairs of the railroad were 
 finished, and those of the battalion were taken 
 up. Tommy was chosen major by a small ma- 
 jority, and the other officers were elected. The 
 location of the encampment caused considerable 
 discussion. Those who had been the leaders of the 
 opposition in the railroad company Avere in favor 
 of pitching the tents on the Horse Shoe, an island 
 on the lake, opposite Grass Springs, and two miles 
 from the west shore. 
 
 Tommy's party advocated the Sandy Bay Grove, 
 because the railroad " passed near it. They urged 
 that the Wirapletonians usually encamped on the
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 53 
 
 Horse Shoe. One of the other side was bold enough 
 to say that was the reason why he wished to go 
 there. I do not know how long the discussion 
 would have lasted if the landlord of the hotel had 
 not given the president a broad hint that the 
 supper was ready. This brought the matter to a 
 crisis, and when the vote was taken, there was 
 a large majority in favor of the Horse Shoe. 
 A committee was appointed to wait upon the 
 owner of the island, who was a resident of Grass 
 Springs. 
 
 The landlord of the hotel did justice to himself, 
 and to the great occasion with which his house 
 had been honored. Tommy sat at the head of 
 the middle table, and presided with dignity and 
 discretion. Some very good speeches were made, 
 for boys, and the festival was a decided success. 
 I left the table before the party broke up, in order 
 to have the locomotive ready for the return. At 
 six o'clock we started. Faxon informed me that 
 the Horse Shoe had been engaged for the enco^ip- 
 ment, and that the sum of ten dollars was to \)0 
 paid for the use of the island.
 
 54 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 "But I can tell you one thing, Wolf. There will 
 he one of the joUiest rows over there, that you 
 ever heard of," added Faxon. 
 
 "I hope not." 
 
 " The Wimpleton fellows were going there ; aijd 
 if there isn't a fight before the week is out, I never 
 will guess again." 
 
 "Well, do our fellows know it?'^ I asked. 
 
 " Kiiow it ! " exclaimed Faxon. " Of course they 
 do, and that is tlie particular reason why they want 
 to go there." 
 
 "Have the Wimps engaged the island?" 
 
 " No ; there is where we have the start of them. 
 They have always used it without leave or license." 
 
 It did look like an exciting time for the next 
 week. As soon as Tommy Toppleton understood 
 the reason why his battalion had selected the 
 Horse Shoe, he joined heartily with them ; for 
 no one hated the Wimpletonians more thoroughly 
 than he did. He entered heart and soul into the 
 project, and issued his order for the march at 
 seven o'clock on Monday morning, so as to reach 
 the island before the enemy could take posses-
 
 
 o
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEillES. 55 
 
 sion of it. I was directed to have the train ready 
 at that hour. 
 
 Though it was rather late when we anived, the 
 boys went to work in making the preparations for 
 the camp, and before they retired, the tents, bag- 
 gage, and cooking utensils were loaded upon one 
 of the platform cars. Neither the major nor the 
 principal opposed the plan, and at the appointed 
 time on Monday morning, I had the train drawn 
 up on the road at a convenient point near the In- 
 stitute, ready to furnish the " transportation " for 
 the battalion. 
 
 Major Tommy, intent upon being ahead of the 
 enemy on the other side of the lake, was on time 
 with his force. The battalion was to be reviewed 
 by the principal of the Institute before its depart- 
 ure, and the two companies marched by the train, 
 on their way to the green where the ceremony 
 was to take place. As they passed me, I saluted 
 them with the steam whistle, and in return the 
 warlike heroes cheered the train. I witnessed tlio 
 impressive formalities of the review, and having
 
 56 LIGHTNING EXPEESS, OB 
 
 moved the cars forward, I heard the speech of the 
 principal at the close of the performance. 
 
 The students then entered the cars. I gave a 
 tremendous whistle, and off we went, the students, 
 true to their noisy natures, yelling like madmen. 
 As we moved on, we discovered a fleet of boats, 
 loaded with "Wimpletonians, sailing down the lake.
 
 THE ErVAI, ACADEMIES. 57 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 BEEEZY PEOSPECT AHEAD. 
 
 I AM not quite sure that Major Toppleton did not 
 know the Wimpletonians had selected the Horse 
 Shoe for their camp ground, and that a collision was 
 likely to occur between the students of the rival 
 academies. If he did know it, he was certainly to 
 blame, even though the Toppletonians had legal pos- 
 session of the land ; for a man is morally responsible 
 far beyond the letter of the law. It was plain 
 enough to me that the wire-pullers on our side had 
 selected the Horse Shoe simply because it was the 
 usual encampment of their rivals. 
 
 The Toppletonians were highly excited and in- 
 tensely belligerent. The jealousy between the two 
 Bides of the lake and between the two schools had 
 thoroughly infected them. There were only a few 
 who were not ready to fight for the banner under
 
 58 LIGnXNING EXPEESS, OR 
 
 which they marched. While I confess that I was 'to 
 some extent a partisan for the Toppletonians, I could 
 not help feeling that there was something undignified 
 and unmanly in this senseless quarrel. I could realize 
 this sentiment, even while I was anxious that the 
 Wirapletonians should not " get ahead " of our side. 
 I was not in love with Colonel Wimpleton and his 
 son, but I should have preferred to treat them with 
 dignified contempt, rather than pick a quarrel with 
 them. 
 
 The Wimpletonians had a whole fleet of boats, 
 including: the dozen or more that belonged to the 
 Institute, and several bateaux, loaded with tents and 
 baggage. The wind was light early in the day, and 
 as they had to sail a dozen miles before they reached 
 their destination, they were not likely to arrive at 
 the island before us. Major Toppleton had ordered 
 the tug steamer to be at Grass Springs to convey 
 the students to the Horse Shoe, and she had towed 
 a number of boats for the use of the battalion. 
 
 " We must hurry up. Wolf," said Faxon, who, as 
 usual, was on the engine with me, after glancing at 
 the aquatic procession on the lake.
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 59 
 
 " It will take the "Wimps three hours to reach the 
 Horse Shoe with this breeze," I replied. " Our party 
 will arrive in an hour." 
 
 " There may be some delay at the Springs. We 
 don't know that the steamer will be there when we 
 arrive." 
 
 "Didn't Major Toppleton send her to the Springs?" 
 I asked, not being aware that there was any contin- 
 gency. 
 
 " lie sent her to Ucayga last night with a freight 
 of flour, and told Captain Underwood to be at Grass 
 Springs at eight o'clock, if j^ossible. She may be 
 late. She did not leave Middleport till dark, and of 
 coui'se she must discharge her cargo this morning. 
 If there should be no steamer ready for us, what 
 shall we do?" 
 
 " Where are our boats ? " I inquired. 
 
 " I suppose Captain Underwood left them at the 
 wharf at the Springs, as he passed, or possibly at the 
 Horse Shoe. I only know what Tonmiy told me, 
 just before we started." 
 
 " There is a chance for a slip, after all," I added. 
 
 " I think there is a big chance fur a slip. If the
 
 60 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 "Wimps get to the island first, there will be a big 
 fight, for our fellows don't wish for any better fun 
 than driving them ofi"." 
 
 "And 2^erhaps the Wimps would like no better 
 fun than that of driving the Tops off." 
 
 " Possession is nine points, you know, and the side 
 which gets a footing on the island first has the best 
 chance," replied Faxon, cheerfully ; and though he 
 did not bluster so much as some others, I knew that 
 he was " ready to go his length " iu opposition to 
 the enemy. 
 
 " It looks like a fight, any way you can fix it," I 
 added. " Why couldn't our fellows have chosen some 
 other place to encamp ? " 
 
 "Because the Horse Shoe suits them best. There 
 is a good wharf at the island, and plenty of dry 
 wood for the fires." 
 
 " I don't see the use of quarrelling when there are 
 a hundred other places just as good as that." 
 
 " What's the matter. Wolf ? Have you no stomach 
 for a fight?" laughed Faxon. 
 
 " No ; I have not." 
 
 " But you are regarded by the fellows as a regular
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 61 
 
 fighting-cock. Your affairs with Waddie and with — " 
 Faxon checked himself, as he glanced at Lewis Hol- 
 gate, the fireman — " you kndw whom, are the foun- 
 dation of your popularity with them." 
 
 " I am willing to fight in a good cause ; but I don't 
 believe in bringing on a quarrel." 
 
 " The Wimps are always picking upon us, and 
 doing us mischief whenever they can. They have 
 torn up our track once, and we haven't paid them 
 off for that." 
 
 " You sunk all their boats for that ; and I think 
 you are about even." 
 
 " Not quite ; but if they will let us alone, we won't 
 meddle with them. We have hired the Horse Shoe 
 for the week, and we mean to have it. We have 
 the legal right to the island, and we are ready to 
 fight for possession." 
 
 " I think it is all nonsense to quarrel for nothing." 
 
 *' We shall have the fun of licking them." 
 
 " Or the fun of being licked," I suggested. 
 
 "No danger of that. We have one hundred and 
 fifteen students now, and I was told that the Wimps 
 liail fallen off to less than a hundred," chuckled 
 Faxon.
 
 62 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 " The tables may be turned by and by, when the 
 
 colonel's plans are in operation." 
 
 " What plans ? " asked my companion, anxiously. 
 
 "You did not suppose Colonel Wimpleton would 
 permit this railroad scheme to go on without doing 
 something to offset it — did you ? " I replied ; and 
 I had I'eceived some positive information from my 
 father, the night before, on this interesting topic. 
 
 " What can he do ? Pie can't build a railroad on 
 his side of the lake." 
 
 "No; but at this moment Waddie Wimpleton is 
 the president of a corporation." 
 
 " What corporation ? " 
 
 " A steamboat company." 
 
 " Is that so ? " 
 
 " My father was over at Centreport yesterday, and 
 found out all about it." 
 
 " But what iiave the Wimps to do with it ? " 
 
 " The colonel is building a magnificent little steam- 
 er at Ilitaca. Slie is to be very long and narrow, 
 and good for fifteen to eighteen miles an hour. The 
 Institute fellows on the other side are to own and 
 manage her, just as you do the railroad."
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 63 
 
 " That is news, certainly," said Faxon, musing, and 
 apparently not at all pleased with the plan. 
 
 "They say Major Toppleton has bouglit up the 
 steamers Avhich now run on the lake, and means to 
 take them off between Ucayga and Middleport as 
 soon as the Lake Shore Railroad is completed." 
 
 " Of course ; what's the use of having the boats 
 after the road is finished ? We are to run a Light- 
 ning Express twice a day then, and I think it is 
 very good-natured of the major to buy up the boats, 
 and thus save the owners from loss." 
 
 "Perhaps it is; but is it good-natured for him to 
 deprive the Centreporters of the means of getting to 
 Ucayga, as he will when the boats are taken off?" 
 
 " They can go by the railroad, the same as others," 
 laughed Faxon. 
 
 "They can, but they won't. Do you think Colonel 
 AVirnplcton would come over here and ride in those 
 cars? lie would hang liimself first." 
 
 "Then he can hang himself, if he likes. The Mid- 
 dleporters wouldn't cry if he did." 
 
 " But he intends neither to hang himself nor to 
 ride on the Lake Sliure liaihoad. Of course you
 
 64 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 can't blame him for kicking against the movements 
 of the major." 
 
 " See here, Wolf; are you a "Wimp or a Top ? '* 
 demanded Faxon, coloring a little, as we looked into 
 each other's face. 
 
 " Why do you ask that question ? " I inquired, 
 quietly. 
 
 "Just now you seemed to stick up for the Wim- 
 plcton side." 
 
 " I was only stating the case just as it is. My 
 sympathies are on this side ; but I don't blame 
 Colonel Wimpleton for not being willing to have 
 his facilities for going to and from Ucayga cut off." 
 
 " You don't blame him ! " 
 
 « Certainly not." 
 
 " I believe you are only half a Top now. Wolf. 
 Just now you were condemning us for standing up 
 for our own rights. Be on one side or the other, 
 old fellow." 
 
 " I am willing to fight for the side that gives 
 me bread and butter, as long as it stands by the 
 right." 
 
 "I don't like this making reservations. I go tho
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 65 
 
 whole figure. My country, right or wrong — that's 
 what I go for." 
 
 " So do I. My country, right or wrong ; if wrong, 
 to set her right." 
 
 " There you spoil all the poetry of the thing. If 
 you had stopped before you put the last sentence 
 on, it would have been just the thing, I go for 
 Toppleton, right or wrong." 
 
 "I don't," I replied, decidedly. "I am for keep- 
 ing Toppleton right, and then I go for Toppleton." 
 
 "What's the use of talking, Wolf! You can't 
 make me believe you are not right on the goose," 
 added Faxon, good-naturedly. " When will that 
 magnificent steamer be launched?" 
 
 "I don't know; but father said the hull was nearly 
 completed. I suppose they can't get her ready for 
 service before August or September ; perhaps not till 
 next spring." 
 
 " And then she is to run in opposition to the 
 Lake Shore Railroad ? " 
 
 « That's the idea, I believe.'* 
 
 " There will be jolly times then ; but she can't do 
 anything against our lightning express." 
 6
 
 66 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OB 
 
 " I'm not so sure of that." 
 
 " Come, Wolf ! You are a Wimp at heart, after 
 all. The fellows would mob you if they should hear 
 you sticking up for the other side," added Faxon. 
 
 " I'm not sticking up for the other side," 1 replied, 
 smartly, for I did not relish this charge. " I'm only 
 looking the facts fair in the face. The Wimps' 
 steamer will give you a hard run. Look at it for 
 yourself." 
 
 " I don't believe the Wimps can get ahead of us, 
 any how — I won't believe it!" persisted Faxon. 
 
 " How far is it from Middleport to Ucayga ? " I 
 asked. 
 
 "Twenty miles, to a rod." 
 
 "How long will it take the lightning express to 
 go through ? " 
 
 " Half an hour," replied Faxon, sharply. 
 
 " Not much ! We should have a smash every day 
 at that rate. The track is not stiff enough to make 
 that time upon. Call it forty minutes; and that is 
 high speed for this light rail." 
 
 " Well, forty minutes. You don't mean to say any 
 steamer can make twenty miles in that time?"
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 67 
 
 « Hold on a minute ! How wide is the river at 
 XJcayga ? " 
 
 « Half a mile." 
 
 " Good ; we have to land our passengers on this 
 side of the river. To take the trains east and west, 
 they must cross the river, and do tlie same when 
 they visit the town. How long will that take in 
 the old sail-boat ferry ? " 
 
 " I don't know," replied Faxon, nettled by the 
 force of the argument, which he could not answer. 
 
 " Half an hour, at least, on an average. That 
 will make an hour and ten minutes ; and the steam- 
 er will do it in an hour and a quarter. I think the 
 colonel has a pretty good show," I continued, as the 
 train reached Spangleport, and I blew some des- 
 perate whistles to warn idlers about the track. 
 
 "You are a Wimp!" 
 
 "No. I'm a Top." 
 
 " Don't talk so before the other fellows. If 
 you do they will think you have sold out to tha 
 enemy." 
 
 " Can't a fellow express an honest opinion ? " I 
 asked, warmly.
 
 68 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 " Not when it don't jibe with the public senti- 
 ment." 
 
 " I don't know about that. I'm not afraid to tell 
 Mnjor Toppleton Avhat I think." 
 
 "Don't you do it." 
 
 "If he wants to come out ahead, as of course he 
 does, it would be better for him to look the facts 
 and contingencies fairly in the face." 
 
 Faxon was thinking of the matter, and by mutual 
 consent both of us were silent.
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 69 
 
 CHAPTER YI. 
 
 A MISSION OF PEACE. 
 
 I COULD not exactly see that I was a traitor to 
 the Toppletonian interest because I believed that 
 a steamer could successfully corajjete even with a 
 " lightning express." I intended to serve my em- 
 ployers faithfully, and believed that I had done so. 
 Perhaps it was imprudent for me to express an 
 opinion ; but I knew that Colonel Wimpleton was a 
 man of energy and determination, and that he would 
 not be content to remain long in the shade. 
 
 I observed that Lewis Holgate listened very at- 
 tentively to all that was said, though he made no 
 remarks. Since his father had run away with tlie 
 money he bad stolen, the family were hard pressed 
 to get a living, Lewis was about my own age, and 
 was regarded as a smart fellow. The intimacy be- 
 tween our families had brought us together some-
 
 70 LIGHTNING EXPBKSS, OR 
 
 what, and I knew that he aspired to be a "young 
 engineer." He had worl^ed with his father a great 
 deal, and knew an engine very well. It was neces- 
 sary for him to go to work, to assist in supporting 
 his mother and his brothers and sisters. He had 
 told me how sorry he was for what his father had 
 done, and I pitied him. Through my influence he 
 had obtained the place to "fire" on the new loco- 
 motive, and now received a salary of three dollars 
 a week. 
 
 Lewis worked with me a while on the dummy, and 
 was competent to run it. The crime of his father 
 had to some extent broken his spirit, and thus far 
 he had behaved very well, better than his antece- 
 dents led me to expect — for he had been rather 
 noted in Ucayga as a bad boy. My mother com- 
 mended me warmly for what I had done to help 
 him, and declared she was very glad to see me 
 manifest a Christian spirit towards him. My father 
 said I was foolish to try to serve such a fellow j 
 but I was best satisfied with the judgment of my 
 mother. 
 
 Something had already been said about another
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 71 
 
 locomotive, and an additional number of freight and 
 passenger cars, which the business of the road would 
 eventually demand. Lewis Ilolgate gave me to un- 
 derstand that the heisjlit of his ambition was to be 
 the engineer of the new locomotive when it came. 
 I assured him that if he did his duty faithfully, I 
 would do all I could to further his purpose. We 
 were, therefore, good friends, and I gave him every 
 facility for learning the business. If I had had any 
 doubts about the propriety of what I had said to 
 Faxon, for which he had accused me of being a 
 Wimp, I should not have restrained my speech on 
 account of the presence of Lewis ; for, after all I had 
 done for him, I did not think him capable of injur- 
 ing me. 
 
 "The tug steamer is not here," said Faxon, as I 
 shut off the steam when the train approached Grass 
 Springs. 
 
 "It isn't eight o'clock yet. We have been only 
 lialf an hour on the road," I replied. 
 
 "I don't believe it will be here," added Faxon, 
 anxiously, as he looked out upon the waters of the 
 lake. " There is a stiff breeze now, and the Wimp* 
 will bo here by nine o'clock."
 
 72 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 I could not see why my partisan friend should 
 manifest any anxiety, since he and the rest of the 
 Toj)pletonians, with a few exceptions, were absolute- 
 ly spoiling for a fight wdth their rivals on the other 
 side of the lake. The train approached the Grass 
 Springs station, and I whistled to put on the brakes. 
 As soon as we stopped, Faxon left the engine, and 
 the battalion came out of the cars. The two com- 
 panies formed on the wharf, and I heard sharp and 
 imperative orders of Major Tommy, which led me 
 to conclude that his experience in the stockholders' 
 meeting had not been very profitable to him, though 
 some of the harshness of his tones was doubtless 
 attributable to his military enthusiasm. 
 
 From my place in the cab I could see the end 
 of the lake, with the steeples of Ucayga in the dis- 
 tance ; but the steamer was not on the way ; she 
 had not even started for the Springs. The Horse 
 Shoe was two miles from the shore. The wind 
 had freshened a little, and was fair for boats com- 
 ing down the lake. The battalion from Centreport 
 must arrive in an hour, or an hour and a half at 
 the farthest, for the boats had had only ten miles
 
 THB RTYAT. ACADEMIES. 73 
 
 to make half an hour before. Major Tommy had 
 formed his lines; the quartermaster had placed all 
 the baggage and stores on the wharf, and everything 
 ■was in readiness to embark. It was eight o'clock by 
 this time, and the steamer had not yet appeared. 
 The Toppleton boats had probably been left at the 
 island, for they were not to be found at the main 
 shore, and the steamer could have left them with 
 less delay than at the Grass Springs "Wharf. 
 
 " What's to be done ? " asked Major Tommy, im- 
 patiently, after he had surveyed the ground over 
 and over again. 
 
 " "We must get to the island some how or other," 
 replied Faxon. 
 
 " That steamer won't be here for an hour," growled 
 the commander of the battalion. " Father said it 
 might be late ; but he didn't understand exactly 
 what was up." 
 
 "The Wimps are coming," shouted an officer in 
 the line. 
 
 "They are five miles off," replied Faxon, as he 
 looked up the lake. "I want to he on the island 
 when they come."
 
 74 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 " So do I," replied Tommy, casting an anxious 
 glance at the approaching enemy. 
 
 " Can't you help us out, Wolf? " asked the major, 
 jumping on the foot-board of the engine. 
 
 Of course I was well j^leased to be called upon 
 in the emergency, for it was manifesting a great 
 deal of confidence to ask advice of a boy who was 
 not a member of the battalion. The Toppletonians 
 had the legal right to use the Hoi-se Shoe; and it 
 seemed to rae that, if they had possession of the 
 island when the "Wimpletonians arrived, the antici- 
 pated fight, at least as a brutal struggle, might be 
 averted. Both bodies were armed with small mus- 
 kets, having bayonets upon them ; and though they 
 were not allowed any amunition, they might make 
 the combat more dangerous than they intended. 
 The interests of peace, therefore, appeared to require 
 that our battalion should be transported to the 
 island without delay. 
 
 " I hope you are not going to get up a fight over 
 there," I ventured to say. 
 
 "Of course we are not, if the "Wimps let us 
 alone," replied Tommy. " If they don't let us alone,
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEIOES. 75 
 
 it will be the "worse for them. I want to get over 
 there before they do, and that steamer, confound it, 
 won't be here this hour." 
 
 "If I were you, Tommy, I would send one com- 
 pany over to the island, and take possession of it, 
 leavinsf the bajrorao-e and tents to be carried over 
 when the steamer comes." 
 
 "How can I send one company over?" snapped 
 Tommy. " "We haven't a boat, or even a mud- 
 
 SCOW:" 
 
 "There comes the ferry-boat," I replied, pointing 
 to a sloop-rigged craft which was now approaching 
 the shore from Ruoara, on tlie other side and above 
 the island. 
 
 " That's the idea ! " exclaimed Tommy, as he leaped 
 down from the cab, and ran with a speed entirely 
 beneath the dignity of the major of a battalion to 
 the ferry pier. 
 
 In three minutes more he had made a trade with 
 the ferryman to land as many of the force as his 
 boat would accommodate on the -Horse Shoe. The 
 craft was one peculiar to the lakes in that region. 
 It was an ordinary sloop, though rather longer than
 
 76 LIGHTNmG EXPRESS, OE 
 
 similar vessels are built ; but the stern was open just 
 above the water-line, so that teams could be driven 
 on board. It dejjcnded upon the wind as its pro- 
 pelling agent, though it was provided with a pair 
 of steamboat wheels, with a horse-power machine to 
 turn them, which could be used when the wind was 
 not available. 
 
 Major Tommy ordered Captain Briscoe, with Com- 
 pany A, to embark in this ferry-boat, and to hold 
 the Horse Shoe, at any peril, until the other com- 
 pany could be sent over. I was sorry to leave the 
 exciting scene ; but I had to run the trip from 
 Middleport at nine o'clock. Satisfied that the Top- 
 pletonians would secure possession of the island 
 before the arrival of the enemy, I turned the loco- 
 motive, and ran back to the other terminus. The 
 fleet of boats was off the South Shoe, not more than 
 a mile from the Horse Shoe, when the train went 
 through Spangleport; but the ferry-boat was within 
 half that distance of its destination. 
 
 We did not yet run the new locomotive and cars 
 on the regular trips, because the travel was light, 
 and the dummy could be used at half the expense.
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 77 
 
 We housed the eugine and cars, and, firing up the 
 dummy, we had steam enough to start her at the 
 appointed hour. Just before we left, Major Topple- 
 ton came into the station, and asked me what had 
 become of the students. I told him I had conveyed 
 them to Grass Springs. 
 
 "I did not know they were going so early," add- 
 «d he. 
 
 "They were in a hurry," I replied, with a smile, 
 jv'hen I saw that the great man did not comprehend 
 the strategy of the battalion. "My orders from 
 Major Tommy were to start at seven o'clock; and I 
 get them down on the wharf at the Springs at half 
 past seven." 
 
 " You look wiser than you speak, "Wolf," said the 
 major, gazing earnestly into my face. "Is there any 
 mischief brewing ? " 
 
 "I think there is," I replied, candidly, though I 
 could not help smiling at the puzzled look of the 
 magnate of Middleport. 
 
 "What is it? W^liy didn't you tell me about it? 
 They say the students of the Wimplcton Instituto 
 went down the lake this morning."
 
 78 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 "Yes, sir; we passed them on the way, and the 
 students of both Institutes are bound to the same 
 place." 
 
 " Then there will be a quarrel ! " exclaimed the 
 major; but I think he would not have cared if he 
 had been sure that his side of the lake would be 
 victorious. 
 
 "I am afraid there will; but the Toppletonians 
 have the weather-gage, both on the rights of the 
 case and in the situation." 
 
 I exjilained fully what had transpired at the 
 meeting of the battalion on Saturday, and the state 
 of the afiair when I left Grass Springs, an hour 
 before. 
 
 " Why didn't they tell me what they were do- 
 ing?" demanded the major. "I did not know they 
 were in a hurry ; if I had, the steamer should hjive 
 been at Grass Springs without fail. If our boys 
 have hired the Horse Shoe, and pay for it, they 
 have a right to use it." 
 
 The great man was unequivocally on the side of 
 the boys, and they might just as well have taken 
 Lim into their confidence. I was sorry to see him
 
 THE RITAL ACADEMIES. 79 
 
 BO willing to permit a collision, even wliile our stu- 
 dents had the letter of the law in their favor. 
 
 "Wolf, don't you want a vacation?" said the 
 major, suddenly tuniing to me, after musing on the 
 facts I had given him. 
 
 "No, sir; I don't care about any," I replied. 
 
 "But I prefer that you should take one. Your 
 pay shall go on as usual," he continued ; and of 
 course it was of no use for me to protest. " Can 
 Lewis run the dummy?" 
 
 "Yes, sir; he understands it very well." 
 
 "All right. Wolf; I want you to be with those 
 boys. You have an influence with them, and they 
 want some help such as you can give them." 
 
 "Am I to fight with them, sir?" I asked, laugh- 
 ing; for I did not exactly relish the kind of vaca- 
 tion he intended to give me. 
 
 " Certainly I don't want any fighting if it can be 
 avoided. I want you to help keep the peace. If 
 things don't work well, or any help is needed, come 
 to me at once." 
 
 I started the dummy, and then gave it up to
 
 80 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OK 
 
 Lewis. I did not exactly like my mission; for, 
 though I was sent to keep the peace, I knew that 
 the major simply expected me to see that the Top- 
 pletonians were not whipped in the expected en- 
 counter.
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 81 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 MAJOR TOMMY GETS MAD. 
 
 THOUGH I Tras nominally sent to the Horse 
 Shoe as an ambassador of peace, I fully un- 
 derstood the real object of the magnate in giving 
 me a vacation. The mission was certainly compli- 
 mentary to me, for I was really expected to do 
 the "engineering" for the Toppletonians. I was 
 not to permit them to be whijiped by their great 
 enemy : if I could not prevent it myself, I was to 
 call in the assistance of Major Toppleton. What- 
 ever instructions he may have given me, this was 
 precisely what he meant. I was, in some sense, to 
 be his representative. 
 
 I desired to keep the peace, and I hoped to 
 
 have influence enough to accomplish something in 
 
 this direction ; but it Avould not be an easy matter 
 
 to do this, and at the same time escape the wrath 
 
 6
 
 82 LIGHTNING EXPKESS, OE 
 
 of the belligerent Toppletonians. The Wimpleton 
 battalion, under command of Major Waddie, would 
 be ten times as reckless as the Toppletonians under 
 Major Tommy. My late enemy on the other side 
 was not restrained either by fear or by j^rinciple. 
 No violence or destruction appalled liim. His 
 father bad so often paid for damage done by him, 
 that he never hesitated to gratify his malice and 
 revenge by smashing a boat, firing a building, or 
 even discharging his j^istol at any one who thwarted 
 rtm. He was a dangerous enemy. But Waddie 
 was reckless only when he was personally in a safe 
 I^osition. He was prudent enough to keep his own 
 body out of the way of harm, except when his 
 wrath completely mastered him, 
 
 Lewis Holgate was glad enough of an opportu- 
 nity to run the dummy alone, for it would enable 
 him to i^rove his fitness for the position to whicli 
 he aspired, I cautioned him carefully in regard 
 to keeping up the water in the boiler, and tlie 
 pressure of steam he might carry. He was very 
 passive and tractable, and, for the sake of his own 
 reputation, I had no doubt he would be faithful and 
 careful iu the discharge ^of his duty.
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 85 
 
 "When I arrived at Grass Springs in the dummy, 
 the steamer was just approaching the wharf. The 
 company sent over to the island under Captain Bris- 
 coe had landed, and thus far had held peaceful pos- 
 session. The Horse Shoe was the most western of 
 four islands, just below Ruoara. The tvro largest 
 of them lay easfr and west of each other, while the 
 one to the north of thcra was called the North 
 Shoe, and the one to the south the South Shoe, 
 They bore some resemblance to shoes ; and the 
 western island having a bay which made into its 
 southern side, gave it the shape of a horse shoe. 
 Tlio eastern island, and the nearest to the shore, 
 looked more like a pistol than either of the others 
 did like the articles for which they were named. 
 But the person who had christened the group, hav- 
 ing probably named the others first, calling each a 
 shoe, designated the fourth the " Shooter," instead 
 of tlie Pistol, which would have been more appro- 
 priate. " Shoe " and " Shooter " seemed to jingle 
 well with him, and, as he was satisfied, I shall not 
 complain. 
 
 The squadron of boats from Centreport lay be-
 
 84 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 tween the Horse Shoe and the South Shoe when 
 I came upon the ground. So far as I could judge 
 by seeing thera at the distance of two miles, the 
 Wimpletonians were consulting upon their next 
 movement. If they intended to take possession 
 of the island, they had permitted the favorable 
 opportunity to pass. Doubtless ' they were also 
 waiting for the arrival of the bateaux, on which 
 their baggage was transported. 
 
 " Has anything happened ? " I asked of Faxon, 
 as I joined the students on the wharf. 
 
 "Not a thing!" exclaimed he. "The Wimps 
 smell a mice, and don't seem to be inclined to 
 pitch in. If I had been Waddie Wimpleton, I 
 would have landed on that island before this time." 
 
 Faxon appeared to be disappointed because the 
 row had not come off, and more, perhajjs, because 
 the Wimpletonians did not display a belligerent spirit. 
 The steamer came up to the wharf, and the stu- 
 dents embarked. Major Tommy stormed at Cap- 
 tain Underwood for his delay, and the poor captain 
 defended himself very modestly and gently. He 
 had discharged his cargo as speedily as possible,
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. ^O 
 
 and be bad not been told to be at tbe Springs at 
 eight, but as soon as be could. His bread and 
 butter depended upon keeping the right side of 
 the magnate, and to prejudice the son was to in- 
 fluence the father. 
 
 "TVhat are you doing here, Wolf?" asked Tom, 
 my, as he saw me standing on the forward deck, 
 after the steamer stai-ted. 
 
 "Your father has just given me a vacation," 1 
 replied, very quietly ; for I did not deem it pru- 
 dent to put on any airs about my mission. "I 
 thought I would come over and see how this thing 
 was coming out." 
 
 "It's coming out all right, "Wolf. What did ray 
 father say?" asked the little major, with some show 
 of anxiety. " Was he mad because we came away 
 60 early ? " 
 
 " O, no ! I told him where you were going, and 
 that the Wimps were bound to the same place. 
 lie was very glad you had obtained permission 
 of the owner to use the island." 
 
 " Then it is all right — is it,- Wolf? " added 
 Tommy, with an apparent feeling of relief. "I
 
 86 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OB 
 
 didn't know but my governor sent you here as a 
 spy. If he did, you can return as fast as you 
 carae." 
 
 Perhaps, according to Tommy's interpretation of 
 my mission, I might be a spy. I had really been 
 sent to act as a check ujjon the students, who were 
 very jealous of any interference when they were on 
 camp duty, or any other military service. The 
 steamer sped on its way, and as the deep water 
 was between the Horse Shoe and the Shooter, we 
 had to round the southern point of the former in 
 order to reach the landing-place. The Wimi^leton 
 boats still lay off the South Shoe, and Captain 
 Underwood said they were in the channel through 
 which he must pass. 
 
 "Can't you get to the landing without going 
 near them?" I asked privately of the captain, 
 though I knew the navigation of the lake as well 
 as he did. 
 
 " I can go to the north of the Horse Shoe, and 
 come down the channel in that way," he replied. 
 
 " These fellows are spoiling for a fight, and I am 
 afraid there will be some broken heads before the
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 87 
 
 day is fiuislied. If you can prevent a row, it will 
 be better to do it." 
 
 "Very well," said he, ringing the bell to stop 
 her, just as he was entering the channel between 
 the Horse Slioe and the South Shoe. 
 
 "What's that for?" demanded Major Tommy 
 from the forward deck. 
 
 "Don't you think we had better go in at the 
 northward of the island?" inquired Captain Un- 
 derwood, with the utmost deference. 
 
 "No, sir! I don't think so!" replied Tommy, 
 warmly. "Are you going the other way because 
 those boats are here? Go ahead, sir! Run them 
 down, if they don't get out of the way ! " 
 
 Captain Underwood felt obliged to obey this im- 
 perative order. If he had refused to do so, it is 
 quite likely he would have been compelled to re- 
 turn to the skippership of a canal boat, from which 
 he had been promoted to his present more digni- 
 fied and lucrative position. 
 
 "Don't run them down, captain," I ventured to 
 Bay, in a low tone, as tho master rang the bell 
 to go ahead again.
 
 88 LIGHTKING EXPRESS, OB 
 
 " It is hard work to please that boy without get- 
 ting into trouble," added the captain. "The good 
 book says no man can serve two masters, but I 
 have to serve two." 
 
 " Blow the whistle, captain ! " I suggested. 
 
 He blew the whistle till the shores resounded 
 with the echoing screeches; but the Wimpletonians 
 evidently believed the steamer had come this way 
 on purpose to annoy them, and they stood upon 
 their dignity. Not a boat moved, and the stu- 
 dents in them looked as resolute as though they 
 meant to be smashed rather than change their posi- 
 tion. "We were almost upon them, and I was afraid 
 the captain intended to execute the barbarous threat 
 of Major Tommy. I begged him again not to run 
 into the boats ; and seeing the ..enemy did not mean 
 to move, he stopped and backed in season to avoid 
 a calamity. 
 
 " What did you stop for, captain ? " shouted Tom- 
 my; but I was charitable enough to believe that 
 the words were intended for the benefit of the 
 Wimpletonians, rather than the person to whom 
 Ihey were addressed.
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 89 
 
 Captain Underwood made no reply, but rang to 
 go ahead again, though he permitted but two or 
 three turns of the wheels. 
 
 "I can shove the boats out of the way without 
 hurting any one, I think," said he, as the steamer 
 moved slowly forward. 
 
 " Look out, or you will run into us ! " shouted 
 my old enemy, Ben Pinkerton, who w;^as in the 
 nearest boat. 
 
 " Out of the way, then ! " replied Captain Un- 
 derwood. 
 
 "Go ahead, full steam, captain!" called Tommy; 
 but ao^ain I wished to believe that his order was 
 a threat to the enemy rather than an indication of 
 a wicked purpose. 
 
 Instead of obeying this rash command, the cap- 
 tain rang the bell to back her, fearful that some 
 of the boats might be smashed. 
 
 I saw Tommy rush aft, and I supposed he In- 
 tended to come upon the hurricane deck, whore 
 he could bully Captain Underwood more effectually. 
 I left the wheel-house, where I had been during 
 the conversation with the captain, that he might
 
 90 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, Olt 
 
 not implicate mc in the disobedience. But Tommy- 
 did not appear, and it was plain that he had adopt- 
 ed some other tactics. 
 
 " Wolf Penniman ! " shouted some one at the 
 gangway. " You are wanted below ! " 
 
 " What is wanted ? " I asked of the messenger, 
 who could hardly speak, he was so excited. 
 
 " Major Toppleton wants you." 
 
 I went below, and found Major Tommy standing 
 at the door of the engine-room, foaming with wrath ; 
 indeed, he had steam enough on to carry a forty- 
 horse engine. 
 
 " Will you do as I tell you, or not ? " stormed 
 Tommy, addressing his energetic words to the en- 
 gineer. 
 
 " You must excuse me, Mr. Tommy ; but I must 
 mind the bells. It won't do for me to disobey the 
 captain's orders," protested the engineer, gently and 
 respectfully. 
 
 "Plere, Wolf!" shouted Tommy. "Come here!" 
 
 I presented myself to the little magnate, and I 
 was conscious that I was already in a bad scrape. 
 
 "Go in there, and start up that engine! Go ahead, 
 full steam ! " continued he.
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 91 
 
 I looked at him, but I did not move to obey. 
 I smiled, and looked as good-natured as possi- 
 ble, for I did not wish him to think that I was 
 ugly about it. 
 
 "Don't you hear me, "Wolf? I tell you to start 
 up that engine ! " repeated Major Tommy. 
 
 "It won't do for me to step in between the man 
 and his engine," I remonstrated, mildly. 
 
 "Yes, it Avill! I tell you to do it; and if you 
 don't do it, you shall suffer for it." 
 
 "Let us argue the point a little, major," I re- 
 plied. 
 
 "Will you do what I tell you, or not?" roared 
 he, swelling up as big as a major general. 
 
 "You must excuse me, major, but I can't take 
 the enccine out of the engineer's hands, without the 
 captain's orders." 
 
 "I will let you know that this boat is my 
 father's, and I can do with ii as I please. If 
 you won't start it, I Avill do so mj^self!" said 
 the juvenile magnate, desperately, as he rushed 
 into llie engine-room, and seized hold of the 
 workin^-bar.
 
 92 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OB 
 
 "Tou musn't toucli the engine," said the man 
 in charge, as he took hold of Tommy's arm, and, 
 with as little force as was necessary, thrust him 
 out of the room. 
 
 Tommy was the maddest major I ever saw.
 
 THE raVAL ACADEMIES. 93 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 CHARGE BAYONETS ! 
 
 MAJOR TOMMY, in my judgment, was more 
 inclined to have his own way than he was 
 to annihilate the Wimpletonians by crushing them 
 under the wheels of the steamer. He' had been irri- 
 tated because the captain did not obey his order; 
 but, I think, if the boat had gone ahead at his im- 
 perial command, he would have been the first to 
 stop her. I could not believe that he was so dia- 
 bolically wicked as to run over the boats, and sacri- 
 fice the lives of a dozen or more even of his enemies. 
 If it had been Waddie, the matter would have been 
 different, and I should have been more credulous. 
 
 When the captain opposed him, he flew to the 
 engineer; but I am confident that, if the man liad 
 given the wheel a single turn. Tommy would have 
 ordered him to stop her. Neither the captain nor
 
 J)4 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 the engineer knew that he did not intend to do all 
 he threatened ; and I am afraid, if the wheels had 
 been started, the mischief would have been done, 
 whatever the little magnate meant, or did not mean. 
 I was very soiry to be dragged into the difficulty, 
 for Tommy and I had thus far been very good 
 friends. However, I had no doubts in regard to the 
 correctness of my position. 
 
 Forbush, the engineer, had gently, very gently, 
 thrust Tommy out of the engine-room. By this 
 time, all of Company B had gathered around the 
 little major, intent upon beholding the row. The 
 juvenile magnate was boiling over with rage, and 
 threatened Captain Underwood, the engineer, and 
 myself with total annihilation. Every one of us 
 should lose his situation, and be forever deprived of 
 the power to obtain further employment. 
 
 "Come, Tommy, keep cool," said Faxon, trying 
 to smooth down the wrinkled fur on the badger's 
 back. 
 
 "I won't keep cool! I have been insulted, and I 
 will teach the fellows who and what I am. If I 
 tell the captain of this boat to run over the island,
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 95 
 
 he shall do it," stormed Tommy, so angry that he 
 could hardly keep from crying, 
 
 " Be reasonable, Tommy," added Skotchley, with 
 his usual quiet dignity. " We don't want to kill 
 anybody." 
 
 " Yes, we do ! We want to kill the "Wimj^s if 
 they don't get out of the way." 
 
 It was useless to say anything to the irate major 
 while he was so inflamed with wrath, and by gen- 
 eral consent the students kept still ; but they wei-e 
 disccusted with the commander of the battalion, and 
 doubtless most of them were sorry that they had not 
 tipped him out of both of his offices. While Tommy 
 was still raving like an insane person, the bell rang 
 again to go ahead, and the engineer promptly started 
 the wheels ; but only a few turns were made before 
 the signal came to stop her. Finding I was not 
 needed on the main dock, and tliat the wrathful 
 major would cool off sooner if left to himself, I went 
 up to the wheel-house. All on board, except the 
 captain and one man at tlie wlieel, had been at- 
 tracted to the vicinity of the engine-room by the 
 exciting scene. There was no one on the „jrward
 
 96 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 deck, for even the two men employed there were 
 listening to the howls of Tommy. 
 
 Captain Underwood had started the boat ahead 
 again, and when I reached the wheel-house, she was 
 gently crowding her way through the fleet of boats, 
 a dozen in number, containing the whole force of 
 the Wimpletonians, over ninety of them. She struck 
 the boats as gingerly as though they had been eggs. 
 She did them no harm, beyond scraping the fresh 
 paint upon them, as she slowly forced her way 
 through them. I watched the movement with in- 
 terest, for I was curious to know what the Wimple- 
 tonians intended to do. 
 
 The fleet lay in the deep water, so that there 
 was no room on either side for the steamer to pass 
 to her destination without getting aground. Captain 
 Underwood was a prudent man, and worked his 
 craft very carefully. He had given her headway 
 enough to carry her through the squadron of boats; 
 but, as they swarmed along her bow, and under her 
 guards, the students in them fastened to her with 
 their boat-hooks, so that they could not be shaken ofil 
 
 " Back her quick, and you will shake them ofi"
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 07 
 
 without harming any of them," I suggested to the 
 captain, when I saw that he was nettled by the 
 failure of his plan. 
 
 " Out of the way there ! Your boats will be 
 smashed under our wheels ! " shouted he to the 
 enemy. 
 
 At that moment half a dozen of the "Wimpleto- 
 nians leaped over the rail of the steamer upon the 
 forward deck, with their muskets in their hands. 
 
 " What's that for ? " said the captain, quietly. 
 
 "They mean mischief," I replied, as I saw a aozen 
 more follow the six ; and among the latter was 
 Waddie Wimpleton, glittering with gold lace, for 
 he was in the full uniform of a major of infantry. 
 
 " Stand by those two doors ! " shouted he, draw- 
 ing his sword and pointing to tlie entrances near 
 which the Topplctonians were still listening to the 
 bowlings of Major Tommy. " Hurry up, there ! " he 
 added to those in the boats. 
 
 The Wimpletonians poured in over the rail, until 
 the deck was crowded. Company B had stacked 
 their muskets on this deck, and except the officers, 
 our boys were unarmed, while every Wimplctonian
 
 98 LlGHT^riNG EXPRESS, OE 
 
 presented a musket with a fixed bayonet upon it. 
 As the enemy were boarding the steamer, the cap- 
 tain, amazed at the audacity of the young rufiians, 
 rang the bell to back the boat; but before she had 
 headway enough to shake off the fleet, which clung 
 to her like swarming bees, all the Wimpletonians, 
 except one in each boat, were on our deck. 
 
 " Up there, twenty of you ! " said Major Waddie, 
 indicating the hurricane deck with a flourish of his 
 sword. 
 
 " What are the rascals going to do ? " added 
 Cajjtain Underwood, who had not given the enemy 
 credit for the skill and daring they now displayed. 
 
 " Don't let a single Top go on the hurricane 
 deck ! " shouted Waddie ; and the twenty students 
 he had sent up stationed themselves at the head of 
 the stairs, to prevent any of our party from leav- 
 ing their prison ; for such it had now become to 
 them. 
 
 Captain Underwood began to think the frolic, as 
 (le had at first regai'ded it, was becoming a serious 
 afi*air, and I saw that he looked somewhat anxious. 
 Our fellows had left their muskets on the forward
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 99 
 
 deck, and they were now in possession of the enemy. 
 I am inclined to think it was fortunate they were 
 there, rather than in the hands of their owners, or 
 some of the students on both sides would doubtless 
 have been seriously injured. As the matter now 
 stood, the Wimpletonians had entire possession of 
 the Middleport, for that was the name of the steamer. 
 Twenty of them stood in the act of charging bay- 
 onets in the direction of the two doors leadinc: from 
 the forward deck. Our fellows could do nothing ; 
 and even the captain, with the wheel in his hand, 
 was as powerless as they were. 
 
 Major Waddic, with his chapeau and white plume, 
 looked as though he were the commander-in-chief of 
 a great army, and had just achieved a bloody victory. 
 I must do him the justice to say that he had man- 
 aged the affair very well, though I saw that his two 
 captains, Dick Bayard and Ben Piiikerton, were 
 always near him with words of counsel. I was at 
 a loss to determine whether the capture of the 
 steamer had been devised on the instant, or whether 
 the boats had taken the position in the channel for 
 that, purpose in the beginning. I was inclined to
 
 100 LIGHTXING EXPRESS, OE 
 
 believe that the bold step was first suggested when 
 their leaders saw the muskets of the Toppletonians 
 stacked on the forward deck, and not a single soldier 
 present to guard them. Ben Pinkerton afterwards 
 told me that this view was correct. 
 
 While the conquerors were disposing their forces 
 so as to hold the prize they had captured, Major 
 Tommy and the audience who were listening to his 
 angry declamation were completely intrapped. The 
 startling event was calculated to turn the spouter's 
 thoughts into a new channel. It seemed to me that 
 the emergency had arisen which would justify me 
 in calling the attention of Major Toppleton to the 
 afiair ; but unfortunately I could not leave just then. 
 The steamer had backed half a mile from the island, 
 and had now shaken off all the boats which clung 
 to her. 
 
 "I don't know what these rufiians intend to do," 
 said Captain Underwood, as he rang the bell to stop 
 her. 
 
 "Waddie Wimpleton is reckless enough to do 
 almost anything," I replied; for I regarded the sit- 
 uation as difficult, if not dangerous.
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 101 
 
 " I will, keep the boat moving towards Midtlleport, 
 at any rate." 
 
 " That's right, captain ; if they have us, we liave 
 them at the same time, and we can carry them to 
 Middleport as prisoners of war," I added, with a 
 smile which was not wholly natural. 
 
 Captain Underwood rang the bell to go ahead, 
 and soon gave her full speed, heading the boat up 
 the lake. 
 
 " Hallo, there ! " shouted Major Waddie from the 
 forward deck, as he flourislied his sword towards the 
 wheel-house. " Stop her ! " 
 
 The captain paid no attention to this imperious 
 command. 
 
 " Do you hear me ? I say, stop her ! " yelled 
 AVaddie. 
 
 " Hold your tongue, you little bantam ! " replied 
 Captain Underwood, irreverently ; for, as he owed 
 no allegiance to the house of TVimpleton, he felt 
 that he could afford to speak without measuring his 
 words. 
 
 "Will you obey me, or not?" demanded Waddic, 
 furious because his imperious will was not regarded.
 
 102 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 But the two captains, who were really the brains 
 of the battalion, interjDOsed. I do not know what 
 they said, but the major with the chapeau desisted 
 from his attempt to bully the captain. They were 
 more practical in their operations than the com- 
 mander, and presently I saw them forming their 
 forces before the two doors. Captain Bayard drew 
 up his company before one of them, and Captain 
 Pinkerton before the other. 
 
 " Charge bayonets ! " said Waddie, fiercely. 
 
 The order was repeated by the two captains, who 
 placed their most reliable men in the front. 
 
 " Forward ! " screamed Major Waddie, making a 
 desperate lunge into the empty air with his flashing 
 sword. 
 
 "Forward!" repeated the two captains, as they 
 drove their men through the doors, into the narrow 
 space on each side of the boiler and engine-room. 
 
 The Toppletonians were in these spaces, and I 
 saw that the object of the movement was to drive 
 them aft, and get possession of the engine-room, 
 so as to control the machinery, and thus prevent 
 the captain from taking the boat to Middleport.
 
 THE KrVAL ACADEMIES. 103 
 
 Our fellows, unarmed, could not stand up against 
 the bayonets of the enemy, and we heard them fall 
 back. I concluded, by this time, that Major Tommy 
 had come to his senses; though, if he was disposed 
 still further to vent his ire, he had an excellent op- 
 portunity to do so against the sharp-pointed weapons 
 of his conquerors. 
 
 The Toppletoniaus were not only driven aft, but 
 were forced below the deck into the little cabin, 
 which was hardly large enough to hold them all. 
 A little later, we heard a violent altercation in the 
 engine-room, and then the boat stopped. The Wira- 
 pletonians had certainly won a complete victory.
 
 104 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OK 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 FEATHERS AND THE ENGINEER. 
 
 MAJOR TOMMY TOPPLETON and Com- 
 pany B were prisoners in the little cabin, 
 while Major Wacldie Wimpleton and Companies A 
 and B of his battalion were in possession of the 
 steamer. The wheels had stopped, and this was 
 evidence to us in the wheel-house that Forbush, the 
 engineer, bad been driven from his post. 
 
 "This will never do," said Captain Underwood. 
 " The young rascals will blow us all uj). They have 
 stopped the engine, and have not let off steam." 
 
 Though it was really becoming quite a serious 
 matter, I saw that the captain could hardly keep 
 from laughing, there was something so absurd in 
 the situation. Major Waddie, in his chapeau and 
 gold lace, strutted before us on the forward deck, 
 and we had regarded the whole affair as a joke ; but
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 105 
 
 now we were actually in the toils of the captors. 
 They had not yet disturbed the occupants of the 
 wheel-house ; but this step had only been deferred 
 till the other parts of the boat were made secure 
 The Toppletonians had all been locked up in the 
 cabin, and the engine-room, the citadel of the boat, 
 had yielded. 
 
 " It is time something was done," I replied to the 
 captain. " I have been opposed to a fight, but I 
 think one is necessary about this time." 
 
 "What shall we do?" 
 
 "That's the question. The Wimpletonians are 
 armed with ugly weapons," I added. " Thei-e are 
 three of us besides Forbush. I see the victors have 
 neglected to secure the captured arms on the for- 
 ward deck. "We can jump down, arm ourselves, and 
 fight it out." 
 
 "But there are nearly a hundred of the rascals," 
 answered Captain Underwood. " Some of them arc 
 pretty Avcll grown, and all of them have been exer- 
 cised with the bayonet. I don't relish having one 
 of those things stuck into me, and I shouldn't <laro 
 to punch any boy with such an ugly iron. I think
 
 106 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OK 
 
 I would ratber do what fighting I do without any 
 bayonet." 
 
 The captain was a very prudent man, certainly; 
 and I was aware how dangerous it would be to 
 injure one of the Wimpletonians. They were reck- 
 less ; we were cautious, and fearful of hurting them ; 
 so that they had every advantage over us, besides 
 that of mere numbers. While we were debating 
 the question, Forbush apj)eared on the forward deck. 
 One of his hands was covered with blood, and it 
 was plain he had not abandoned his post without 
 an attempt to retain it. 
 
 "Captain Underwood, they have driven me out 
 of the engine-room at the point of the bayonet," 
 said the engineer, holding up his bloody hand. 
 
 "Come up here," replied the captain. 
 
 "We have a good head of steam on, and the 
 engine needs some one to look out for it." 
 
 " Go and fix it as it ought to be ! " said the im- 
 perious Major Waddie, as he stalked up to the 
 engineer with his drawn, sword in his hand. 
 
 " If there were no one but you on board, I would 
 blow you so high you would never come down
 
 THE KIVAL ACADEMIES. 107 
 
 again," added Forbush, as he glanced at liis wound, 
 ed hand. 
 
 "None of your impudence, but do as I tell you,' 
 jDuffed TVaddie. 
 
 "Look out for the engine, Forbush," added the 
 captain ; " and speak to the fireman." 
 
 Forbush went to the engine, and presently the 
 sound of the steam hissing through the escape pipe 
 assured us the peril of an explosion was provided 
 for. The engineer, having attended to this duty, 
 appeared upon the forward deck again. He was 
 not a very demonstrative man, but I could see that 
 he was nursing his wrath under the imperious man- 
 ner of "Waddie. Passing through the Wimpletoni- 
 ans, he went to the bow of the boat. 
 
 "Major, there is "Wolf Penniman in the wheel- 
 house," said Dick Bayard, as he discovered me at 
 one of the windows. 
 
 " We'll fix him in due time," replied Waddie, as 
 lie glanced up at me with an ugly look, which 
 assured me I had nothing to hope for from his 
 magnanimity. " We must get rid of those fellows 
 in the cabin next."
 
 108 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 "Well, what are you going to do Avitli them?" 
 asked Captain Ben Pinkerton. 
 
 "Land them in some out-of-the-way place on the 
 east shore, where it will take them all day to get 
 home again," suggested Captain Dick Bayard. 
 
 " Where ? " inquired Major Waddie, apparently 
 pleased with the idea. 
 
 "At the point off the North Shoe, for instance," 
 replied Bayard. 
 
 " That's the plan ! " exclaimed the major, as he 
 sheathed his glittering blade, apparently satisfied that 
 the battle was finished. " "Wolf Penniman, come 
 down here ! " he added, turning to me again. 
 
 "No, I thank you," I replied, cheerfully. 
 
 "If you want to get out of this scrape with a 
 ivhole skin, you had. better mind what I tell you," 
 continued Waddie, involuntarily putting his hand 
 on the hilt of his sword. 
 
 "I think I can best keep a whole skin up here," 
 answered. 
 
 "Better go down," interposed the captain. "Mo- 
 ses and I will go with you." 
 
 Moses was one of the deck hands, who had been
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 109 
 
 steering when the capture was made. There were 
 two more of them, besides the fireman below, making 
 seven men on board. 
 
 " Very well ; if you think best I will go down," I 
 replied. 
 
 ""We had better keep together," he added. 
 
 I led the way down the ladder, and as the cap- 
 tain followed me, he beckoned to the deck hands to 
 keep near us. 
 
 " You have concluded to mind — have you ? " 
 sneered Waddie, as I presented myself before his 
 imperial majorship, 
 
 "I concluded to come down," I answered. 
 
 " Wolf, you will go to the engine-room, and mind 
 the bells," he continued. 
 
 "Mr. Forbush is the engineer of this boat," I 
 replied. 
 
 " No matter if he is ; you will do as I tell you, 
 or take the consequences." 
 
 " Then I will take the consequences," I answered, 
 for I had no intention of helping the Wimpletonians 
 ];in<l tlicir conquered foe on the North Point. 
 
 "Here! luiia around him! Charge bayonets I
 
 110 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OB 
 
 Drive him into the engine-room ! " said Waddie, 
 smartly. 
 
 Instead of waiting for this programme to be car- 
 ried out, I walked forward to the extreme point of 
 the bow, where the engineer had taken position. I 
 was not quite sure that I could successfully resist 
 the order; but it was not in my nature to obey 
 the haughty commands of Major Waddie. 
 
 " That's right ! " said Forbush, as I joined him. 
 "I'm glad to see a little grit." 
 
 Captain Underwood and the three deck hands fol- 
 lowed me ; but Waddie drew his sword, and, filled 
 with rage, crowded through them towards me. 
 
 "Wolf, I command this boat now, and I order 
 you to the engine-room," fumed the major, as he 
 j^ointed his sword at me, as though he intended 
 to run me through; and I am not sure that such 
 was not his purpose. 
 
 Forbush's patience appeared to be exhausted, and 
 before I had time to make any reply, he suddenly 
 sprang upon Waddie, wrenched the sword from his 
 grasp, and, seizing him by the collar, jammed him 
 against the rail with so much force, that the bantam
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. Ill 
 
 major howled -with pain and terror. The dignity 
 of his military position was knocked out of him, and 
 the glory of the chapeau, feathers, and gold lace 
 departed. • , 
 
 "Look out for. the rest of them!" called Forbush. 
 
 I picked up one of the guns Avhich the captors 
 had thrown one side, and the three deck hands fol- 
 lowed my example. Captain Underwood, still true 
 to his humane philosophy, took a handspike. But 
 the sudden movement of the engineer seemed to 
 paralyze the valiant soldiers for the moment, as they 
 paused to see what the grimy Forbush intended to 
 do with their leader. 
 
 "Rally! rally!" shouted Captain Bayard, who, 
 now tliat the major was Jiors de combat^ was the 
 ranking officer. " Charge bayonets ! " 
 
 " You keep back ! " replied Forbush. " If one of 
 you takes a single step forward, I will throw this 
 fellow overboard;" and he jammed poor WadJie 
 against the rail again, until we could almost hear 
 his bones crack. 
 
 "Don't! don't!" groaned TYaddie. " Keep the fel- 
 lows back, Dick Bayanl, oi- he will kill me I "
 
 112 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OB 
 
 "That's so," replied the stout engineer, who did 
 not weigh less than one hundred and eighty, and 
 was six feet high. 
 
 By this time the four men and myself were drawn 
 UI5 in line of battle. It was clear enough to the 
 Wimpletonians that, if the action began, there would 
 be some broken heads, if not bleeding bodies. How- 
 ever lightly they regarded bayonet wounds when the 
 weapons were in their own hands only, they seemed 
 to have a great respect for the cold steel in the 
 hands of others. They formed their line in the act 
 of charging bayonets; but they did not charge any. 
 There they stood, arrested by the plaintive cry of 
 their gallant leader. 
 
 "Xow, come out here, Feathers!" said Forbush, 
 as he took Waddie by the collar, besmearing the 
 major's face with blood from his wounded hand, and 
 trotting him up to the line. " Come up here again, 
 and take command ! Order these cubs upon the 
 hurricane deck, or I will make short work of you ! " 
 
 The engineer emphasized his commands by shak- 
 ing Waddie most unmercifully. 
 
 " You let me alone ! " howled the discomfited 
 commander of the battalion.
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 113 
 
 " ni let you alone when I have done with you," 
 added Forbush, as he twisted his gripe upon the 
 collar of his victim, so as almost to choke him. 
 
 "You'll kill me!" gasped Waddie. 
 
 " Will you give the order I told you ? " 
 
 " Send the fellows upon the hurricane deck ! " 
 whined Waddie to Dick Bayard, crying and howling 
 at the same time. 
 
 "Don't do it, Dick!" said Pinkerton, who could 
 not endure the thought of having the victory wrest- 
 ed from the conquerors in the very moment of their 
 triumph. 
 
 " Waddie says so. What can we do ? " replied 
 Bayard. 
 
 "They don't mind," added Forbush, shaking the 
 unfortunate major again. 
 
 " Do as I tell you, Dick Bayard I " called Waddie, 
 writhing under the torture. 
 
 Very reluctantly the senior captain gave the order, 
 and the Wimpletonians crept up the ladders to the 
 hurricane deck. 
 
 "Now let me alone!" growled Waddie, trying to 
 sliakc off his powerful persecutor. 
 8
 
 114 LIGnT:NING EXPKESS, OB 
 
 " Hold still, Feathers ! " replied Forbush, applying 
 a little gentle force, as if to assure his victim that 
 the tragedy was not yet ended. 
 
 The engineer was now in excellent humor, and 
 was exceedingly pleased with the turn he had given 
 to the affair. 
 
 "Ain't you going to let me go now?" added the 
 major, in a pleading tone. 
 
 "Not yet. Feathers. You must give security for 
 the good behavior of your crowd." 
 
 " What are you going to do with me ? " asked 
 Waddie. 
 
 " I'm going to throw you overboard if you don't 
 behave like a man. Now, Captain Underwood, you 
 can let out our boys. These rascals have locked 
 them np in the cabin." 
 
 "Better get rid of the "Wimps first," I whispered 
 to the captain. 
 
 ""What shall we do with these fellows?" he re- 
 plied, with a significant glance at me, as he compre- 
 hended my meaning. 
 
 "Land them at North Point," I suggested. 
 
 "Good!" laughed Forbush. "It is a poor rule
 
 THE KIVAL ACADEMIES. 115 
 
 that won't -work both ways. "What do you say, Cap- 
 tain Underwood ? " 
 
 " Anything to get rid of them ! " rej)lied the cap- 
 tain, impatiently. 
 
 "Very well; I will take care of Feathers. I will 
 keep him in the engine-room with me," added For- 
 bush. "Xow, Wolf, you and the three deck hands 
 stay here. If those fellows up there attempt any- 
 thing mischievous, you cull me, and Feathers and I 
 will settle it — won't we, Feathers ? " 
 
 Forhush laughed till his fat sides shook, and then 
 dragged Major "Waddie to the engine-room.
 
 ilQ LIGHTNING EXPEESS, OB 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 KEEPING THE PEACE. 
 
 'ADN'T we better lot oui- boys out before 
 we go ahead?" asked Captain Underwood, 
 in a low tone, as the enguieer disappeared with his 
 jDrisoner. 
 
 " There will be a fight if we do," I replied. " "We 
 can land the "Wimj^s in ten or fifteen minutes." 
 
 " What will Tommy say ? " added Captain Un- 
 derwood. 
 
 "No matter what he says. It is better to keep 
 the peace than to let them out." 
 
 Doubtless he fully agreed with me; but he dread- 
 ed the wrath of his employer's son even more than 
 the violence of the Wimpletonians. He went up 
 to the wheel-house, and rang the bell to go ahead. 
 The discomfited enemy on the hurricane deck were 
 discussing the exciting topic very earnestly. It was
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES.- 117 
 
 humiliating for all of them to lay down their arms, 
 practically, on account of the capture of their 
 leader. Ben Pinkerton was in favor of fighting 
 it out, and rescuing "Waddie from the gripe of his 
 persecutor by force and arms ; but timid counsels 
 finally prevailed, and the battalion kept quiet. 
 
 I had gone up the ladder when the boat started, 
 BO that I could see what they wei-e doing, and 
 hear what they were saying ; but I kept my line 
 of retreat open, so that I could make for the for- 
 ward deck if a storm appeared. It was only a 
 short run to North Point, and we soon made the 
 landing at a rude pier, erected for passengers going 
 to an interior town. As soon as the steamer was 
 made fast, Forbush appeared on the forward deck, 
 dragging Waddie by the collar, and carrying the 
 Bword in his hand. Taking position in the bow of 
 the boat, where he could not be assaulted in the 
 rear, the engineer planted his prisoner in front of 
 him, while the deck hands, reiinforced by the fire- 
 man and myself, formed a line between him and 
 the gangway. 
 
 "Now, Feathers, if your men are good soldiers
 
 118 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 they will obey you," Foibush began. "Just give 
 tbera the order to march down in single file, and 
 go ashore ! " 
 
 Waddie was humiliated by his defeat. He was 
 ashamed to confess, practically, that the battalion 
 had been defeated by his regard for his own safety. 
 But he was still in the power of the fierce engi- 
 neer, whose bloody hand was upon his throat. He 
 hesitated ; but every instant of delay caused For- 
 bush to tighten his hold, and it was painfully ap- 
 parent to him that he must give the order, or be 
 choked by his unrelenting tyrant. 
 
 " Speak, Feathers, speak ! " said the engineer. 
 "Give your orders, and speak up like a man, so 
 that they can hear you ! " 
 
 « Don't ! Don't ! You hurt me ! " whined the 
 major. 
 
 " That's nothing to what will come if you don't 
 do as I tell you." 
 
 " March them down, Dick Bayard," howled Wad- 
 die, as Forbush emphasized his determination by a 
 fierce twist at the neck of his victim. 
 
 " In single file," added the engineer.
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 119 
 
 "Single file, Dick!" repeated Waddie. 
 
 " Single file — forward, march ! " said Captain Dick 
 Bayard, who was plainly disgusted with the pro- 
 ceedings. 
 
 The column of valiant warriors, grand even in 
 their misfortunes, descended the ladder on the port 
 side, and stepped on shore. They looked as sheep- 
 ish as the lambs on the neighboring hills; but 
 they were full of bottled-up rage, and as soon as 
 Waddie was out of trouble, it was probable that 
 somethins: would be done. 
 
 " Now let me go ! " snapped Waddie, when the 
 last of the file had left the boat. 
 
 " Not yet. Feathers," replied Forbush, as he 
 glanced at the two companies on the pier. " Or- 
 der your troops to march up to the grove on the 
 shore." 
 
 "What for?" groaned Waddie. 
 
 "Good soldiers never ask questions," laughed the 
 engineer, as he twisted the major's collar again. 
 
 Waddie gave the order as he was required, 
 and Dick Bayard, who appeared to be on the 
 watch for a chance to redeem the fortunes of the
 
 120 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 day, doggedly led the battalion away from the 
 steamer. 
 
 "Now it is all right. Feathers," said Forbush. 
 "Next time, when you want a steamer, you had 
 better apply at the cajDtain's office." 
 
 " I didn't want your old steamer," snarled the 
 gallant major. 
 
 "What did you take her for, then?" 
 
 "Because you were going to run down our boats. 
 I heard Tommy Toppleton tell the captain to 
 do so." 
 
 " Why didn't you get out of the way ? " 
 
 "We never get out of the way for Toppleton 
 humbugs," sneered Waddie. "Tou haven't seen 
 the end of this." 
 
 "We shall probably see the end of it together. 
 Here is your cheese knife. Feathers ; but behave 
 yourself, or you haven't seen the worst of it yet. 
 Mind that, Feathers!" 
 
 Waddie took his sword, and looked daggers ; 
 but he dared not use any, or even the weapon 
 he held in his hand. Sullenly, he walked across 
 the deck to .the pier. He wanted to do some-
 
 THE EIYAL ACADEMIES. 121 
 
 thing, but lie was prudent when his own person 
 was in peril. 
 
 "Cast off the fasts, Moses," said Forbush, as he 
 hastened to the engine-room. 
 
 " Come down here ! " shouted Major "Waddie to 
 his forces in the grove. " Come ! Double quick ! " 
 
 I do not know what the valiant major intended 
 to do next; but probably, if his forces had not been 
 sent to the grove by the forethought of the en- 
 gineer, he would have ordered an assault upon the 
 Middleport, and endeavored to recapture her. He 
 would have directed his troops to charge upon any- 
 thing, so long as he could keep behind them, and 
 make good his own escape in case of disaster. He 
 was reckless enough to do anything ; but as soon 
 as the fasts were cast off. Captain Underwood rang 
 to back her, and tlie boat was clear of the pier 
 long before Waddie could bring up his forces. 
 
 " We are well out of that," said the captain, as 
 he rang to go ahead. "Now you can let our boys 
 out of tlie cabin." 
 
 I was not exactly satisfied with the situation in 
 which I found myself, for thougli I wns very hapi»y
 
 122 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 in having escaped the wrath of Waddie Wiraple- 
 ton, I had still to encounter the ire of the other 
 "scion of a noble house." I had expected to be 
 broiled on a gridiron, or subjected to some fearful 
 punishment, for my sins against the house of Wim- 
 pleton; and probably I should have been a sufferer, 
 if Forbush had not taken the matter in hand, and 
 brought it to an issue. Now Tommy would berate 
 me for refusing to obey his order, when the engi- 
 neer had declined to do so ; but I was willing to 
 meet this chai-ge, if I could escape the responsibil- 
 ity of advising the captain to keep " our boys " pris- 
 oners after we had subdued the enemy. 
 
 I went to the cabin door to discharge my mission. 
 It had been fastened with a piece of wood, placed 
 in the staple over the hasp, for the padlock with 
 which it was usually secured was lost. I threw 
 the door wide open, and announced to the pris 
 oners below that they were free. 
 
 " The door is open, Major Toppleton," called one 
 of the students to his chief. 
 
 "Where are the Wimps?" demanded Major Tom- 
 my, as he led the way out of the cabin.
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 123 
 
 " We put them on shore here, at North Point, 
 where they intended to land yon," I replied. 
 
 "Why didn't you obey my order when I told you 
 to take charge of the engine ? " continued Tommy, 
 his face beginning to kindle up with anger again. 
 
 "I couldn't take the engine out of Mr. Forbush's 
 hands," I replied with becoming meekness. 
 
 "Forbush shall be discharged when the boat re- 
 turns," said Tommy, shaking his head. 
 
 *' Perhaps you will change your mind when you 
 learn what he has done," I suggested. " He recap- 
 tured the boat, after he had been driven at the 
 point of the bayonet from the engine-room. He 
 was wounded in the hand, too, in the scrape. I 
 don't know how we should have got out of it if 
 it hadn't been for him. He is a plucky fellow, and 
 stood up against the bayonets of the whole crowd 
 of Wimps." 
 
 " What did he do ? " asked Tommy, curiously. 
 
 "He captured Waddie Wimpleton, took liis sword 
 away Irom him, and made him order his command 
 to the hurricane deck." 
 
 "When was that?"
 
 124 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OE 
 
 "Well, a short time ago," I replied, cautiously. 
 
 " Why didn't you let us out then ? " he demanded. 
 
 "All the Wimps were here on deck. We let you 
 out just as soon as we got rid of them." 
 
 " What did you let them go for, if you had 
 Waddie ? " 
 
 " There were two comiDanies of them, and they 
 were armed with bayonets. We were glad enough 
 to get rid of them." 
 
 Tommy thought, if he had been called with hia 
 force, he could have taken care of the WimpletO' 
 nians ; but he behaved better than I expected. I 
 turned his attention back to Forbush, and minutely 
 described to the major and his men the operations 
 of the engineer, and the conduct of Waddie under 
 the torture. Tommy laughed, and the soldiers 
 laughed. It was a good joke, and they were sorry 
 they had not seen the fun. 
 
 " I hope you won't find fault with Mr. Forbush^ 
 after the good service he has rendered, and the 
 cut he received in the hand in doing his duty," I 
 ventured to suggest. 
 
 " No ! No ! No ! " murmured the boys.
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 125 
 
 " I am willing to forgive him," replied Tommy, 
 magnanimously. "But if he had obeyed my order, 
 there would have been no trouble." 
 
 ""What do you think the consequences would 
 have been if he had obeyed your order ? " I mildly 
 inquired. 
 
 "Xo matter what they were; both he and you 
 ought to have done as I told you to do." 
 
 "The fellows in the boats would have been 
 smashed up under the wheels of the steamer." 
 
 "Xo, they wouldn't. I only meant to duck them 
 a little. I should have stopped the wheels in a 
 minute." 
 
 I was very glad to hoar Tommy acknowledge 
 that he did not mean to annihilate the "Wimple- 
 tonians, for I had a very good opinion of him, on 
 the whole. Though he did not mean seriously to 
 injure the enemy, I have no doubt some of them 
 would have been sacrificed if he could have had 
 his own way. It is a blessed thing that boys can't 
 always have tlieir own way. 
 
 I walked with Tommy to the engine-room, whero 
 Forbush was binding up the wound on his hand.
 
 l26 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 The little major kindly inquired about the injury, 
 and thanked the engineer for the service he had 
 rendered ; but he could not help adding that it 
 would have been better if the order he gave had 
 been obeyed. He then went up to the wheel-house 
 to see the captain ; and as it did not appear that 
 he had done anything worthy of especial commen- 
 dation, Tommy wanted to know why he had not 
 let him out of the cabin sooner. 
 
 "We didn't think it was best to open the doors 
 till we had landed the Wimpletonians," replied 
 Captain Underwood, with moi'e candor than pru- 
 dence. 
 
 "You didn't, eh?" said Tommy, waxing angry. 
 
 " "VYolf thought you wouldn't care to see the 
 other boys." 
 
 "Then he advised you not to let us out — 
 did he?" 
 
 " He thought it wasn't best ; and I thought so 
 too," added the captain, willing to share the blame 
 with me. 
 
 " What did you mean. Wolf? " demanded the 
 major, turning to me.
 
 THE EIYAL ACADEinKS. 127 
 
 * The "Wimps had two companies, and you had 
 only one," I replied ; but it was in vain that I 
 tried to smooth the matter over. 
 
 lie was mad Avith me, because, in my capacity 
 as a messenger of peace, I had prevented a fight ; 
 but I was satisfied. The boat ran up to the land- 
 ing-place on the Horse Shoe, and the "troops" 
 and their baggage were disembarked. 
 
 "Wolf, you may go back to Middleport in the 
 steamer; I don't Avant you here," said Tommy. 
 
 But I was the ambassador of peace 1
 
 128 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OE 
 
 i 
 
 .r 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 AT THE HOESE SHOE. 
 
 " ~| ■ SHOULD like to stay with you a few clays, 
 
 JL Major Tommy," I ventured to say, after the 
 young lord had given me the imperative order to 
 depart on the steamer. 
 
 " I say I don't want you here," replied Tommy, 
 flatly. " We can get along without you." 
 
 "Perhaps I may be of some service to you," I 
 modestly suggested. 
 
 "I don't want any fellow about me that won't 
 obey orders," j^rotested the little major. "You ad- 
 vised the captain to keep us locked up in that cabin, 
 when we might have cleaned out the Wimps, and 
 paid them off for what they did." 
 
 " Your father sent me down here, Tommy, to .do 
 anything I could to assist you," I added. 
 
 " I don't care if he did ! " replied Tommy, irritat' 
 ed rather than conciliated by this remark.
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 129 
 
 "He wished me to stay with you; it was not by 
 my own desire that I came." 
 
 "Did he send you here to be a spy upon our 
 actions? If he did, s-- much the more reason why 
 we should get rid of you. "We don't want any spies 
 and go-betweens here." 
 
 "I am not a spy, Tommy." 
 
 "Go on board the steamer, and tell my father I 
 won't have you here." 
 
 "Very well," I replied, as I walked away from 
 the imperious little magnate. 
 
 "Wolf is a good fellow," I heard the dignified 
 Skotchley say to Tommy, as I departed. " I wouldn't 
 send him oflf." 
 
 "You wouldn't, and you needn't. I will, and shall," 
 replied Tommy, curtly. 
 
 By this time the officers and soldiers of Company 
 A had gathered at the shore, and I found I had 
 quite a number of friends who were willing to in- 
 tercede for me; but if all the officers of the bat- 
 talion had gone down upon their knees to him in 
 my behalf^ he would not have yielded. I was ban- 
 ished from the island ; and, though I was very will- 
 9
 
 130 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OE 
 
 ing to go, much preferring to siiend my vacation iu 
 some contemi^lated improvements upon our garden, 
 I did not wish to be sent away in disgrace. I saw 
 that Skotchley did not hke the manner in which 
 his interposition had been treated, and just as the 
 boat was about to start, I was not a little surj)rised 
 to see him come on board. 
 
 " Faxon is as mad as a March hare," said he, walk- 
 ing up to me. 
 
 "What is the matter?" 
 
 " He says it is mean to send you off in this way." 
 
 "I am willing to go; I don't care about staying 
 here, for there will be a fight soon," I added. "But 
 Major Toj^jjleton sent me here, and I thought I 
 ought to stay." 
 
 " I would stay, if I were you," said Skotchley. 
 
 " No ; I won't make any trouble. But tlie steam- 
 er is starting ; you will be carried off if you don't 
 go on shore." 
 
 "That is just what I want," rejilied the dignified 
 student, with a smile. "Like yourself, I don't wish 
 to make any trouble ; but I will not be snubbed by 
 Major Tommy Toj)pleton. I prefer to spend my 
 vacation in some other place."
 
 THE KIVAL ACADEMIES. 131 
 
 "All ashore," said Captain Underwood, nodding 
 to my comjianion. 
 
 "I am going with you, captain." 
 
 " Very well ; " and the bell was rung to start her. 
 
 " Hallo, there ! Stop her. Captain Underwood ! " 
 called the imperious major. 
 
 The captain obeyed, of course. 
 
 "Where are you going, Skotchley?" demanded 
 Tommy. 
 
 "I am going to Middleport," rei^lied Skotchley, 
 in his quiet manner. 
 
 "I don't see it!" added the major, his face red- 
 dening with anger at this breach of discipline. 
 "You are first lieutenant of Company B." 
 
 "I prefer not to remain." 
 
 " But I i>refer that you should remain," stormed 
 Tommy. 
 
 "I am sorry to disappoint you, but I have decid- 
 ed to go." 
 
 " Will you come on shore, or will you be brought 
 on shore ? " 
 
 " Neither." 
 
 "Captain Briscoe, take a file of men, and bring
 
 132 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OK 
 
 Skotchley on shore. He is a deserter," added 
 Tommy. 
 
 Whew! A deserter! 
 
 "Go ahead, cai^tain," I suggested to the timid 
 master of the steamer. " There will be a row here 
 in five minutes, if you don't." 
 
 " It is all my jDlace is worth to disobey that strip- 
 ling," replied Captain Underwood, disgusted with 
 the situation. "His father rules all Middleport, and 
 he rules his father." 
 
 I saw Faxon remonstrating in the most vigorous 
 manner with the commander of the battalion, and 
 presently the former came on board with the olive 
 of peace in his hand. He begged Skotchley to re- 
 turn to the shore, in order to save all further 
 trouble. 
 
 " If Tommy will permit "Wolf to remain, I will," 
 replied the dignified student. 
 
 Faxon returned to the shore with these terms; 
 but Tommy indignantly declined them. He would 
 have Skotchley, and he would not have me. The 
 order was given again for Caj^tain Briscoe to bring 
 the refractory lieutenant on shore with a file of sol-
 
 THE PJVAL ACADEMIES. lliS 
 
 diers; but the men would not "fall in" to execute 
 such a command. Skotchley was the most influen- 
 tial fellow among the students, as his election to the 
 presidency of the railroad proved. Though he was 
 dignified, and remarkably correct in his deportment, 
 he was very popular. Tommy had just snubbed him, 
 and this had excited the indignation of the crowd. 
 Briscoe and a dozen others threatened to leave the 
 camp, and actually made a movement towards the 
 steamer. 
 
 Major Tommy was in a quandary. There was a 
 mutiny among the forces, and the prosi:)ect at that 
 moment was the breaking up of the camp. The 
 students had long been disgusted with Tommy's 
 tyranny, and it did not require much to kindle the 
 flames of insurrection in the battalion. Hurried con- 
 sultations among groups of ofiicers and privates indi- 
 cated a tempest. The little magnate was shrewd 
 enougli now to see that he had gone too far, but 
 his pride would not permit him to recede. 
 
 The disaffected ones who had the courage to strike 
 for their own riglits were collecting near the ])icr. 
 Briscoe ai)peared to be the leading rebel, and the
 
 1?4 LIGnTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 force which gathered around him included half the 
 battalion. Tommy was informed that they intended 
 to desert in a body. 
 
 " Start your boat, Captain Underwood," said 
 Tommy, in order to prevent the departure of the 
 rebels. 
 
 The captain pulled the bells, and the wheels of 
 the Middleport turned. 
 
 "Now stop her!" shouted the major; and it was 
 evident that he intended only to move the steamer 
 fir enough from the shore to prevent the escape of 
 the disaffected portion of his command. 
 
 I heai-d the last order, but the caiDtain did not, 
 for I had moved to the stern, in order to see the 
 result. • 
 
 " Stop her, I say," repeated Tommy, savagely. 
 
 Still Captain Underwood did not, or would not, 
 hear him, and the Middleport went on her way. 
 
 " Tell the captain to stop her ! " screamed Tom- 
 my, at the tojD of his lungs. 
 
 I deemed it to be in the interests of peace not to 
 heed this order, for I was afraid, if I communicated 
 it to the cajitain, he would obey. The little major
 
 THE EIYAL ACADEMIES. 135 
 
 screamed till he was hoarse; but we were clear of 
 the island, though it was certain there was an ac- 
 count to be settled in the future. 
 
 " Our Academy would be a great institution, if 
 Tommy Toppleton went to school somewhere else," 
 said Skotchley. 
 
 " It is a great pity he is so overbearing," I re- 
 plied. 
 
 " He seems to think all the rest of the fellows 
 were created only to be his servants, and he treads 
 upon them as though they were worms beneath his 
 feet. I have not been accustomed to have a fellow 
 speak to me as he did to-day." 
 
 " He is very haughty ; but he is a generous fellow, 
 and has many other good qualities." 
 
 "But one can't live with him, he is so overbear- 
 ing. I am rather sorry now that I did not accept 
 the office of president of the Lake Shore Railroad, 
 when I was elected. It would have brought affairs 
 to a head. But I did not want to spite him, for 
 he never treated me so badly before." 
 
 ■Tommy had made a great mistake in alienating 
 such a fellow as Skotchley. It was evident that
 
 136 LIGHTNING EXPEESS, OB 
 
 the tempest among the students could not much 
 longer be delayed, if it had not already commenced. 
 From the deck of the Middlejjort, we saw the two 
 companies march to the camp ground, and begin to 
 pitch the tents. It was probable that the mutiny 
 had been nipped in the bud by the dejiarture of the 
 steamer with Skotchley on boaixl. I was afterwards 
 told that the students regarded Tommy's order to 
 start the boat as yielding the point, and that, when 
 he failed to stoj) her, he accepted the situation, and 
 made a virtue of necessity, permitting the boys to 
 believe that the Middleport had departed in obedi- 
 ence to his command. 
 
 The boats of the Wimpletonians were moving 
 towards North Point, for those in charge of them 
 had comprehended the final defeat of their party. 
 It only remained for them to seek another camp 
 ground, or make the attempt to drive the Toppleto- 
 nians from their position. Skotchley and I agi-eed 
 that they would not long be quiet, and that the 
 week would be filled up with quarrels and skir, 
 mishes between the students of the rival academies 
 
 In an hour the steamer arrived at the wharf in
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 137 
 
 Middleport, and we went on shore. I invited 
 Skotchley, as the Institute was closed, to spend the 
 week with me at ray father's house. He thanked 
 me very cordially, and accepted the invitation; but 
 before I went home, I deemed it proper to report 
 to Major Toi-)pleton the events which had transpired 
 durinof the forenoon. I intended to call at his house 
 on my way home; but we met him coming down 
 the street towards the pier. 
 
 " I thought you went up to the camj^, Wolf," said 
 he, much surprised when he saw me. 
 
 " I have been, sir, and a sweet time we have had 
 of it. Tommy sent me off, and would not permit 
 me to remain on the island." 
 
 "Wliat has happened?" he asked, anxiously. 
 
 I told him the story of the morning's adventures, 
 thouiih it took me half an hour to do so. 
 
 " And Tommy sent you off — did he ? " laughed 
 the major. 
 
 "Yes, sir — because I advised the captain not to 
 let our fellows out of the cabin until we got rid of 
 the Wimits; but if they had been let out, there would 
 Ijave been a fight with bayonets.'*
 
 138 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 " I am very glad you didn't let tliem out then ; 
 but Tommy is rather a difficult subject to manage," 
 continued the major, lightly. "I have to coax him 
 a great deal, for he is bound to have his own way. 
 If he is thwarted, it has a bad'eftect upon him. I 
 sent you up to the island to keep the run of things 
 there ; but of course I did not expect you to oppose 
 him." 
 
 "I did the best I could, sir." 
 
 "You did very well; but I am sorry Tommy 
 sent you away, for I thought you might have some 
 influence with him. Did he send you away too, 
 Skotchley ? " he added, turning to my companion. 
 
 " No, sir ; I came of my own accord," rej^Iied the 
 dignified student : but he did not think it necessary 
 to add that he and Tommy had fallen out. 
 
 "You think there will be a fight between the 
 two sides up there ? " continued the major. 
 
 "Before the week is out there will be." 
 
 "Something must be done," said the major, anx- 
 iously. 
 
 I saw now that he was quite as much the victim 
 of Tommy's waywardness as the students of the 
 Institute.
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 139 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 rP THE LAKE. 
 
 MAJOR TOPPLETON was absolutely afraid 
 of liis son. There was a rumor in Middle- 
 jiort — though I did not liear of it until after the 
 events narrated had transpired — that his father had 
 positively refused to permit Tommy to have his own 
 way on one occasion, when the young gentleman in- 
 sisted upon discharging a favorite servant of his 
 mother. The major declined to yield, and stuck to 
 his text. The result was, that Tommy, in his rage, 
 ran away in the dead of winter, and was not found 
 for two whole days, during Avhich time he lived on 
 the fat of the land at the Ilitaca House, whither he 
 liad gone in the steamer. He refused to go home 
 till his father promised to discharge the obnoxious 
 servant, declaring that ho would not live in the same 
 house with the woman, and threatening to go to
 
 140 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 New York and sliip as a common sailor. TJndoubt- 
 edly it would have been better for the young gentle- 
 man if he had shipped as a common sailor, for in 
 that capacity he would have ascertained how much 
 of his own way he could enjoy. His father yielded, 
 and Tommy, having conquered in this instance, had 
 no trouble in maintaining his suj^remacy. The ma- 
 jor was afraid he would run away, or do some other 
 terrible thing; and the man who was the lord and 
 master of all Middleport was the slave of his tyran- 
 nical son. This is not the only instance on record of 
 the same thing. 
 
 I supposed Major Toppleton would take some 
 steps to prevent a quarrel between the rival students, 
 but he did not. It was a delicate and difficult mat- 
 ter to interfere with Tommy ; and the fact that I 
 had been sent back proved that he would not sub- 
 mit to any dictation, or even suggestion. 
 
 "I am rather glad you have come back, Wolf^" 
 said the great man ; and I saw that "he was trying 
 to conceal his anxiety in regard to the students. 
 "I have just received a letter from Hitaca, inform- 
 ing me that my new yacht is finished, and I was
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 141 
 
 on my way to the wharf to find some one to send 
 after her. I liave been told that you are a boatman 
 as well as an engineer, "Wolf." 
 
 "I have handled all sorts of boats on the lake. 
 I used to sail the Marian on the other side; and 
 she is the largest boat in this j)art of the lake," I 
 replied. 
 
 "But she is not more than half as large as the 
 Grace." 
 
 " The Grace ! " I exclaimed, delighted with the 
 name. 
 
 " She is called after my daughter. Do you think 
 you can handle her?" 
 
 "I know I can, sir." 
 
 " She is thirty-five feet long, and measures fifteen 
 tons. She has a cabin large enough to accommo- 
 date half a dozen persons." 
 
 "I should like to bring her down first rate," I 
 addef], glancing at Skotchley ; and I saw by his 
 looks that he would like to accompany me. 
 
 "If you think you can manage her, you may go. 
 You Avill want two or three hands to help you." 
 
 "I will find them, sir."
 
 142 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 " You must take the steamer up the lake as soon 
 as she goes. I will write an order on the builder 
 to deliver the boat to you; call at my house for it 
 before you start." 
 
 I was delighted with this mission, for I had a 
 taste for boats almost as strong as that for a steam- 
 engine. I was fond of the water, and should have 
 preferred a situation in a steamer to anything else. 
 Skotchley was as much pleased as I was with the 
 cruise in prospect; and, after I had told my mother 
 where I was going, we called at the major's for the 
 order. He gave me some money to pay the ex- 
 penses, and, w^ith two of my friends, we embarked 
 in the steamer for Ilitaca, where we arrived at half 
 past four. Near the steamer's wharf, up the river, 
 I saw a beautiful yacht, which I at once concluded 
 was the Grace ; and she was worthy of her name, 
 if anything made of wood and iron could be equal 
 to such an honor. 
 
 I presented my order to the builder, who was in 
 doubt about delivering it to me, whom he stigma- 
 tized as a boy; but when I informed him that I 
 was the engineer of the Lake Shore Railroad, he
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 143 
 
 made no further objection. He did me the honor 
 to say that he had heard of me, and that he had 
 ridden in the dummy from Middleport to Spangle- 
 port. I was not a little astonished to find that my 
 fome had travelled so far as Hitaca ; but it appeared 
 that everybody in the vicinity knew all about the 
 quarrel between the two sides of the lake. 
 
 The Grace was moored in a basin of the river, 
 and the builder put my party on board of her in a 
 skiff. She was .a magnificent boat, far exceeding any- 
 thing of the kind I had seen, or even dreamed of. 
 She was sloop-rigged, painted black outside, and 
 white on deck. But her cabin was the i)iincipal at- 
 traction to me, and I hastened below to inspect it. 
 It was finished and furnished in a style equal to tlie 
 major's house, with two little state-rooms, and a little 
 cuddy forward, with a cook-stove in it. I was as- 
 tonislied and delighted, and would gladly h.ave re- 
 signed ray situation as engineer for a position on 
 this beautiful crafl. 
 
 I sent Tom Walton and Joe Poole up to a store 
 to purchase a list of groceries and provisions which 
 I liad made out, with Skotcliley's assistance, on board
 
 144 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OK 
 
 of the steamer; for we should need some supper, 
 and perhaps breakfast, before we could reach Mid- 
 dleport. While they were gone, Skotchley and I 
 devoted ourselves to a new examination of the 
 wonders of the Grace. The builder was pleased 
 with my enthusiasm, and the warm praise both of 
 us bestowed upon his work. He opened all the 
 lockers, and explained everything about the yacht, 
 from the keel to the mast-head. 
 
 "When will that railroad be done?" asked the 
 builder, after we had exhausted the Grace, cabin, 
 deck, and rigging. 
 
 " In a month or two," I replied ; and I could not 
 fail to observe the sly twinkle in his eye. 
 
 "They say Major Toppleton has bought up both 
 the steamers, and intends to run them, in connection 
 with the railroad, only from Middleport to Hitaca." 
 
 "I have heard so; but I know nothing about it." 
 
 "Do you see that steamer?" he added, pointing 
 to a vessel, which had just been launched. 
 
 " I see her. Is that the new one Colonel Wim- 
 pleton is building?" I asked, with no little curi- 
 osity.
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 145 
 
 " That's the boat, and if I mistake not she will 
 give your road a hard run." 
 
 "I should like to see her," I continued. 
 
 The builder kindly conducted me all over her. 
 Everything about her was first-class work, and I 
 confess that I rather envied the Wimpletonians the 
 possession of such a steamer. They were just build- 
 ing her cabins and upper works, and I saw that 
 she was to be far ahead of anything on the lake. 
 
 "I suppose there will be some lively competition 
 when this boat is finished," said I, as we left the 
 steamer. "But I hope it will be good-natured." 
 
 " The boat has rather the advantage of you," 
 added the builder. "If the major will build a 
 bridge over the river at Ucayga, he will win the 
 day. As it is, the steamer will have the weather- 
 gage." 
 
 It was hardly prudent for me to think so, for I 
 was to run the "Lightning Express" in opposition 
 to the new boat. But our provisions had arrived, 
 and just then I was more interested in the cruise 
 of the Grace than in the trips of the new steamer. 
 Skotchley and I went on board. As the river below 
 10
 
 146 LIGHTNING EXPKESS, OR 
 
 Hitaca was naiTow, and the navigation difficult, the 
 builder, with some of his men, assisted us to work 
 her out into the open lake. The wind was tolera'. 
 bly fresh from the westward, and as soon as the 
 men had left us, I took the helm, and headed the 
 Grace for Middleport. The yacht was a furious 
 sailer, and she tore through the water at a rapid 
 rate. 
 
 "I rather like this," said Skotchley, as he seated 
 himself at my side. 
 
 "So do I," I replied. "I wish the major would 
 make me skipper of this boat, and let some one else 
 run the locomotive." 
 
 "I don't want anything better than this for my 
 vacation. I should like to spend the week in her, 
 cruising up and down the lake." 
 
 "Perhaps you can. The major is going a fishing 
 in her, I heard him say. Very likely he will let 
 you have a berth in her" 
 
 "I'm afraid not. Tommy will spoil all my chances 
 of anything good for this term," added the digni- 
 fied student, shaking his head. 
 
 ^ I think the fellows on the Horse Shoe are likely
 
 THE EIVAI ACADKAtlES. 147 
 
 to bring Tommy to his senses before tb(!y get 
 through with him. They have liim there alone, 
 and I don't think they will let him have his own 
 way all the time. At any rate, they began as 
 though they would not." 
 
 "If I were in Tommy's boots, I should try to 
 make the fellows love instead of hate me. He is 
 smart, and can make himself very agreeable Avhen 
 he isn't ugly. In my opinion, there will be a big 
 row on the Hoi'se Shoe, even without any help from 
 the Wimps. Tommy is jjlucky, and I am not sure 
 that it will not be a good thing for him if the 
 "Wimps attack his camp. His position is a litlle like 
 that of some king I have read of, who got up a foi*' 
 cign war to save himself from being tipped off the 
 throne by his own subjects." 
 
 " Supper is ready," said Tom Walton, who attend- 
 ed to the culinary department of the Grace, having 
 had some experience in the art of cooking. " Shall I 
 take the helm, Avhile you go down?" 
 
 I was very happy to have him do so, for Tom 
 was a good boatman, Avhich was the particular reason 
 why I had invited him to be one of the party. Wo
 
 148 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OB 
 
 went clown into the cabin, where the table was set 
 for us. It was neatly and tastily arranged. The 
 viands consisted of beefsteak, potatoes, milk toast, 
 and coffee; and I must do Tom the justice to say 
 that they tasted as good as they looked. Certainly 
 I never felt happier than when I sat down to that 
 supj^er. Tliere was something decidedly marine in 
 the surroundings. The fresh breeze created quite a 
 sea for an inland lake, and the Grace tossed up and 
 down just enough to make her seem like a vessel. 
 
 "Wolf! Wolf!" shouted Tom Walton, at the 
 helm, just as I was taking my second cup of coffee; 
 for I did not expect to sleep much that night. 
 
 " What's the matter ? " I demanded, springing into 
 the standing-room, fearful that some calamity im- 
 pended over the beautiful yacht. 
 
 " There's some one calling to us from over there," 
 he replied, highly excited, as he pointed towards 
 the eastern shore. "There he is! It's a man in a 
 boat, or on a raft." 
 
 " Help ! Help ! " cried the person, in a voice 
 tt'hich sounded strangely familiar to me. 
 
 " Let out the main sheet, Tom. We will run over
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 149 
 
 and see what the matter is," I replied, taking the 
 helm. 
 
 In a few moments the Grace swept round into 
 the wind, under the lee of the person who had 
 appealed to us for aid. He was on a kind of raft, 
 sitting upon the wet planks, over which the waves 
 flowed freely. I ran the bow of the yacht up to 
 his frail crafl, to which the sufferer was clinging 
 witli both hands. Giving the helm to Tom, I rushed 
 forward to help the man, whose face presented a 
 most woe-begone aspect. 
 
 My astonishment may be surmised when I recog- 
 nized in this person Colonel "Wimpleton!
 
 150 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OB 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 IF THINE ENEMY HUNGER. 
 
 AS soon as the Grace came within reach of 
 Colonel Wimpleton, on the raft, he improved 
 his oj^portunity. Grasping the bob-stay, he made 
 his way on board, with my assistance. He was 
 so clumsy and terrified that without my helj) he 
 would certainly have fallen overboard. He plumped 
 upon the deck on all fours, in a most undignified 
 attitude for the magnate of Centreport. I helped 
 him to rise. In doing so, I discovered that his 
 breath was very odorous of liquor, which seemed 
 to do something towards explaining the unfortu- 
 nate plight in which we had found him. He was 
 not intoxicated at the time he was pulled on board 
 the Grace ; but perhaps he had had time to work 
 off the effects of the potions whose incense still 
 lingered about him.
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 151 
 
 " "Wolf Penuiman ! " exclaimed he, as he gi'asped 
 one of the fore-stays, and, steadying himself with 
 it, gazed into my face ; and his expression seemed 
 to indicate that he would rather have been rescued 
 by any other person than by me. 
 
 " Colonel "Wimpleton ! " I replied, returning his 
 compliment. 
 
 "Is it you. Wolf?" he added, as if unwilling 
 to believe the evidence of his own eyes. 
 
 "Yes, sir; it is I. Bat if you feel bad about it, 
 you can return to the raft." 
 
 He glanced at the little staging of three planks 
 on which he had made his involuntary cruise, and 
 shuddered as he did so, partly with cold, and partly 
 with dread. 
 
 "I will pay you well for whatever you do for 
 me, "Wolf," said he, glancing doubtfully at the boat, 
 and then at me. 
 
 " Let me tell you in the beginning. Colonel Wim- 
 pleton, that you can't pay me the first red cent," 
 I replied, with proper spirit. 
 
 "You won't turn me adrift again — will you?" 
 
 "Xo, sir; I will do anything I can for you."
 
 152 LIGnxXING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 ""We have not been very good friends lately." 
 
 "No, sir; but that shall not prevent me from 
 assisting you to any extent within my power. 
 What shall I do for you, sir?" 
 
 " I am very cold and numb," said he, curling up 
 with the chills that swept through his frame. 
 
 " Come into the cabin, sir. I think we can warm 
 and dry you so tliat you will be quite comfortable." 
 
 " Thank you, Wolf; " and I think this was the 
 first time he had ever used a gracious word to me. 
 
 Tom Walton had put the helm up, and the yacht 
 filled away on her course again. I took Colonel 
 Wimpleton's arm, and conducted him to the cabin. 
 The fire was still burning in the little cook-room, 
 and shutting down the hatch on the deck, I soon 
 made the place so hot that it almost melted me. 
 Seating my distinguished guest before the stove, I 
 gave him a mug of hot cofiee, though, before he 
 drank it, he asked me if there was any brandy on 
 board. I told him we had none, and he contented 
 himself with the coffee, which was quite as beneficial. 
 
 Under my mild treatment, the patient gradually 
 recovered the use of his limbs. I went on deck,
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEl^rrES. 153 
 
 and sent Tom down to give him some supper; and 
 our zealous cook provided him a fresh beefsteak, 
 coffee, and toast, wliich Tom said he ate just as 
 thoufifh he had been a common man. It was now 
 quite dark, and we were off Southport, on the east 
 shore. The wind had subsided, and we were not 
 likely to reach Middleport before morning. I gave 
 Tom the helm again, and went below to inquire 
 into the colonel's condition. He was still wet, and 
 was fearful that his exposure would bring on the 
 rheumatic fever, to which he was liable. I sug- 
 gested to him that he should go to bed, and have 
 his clothes dried. For such a man as he was, he 
 was very pliable and lamb-like. 
 
 I conducted him to one of the little state-rooms, 
 which contained a wide berth. I put all the blan- 
 kets on board upon the bed, and the colonel, taking 
 ofi" all his clothes, buried himself in them. I tucked 
 him up, and he declared that he felt quite com- 
 fortable. Hanging up all his garments in the cook- 
 room, I filled the stove with wood, assured they 
 would soon dry in the intense heat of the apait- 
 nicnt.
 
 154 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 " Can I do anytliing more for you, colonel ? " 1 
 asked, returning to his room. 
 
 "No, thank you. Wolf; I am very comfortable 
 now," he replied from the mass of blankets and 
 quilts which covered him. 
 
 "Where do you wish to go, sir?" 
 
 "Home! Home!" he answered with energy. 
 
 "We are bound for Middleport, su*, and we wiU 
 land you as soon as we arrive." 
 
 "Thank you, Wolf. I feel like a new man now. 
 I was sure I should be drowned. I had been on 
 that raft over three hours." 
 
 " Indeed, sir ! It was a very uncomfortable 
 craft." 
 
 "The lake was very rough, and the vs^aves washed 
 over me every minute. I gave myself up for lost. 
 I suffered all that a man could endure in those 
 three hours," said he, shuddering as he thought of 
 his unpleasant voyage. 
 
 Probably, accustomed as he was to luxury and 
 ease, he had had a hard time of it; but a man in- 
 ured to work and weather would not have suffered 
 half so much as he did ; though, chilled and terrified
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 155 
 
 as he was, I did wonder that he had not been 
 washed from his raft, to perish in the deep waters 
 beneath him. 
 
 "I am very glad we happened to come along as 
 we did," I added. 
 
 "It was fortunate for me, Wolf. I will give you 
 a thousand dollars for the service you have ren- 
 dered me as soon as I get home." 
 
 "Excuse me, sir; but I cannot take anything," 
 I replied, warmly. 
 
 "Why not, Wolf?" 
 
 "Because I should despise myself if I took any- 
 thing. There are some things in this world that 
 cannot be paid for with money." 
 
 "You are a strange boy, Wolf." 
 
 "Perhaps I am; but I think too much of myself 
 to take money for doing a kindness to any one in 
 distress." 
 
 "Veiy likely I can do something else for you." 
 
 "I don't require anything to be done for me, 
 Colonel Wimpleton," I persisted. 
 
 "If you have been up to Ilitaca, probably you 
 have Been the steamer I am building there."
 
 15G LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OB 
 
 " Yes, sir, I saw her ; and a very fine boat she 
 will be." 
 
 "I shall want an engineer for her," he suggested. 
 
 "Of course you will, sir. An engineer is a ne- 
 cessity in a steamer," I replied ; but I refused to 
 bite at the bait he threw out to me. 
 
 "Are you the captain of this boat. Wolf?" he 
 asked, glancing round at the pleasant little state- 
 room in which he was lying. 
 
 " For the present I am." 
 
 "Whose boat is it?" 
 
 " Major Toppleton's." 
 
 " I saw her at the yard in Hitaca ; but I had no 
 idea she was so large and fine, as she lay in the 
 river." 
 
 " She is just finished, and the major sent me u]) 
 to bring her down to Middleport. I don't suppose 
 I shall go in her again, for I belong on the railroad." 
 
 " I know you do," he replied ; and his tone seemed 
 to indicate that, at that moment, he was sorry I did. 
 
 I did not care to discuss the relations of the two 
 sides of the lake with him, and I turned his atten- 
 tion from the subject by asking what I could do 
 for him.
 
 THE KIVAL ACADEMIES. 157 
 
 « I do not need anything more, Wolf. I am warm 
 and comfortable, and I am very much obliged to 
 you for what you have done. Did you know who 
 it was when you saw me on the raft ? " 
 
 "Yes, sir; I recognized you when the boat came 
 up to the raft." 
 
 "You did?" 
 
 " Yes, sir ; certainly I did." 
 
 "Were you not tempted to let me remain where 
 I was?" he asked, raising his head on the bed, so 
 as to see my face. 
 
 "No, sir, I was not." 
 
 "I should think you would have been." 
 
 « Why, I am not a heathen. Colonel Wimpleton ! " 
 I replied. 
 
 " No ; we have had considerable trouble, ahd I 
 suppose you have no reason to think very kindly 
 of me," stammered he, as though the words almost 
 choked him. 
 
 "I don't think you used me just right, sir; but 
 I'm not an Indian." 
 
 "I think I should have perished in half an hour 
 more. It was getting dark, and I was as numb
 
 158 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 as tliough I had been frozen. But I shall make 
 it all right somehow, Wolf." 
 
 "It is all rio-ht now." 
 
 " Did you see anything of Dr. Pomford as you 
 came up the lake ? " 
 
 " Dr. Pomford ? I don't know him, sir." 
 
 "I suppose not. He is from Philadelphia, and 
 is spending a Aveek with me. He is fond of fish- 
 ing, and we came up here to try our luck." 
 
 " But how came you on that raft, sir ? " I inquired. 
 " Did you lose your friend overboard ? " 
 
 " No ; we had a boat, which we fastened to the 
 raft on the fishing-ground. We found the raft 
 there, moored with stakes in the deep water. Dr. 
 Pomford had the misfortune to drop his bottle of 
 brandy overboard, after we had been fishing about 
 an hour. Being quite chilly, he went back to the 
 hotel after some more, leaving me on the raft, for 
 the fish were biting well, and I did not like to 
 leave them ; besides, he is a younger man than I 
 am, and can move about easier. His boat was 
 fastened to one of the stakes, and I think, when 
 he started, he must have pulled it up. I don't
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 159 
 
 know how it happened, but as soon as the doctor 
 was out of sight behind the chfF, I found myself 
 adrift." 
 
 It was not polite for me to say anything; but 
 I could not help thinking, that if the brandy bottle 
 had dropped overboard sooner, the colonel would 
 have understood the matter better. I had never 
 heard that the great man was in the habit of 
 drinkinsr too much : but the odor of his breath 
 led me to my conclusion. I think he was some- 
 what fuddled, or he would have gone with the 
 doctor in the boat. 
 
 " I never sufiered so much in three hours before 
 in my life," continued the colonel. "No canal 
 boat, steamer, or other craft came near me, and 
 I cried for help till my voice gave out. Wolf, I 
 would have given half my fortune, if not the whole 
 of it, to have been taken from that raft a moment 
 bofure you saw me. If I had known you were in 
 cliarge of the boat, I should not have expected 
 you to save me." 
 
 "My mother always taught me to love my ent» 
 mies," I answered.
 
 160 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 " I bear the ministers talk about sucb tbings, 
 but I never believed mucb in tbem. I am under 
 very great obligations to you, Wolf. You have 
 treated me as well as though I had always been 
 your best friend." 
 
 " It is all riglit, sir. I am satisfied, if you are." 
 
 " I am not satisfied ; and I shall never be sat- 
 isfied until I have made you some return for all 
 this." 
 
 , " I shall not take anything, sir," I replied, reso- 
 lutely. 
 
 "I will give you a man's wages, if you will take 
 the place as engineer of the new steamer." 
 
 " Thank you for the offer, Colonel Wimpleton ; 
 but I cannot accept it at present. I never desert 
 my friends till they kick me," 
 
 " That is as much as to say that I kicked you 
 before you left Centreport." 
 
 "I think we had better bury the past." 
 
 "I will make it all right with your father; he 
 shall have better wages than he has now." 
 
 " I am much obliged to you, sir ; but we are 
 both of us very well satisfied where we are."
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEM:IES. 161 
 
 The great man seemed to be intensely annoyed 
 at my obstinacy ; and it certainly was a hard case 
 for him that he was not permitted even to do me 
 a favor. My pride would not permit me to accept 
 a gift from one who had treated me so badly as 
 he had ; but it was a pleasure to serve him, to 
 heap the fiery coals of kindness upon his head. 
 
 As I had feared, the wind died out entirely, 
 and the Grace lay helpless uj^on the smooth sur- 
 face of the lake. But below, everything was cheer- 
 ful — even Colonel Wimpleton. The lamps burned 
 brightly in the cabin and state-room, and I en- 
 joyed myself hugely, not caring whether the wind 
 blew or not. I gave the great man his under- 
 clothing when it was dry, and he put it on. He 
 wanted to talk, and he did talk in his bed till 
 nearly midniglit, when a breeze from the south- 
 ward sprang up, which compelled me to take my 
 place at the helm. The wind freshencti, and tho 
 Grace flew before it, so that we came to anchor 
 at two o'clock off Major Toppleton's mansion. 
 11
 
 162 LIGHTiSIXG EXniESS, OE 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 COLONEL WIMPLETON BIDS HIGH. 
 
 DURING the run of twenty miles down the 
 lake, I had sat alone at the helm the greater 
 portion of the time, for my companions were dis- 
 posed to sleep. Colonel Wimpleton snored so that 
 I could hear him in the standing-room. Skotchley 
 had turned in, occupying the port state-room, while 
 Tom Walton lay on a locker, whei-e I could call 
 liim in a moment if his services were needed. 
 "While I sat there I did a great deal of heavy think- 
 ing, mostly over the relations of Toppleton and 
 Wimpleton. When that magnificent steamer was 
 completed, there woidd be lively times on tlie lake. 
 The oifer which Colonel Wimpleton had made 
 me of the position of engineer on board the new 
 steamer was very tempting to me, and I wished 
 very much that I could honorably accept it ; but
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 163 
 
 it was no use to think about it. Whatever might 
 be said of Major Tommy, his father had invariably 
 treated me very handsomely. He had come to my 
 fatlier's assistance at a time, when he needed help, 
 and had actually put over two thousand dollars into 
 his pocket. I ftlt it to be my duty to endure a 
 creat deal from the son for the sake of the father, 
 as, it now appeared, the former was the chief man 
 of the two. 
 
 As we approached Middleport, I called Tom Wal- 
 ton, and, Avith as little noise as possible, anchored 
 the Grace. It was a moonlight night, and since 
 the wiud had come up from the southward, the 
 weather was warm and i)leasant. The sleepers be- 
 low had not been disturbed ; but, after Tom and I 
 had made everything snug on deck, I waked Colo- 
 nel Wimpleton, and told him where we Avere. I 
 offered to row him across the lake in the little 
 tender of the Grace. 
 
 "Thank you. Wolf. I will get up at once," said 
 be. "What time is it?" 
 
 "About half past two, sir?" 
 
 " I have slept well. I had no idea of getting homo 
 to-uight."
 
 164 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OB 
 
 " We are at ancbor off Major Toppleton's house." 
 
 " Then I tbhik I had better leave as soon as 
 possible. I hope the major won't punish you for 
 what you have done for me." 
 
 " I don't think he will. We get along very well 
 together, sir." 
 
 "Better than you did with me, I suppose," re- 
 plied he, with a grim smile. " But I never knew 
 you before, Wolf. It would be different if you 
 should come over to Centreport again." 
 
 " I will have the boat ready in a few moments," 
 I replied, wishing to change the subject. 
 
 I carried the colonel's clothing to him. It had 
 been nicely dried, and in a few moments he appeared 
 on deck, I could hardly believe he was the Colonel 
 Wirapleton who had been so unjust, not to say sav- 
 age, towards me. He was a lamb now, and I was 
 very willing to believe that his three hours of peril 
 Iiad done him a great deal of good, though I was 
 afraid the impression would be removed when he 
 returned to his usual associations. I helped tlie 
 great man into the boat, and pushed off. 
 
 "Have you thought of the offer that I made
 
 THE KIVAL ACADEMIES. 165 
 
 yon, Wolf?" said the colonel, as I gave way at the 
 oars. 
 
 " It is nseless for me to think of it, sir. I cannot 
 leave Major Toppleton while he wishes me to stay 
 "with him." 
 
 " But I offer you double your present wages." 
 
 "The major has been very kind to me, and was 
 a good friend to our family when we needed a 
 friend. It would not be right for me to leave him, 
 and I cannot think of such a thing." 
 
 The magnate of Centreport seemed to me to be 
 more nettled by my refusal than I thought the occa- 
 sion required. But I enjoyed a certain triumph in 
 finding him thus teasing me to return to his side of 
 the lake — a triumph which Avas none the less grate- 
 ful because I had won it by kindness. The colonel 
 was silent for a few moments, hitching about in tlie 
 boat as though the seat was not comfortable. 
 
 "How old are you, "NYolf?" he asked, with sud- 
 den energy. 
 
 " Sixteen in July, sir." 
 
 " I have one more offer to make you," he added. 
 
 "It won't do any good. Colonel Wimpleton ; for,
 
 166 LIGHTNING EXPEESS, OE 
 
 as I have said, I never desert my friends while 
 they use me well. If you would fill this boat up 
 with gold, it wouldn't make any difference with 
 me," I replied, rather warmly. 
 
 "Don't be obstinate, Wolf." 
 
 "I am very much obliged to you, sir, for your 
 kind offer, and I would accept it if I could." 
 
 "You shall be captain of the new steamer, and 
 have two dollars a day for your services. You 
 will have a nice state-room in the boat, and nothing 
 to do but superintend the management of her, I 
 find you are very popular, not with the boys alone, 
 but with the men and women, and it is for my 
 interest to have you on the steamer." 
 
 "I thank you very much, sir; but I cannot leave 
 my present place." 
 
 "Think of it, "Wolf; and talk the matter over 
 with your father. If you like, he shall . be the engi- 
 neer of the steamei-." 
 
 " I thought the boat was to be managed by boys." 
 
 "But I can't trust every boy in the engine-room. 
 If I can't get you as engineer, I must have a man." 
 
 "I should be very glad to take either of the
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 167 
 
 places you offer mo, but I cannot, sir. Major Top- 
 pleton has done the handsome thing for me and for 
 my father, and I think you would despise me if I 
 turned against him." 
 
 He continued to press the matter with so much 
 earnestness that I came to think I was of a great 
 deal more importance in the world than I really 
 was. But I was steadflist in my allegiance to the 
 friend who had served our flimily when we were in 
 distress. I pulled the boat up to the steps in front 
 of the colonel's house, and assisted him to get out. 
 lie invited me to go in with him, but I declined. 
 
 "Now, "Wolf, I'm not going to let this affair pass 
 off without doing something for you. I feel that 
 you liave saved my life," said he, as I seated my- 
 self at the oars. 
 
 "It's all right as it is, sir." 
 
 " No, it isn't. You will hear from me again soon." 
 
 I gave way at the oars, and he walked towards 
 his house. I had conquered him, and it was cer- 
 tainly very remarkable that I had, at tliis moment, 
 both the mighty men as my friends, though my 
 relations with Tommy Toppleton threatened to make
 
 168 LIGHTNING EXPKESS, OB 
 
 a breach with one of them. I felt that I had car- 
 ried out tlie spirit of my mother's instructions, and 
 I ought not to be blamed for thinking very kindly 
 of myself, because I had discharged my Christian 
 duty to one who had taught rae to be his enemy. 
 In this frame of mind I pulled back to the Grace, 
 and leaped upon deck. 
 
 "What have you been doing. Wolf?" demanded a 
 Btern voice, as a tall form emerged from the cabin. 
 
 WheAV ! It was Major TojDplcton ! I could not 
 imagine what had brought him out of his bed at 
 that unseasonable hour; and I Avas speechless with 
 astonishment. 
 
 " What have you been doing, Wolf? " repeated he ; 
 and I saw that all hands had been called. 
 
 " I have just landed Colonel Wimj^leton at his 
 house, sir," I replied, with due deference. 
 
 " And you have been entertaining my greatest 
 enemy in my yacht — have you?" added the major, 
 in a tone which seemed to threaten the pleasant 
 relations that had thus far subsisted between us. 
 
 "I picked him up on the lake, when he was per- 
 ishing with the cold, and in danger of being drowned."
 
 TWE HTYAL ACADEMFES. 169 
 
 "I don't object to your picking him up when he 
 needed help. One must do that for a dog. But 
 why didn't you put him ashore at the nearest land 
 — in the woods or on the rocks ? " 
 
 " Because he was so benumbed with cold that he 
 was nearly helpless." 
 
 " You gave him a supper at my expense ; you 
 could not have used me any better in my own yacht 
 than you did him." 
 
 "I did everything I could for him, sir," I replied, 
 humbly. 
 
 "You did — did you? Didn't you know that he 
 is a scoundrel ? that he is my bitterest enemy ? " 
 demanded the major, warmly. 
 
 " I did, sir ; but I thought it my duty to take 
 care of him when he was sufFerino:." 
 
 " Fiddledy-dee ! What do you mean by talking 
 such bosh as that to me? I believe you have a 
 sofl place in your head. Wolf. Joe Poole says you 
 treated him like a lord. I don't keep a yacht for 
 the accommodation of Wimpleton, If you mean to 
 sell out to the other side, do so at once." 
 
 " I have no such intention ; " and I was on the
 
 170 LIGHTNING EXmESS, OR 
 
 point of defending myself by saying that the colonel 
 had made me several handsome oiFers, which I had 
 declined ; but I concluded such a defence would do 
 me no good, and only irritate the major. 
 
 " Of course I should not expect you to let even 
 Wimpleton drown ; but you have overdone the 
 thing; you ought to have put him ashore at South- 
 port, or Port Gunga." 
 
 " He wanted to come home, sir." 
 
 "No matter if he did; I don't keep a yacht for 
 his use." 
 
 " I am sorry I have offended you, sir," I added ; 
 but I could not regret what I had done. 
 
 "Don't do it again. The less you do for the other 
 side, the better you will suit me," he continued, 
 more gently, evidently because his anger had ex- 
 pended itself, rather than because he accepted my 
 apology. How did you get along with the boat?" 
 
 "First rate, sir." 
 
 "Wolf, I have been uneasy all night about those 
 boys on the island. I have been afraid the Wimple- 
 ton scoundrels would tear up the railroad track, and 
 I have kept the dummy going every hour since dark.
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 171 
 
 I am tired out. I am afraid they will have a fight 
 up at the Horse Shoe, and somebody will get killed. 
 Vm going to bed now; but I want you to run up 
 there, and have an eye upon the boys. You need 
 not go very near the island, but be sure you know 
 what the students are about. The Wimpleton boys 
 have camped on the Shooter, and the two sides are 
 not more than forty rods apart. If things go wrong 
 there, you will run over to Grass Springs, and send 
 me word by Lewis Holgate." 
 
 Having delivered his instructions, Joe Poole land- 
 ed the major before his house. With the assistance 
 of Skotchley and Tom Walton, I hoisted the main- 
 sail and got up the anchor. When Joe returned, 
 both of my companions "pitched into" him for tell- 
 ing the major that I had treated his enemy "like 
 a lord." 
 
 "I only told the truth," replied Joe. "But I 
 didn't mean to do Wolf any harm." 
 
 "Didn't you know any better?" added Tom. 
 
 " I thought I was doing a good thing for Wolf, 
 when I said that he had treated the colonel so 
 well, after he Lad used him so shabbily."
 
 172 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OK 
 
 " Humph, you are a Sunday school scholar ! " 
 sneered Tom, 
 
 " So am I, Tom," I interposed, " I don't blame 
 Joe for telling only the truth, and I should have 
 told the major myself if he had not," 
 
 Tliis remark quieted the sneerer, and I think that 
 Sunday school doctrine had the better of the argu- 
 ment. Tom run up the jib, and, passing through 
 the Narrows, I lieaded the Grace for the Horse 
 Shoe. Tom had slept three or four hours, while I 
 had not yet closed my eyes, I gave him the helm, 
 and directing him to call me when we came up 
 with the islands, I stretched myself on the cush- 
 ioned locker, and dropped asleeiD. 
 
 The day was dawning when the helmsman called 
 me, I had not slept more than an hour and a half; 
 but my interest in the mission upon which I had 
 been sent thoroughly roused me, I took the helm, 
 and going to the eastward of the South Shoe, I 
 headed the Grace through the narrow channel be- 
 tween the Horse Shoe and the Shooter, which would 
 enable me to obtain a fair view of both camps. Major 
 Toppleton's fears were not groundless, for I found
 
 THE KIVAL ACADEMIES. 173 
 
 that the WImpletonians had not devoted the night 
 to sleep, as the Toppletonians evidently had, for the 
 foimer had just effected a landing on the northern 
 part of the Horse Shoe. As the Grace passed out 
 of the channel, I saw the bateaux, loaded with tents 
 and baggage, landing their freight. 
 A battle impended.
 
 174 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OB 
 
 CPIAPTER XV. 
 
 THE IMPENDING BATTLE. 
 
 I CERTAINLY did not expect to find anything 
 at the Horse Shoe or in its vicinity, so early 
 in the morning, to indicate a battle, or even a 
 change of j^osition. Men engaged in a holy cause, 
 or in realizing the promptings of ambition, may 
 fight all day on the bloody field, and then look 
 out for the chances of another day during the 
 darkness of the night ; but boys do not do so, 
 as a general rule. The Wimpletouians had evi- 
 dently done something besides sleeping during the 
 night. Dissatisfied vi^ith the proceedings of the 
 first day, they were determined to make a better 
 show the second day. 
 
 On the other hand, the Toppletonians aj^peared 
 to be fast asleep, without even a guard to protect 
 or warn them of the apj^roach of their enemy.
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEillES. 175 
 
 Before daylij^lit the Centreport battalion had been 
 transported from the Shooter to the Horse Shoe, 
 and were now in position to give battle to their 
 haughty foe — if either was more haughty than 
 the other. I saw them on the shore, landing the 
 last of their baggage, and securing their boats in 
 a little cove. On the highest part of the island 
 I could distinguish, in the gloom of the early 
 morning, a line of sentinels stretching entirely 
 across the land. 
 
 Before the Grace was clear of tlie island, Skotch- 
 ley, who had made a good night's rest of it, came 
 on deck, and I pointed out to him the change 
 which the "Wimpletonians had made. 
 
 "Wliat do you think of it, Skotchley?" I asked. 
 
 " I think there will be au awful row before noon," 
 he replied, shaking his head. " Of course tlie 
 Wimps haven't gone over there for nothing," 
 
 " I don't know but it would be the best thing 
 in the world to let them figlit it out. If one side 
 or tlie other should get thoroughly thrashed, per- 
 haps both would be willing to keep the peace," 
 
 "I think not; for of course the vanquished
 
 176 LIGUTNING EXPKESS, OE 
 
 party would never be satisfied till it had retrieved 
 its fortunes." 
 
 "Wlieu do you think the fight will commence?" 
 
 "I should say it is liable to begin at any mo- 
 ment," added Skotchley ; "but I sljall not expect 
 it for several hours after our fellows find out that 
 their territory has been invaded." 
 
 " Can we do anything to prevent the fight ? " I 
 asked, earnestly. 
 
 "I do not see that we can," answered Skotchley. 
 " What can' W'e do ? You know what Tommy is. 
 If we should attempt to reason with him, he would 
 flare up." 
 
 " I don't mean to reason with him ; that would 
 be stupid." 
 
 " Of course we can't do anything with "Waddie." 
 
 "All we have to do is to inform Major Topple- 
 ton of the state of affairs on the island," I replied, 
 as I put the helm down, and told Tom Walton to 
 haul in the sheets till the yacht was close on the 
 wind. " We shall get to Middleport with this 
 breeze before the dummy starts.'' 
 
 It was only four o'clock in the morning, and
 
 THE EIVAi ACADEillES. 177 
 
 though we had to beat up to our destination, 1 
 was confident the Grace would do it in a couple 
 of hours. I had not had quite rest enough to 
 make me feel good, and giving the helm to Tom, 
 I lay down again, I was soon asleep, and tho 
 two hours of rest which I obtained set me right. 
 
 "Middleport ahoy!" shouted Tom, as we ap- 
 proached our destination. 
 
 "What time is it, Tom?" 
 
 " Six o'clock. This yacht makes quick time of it." 
 
 " Where is Joe Poole ? " 
 
 "He has just turned out, and is getting break- 
 fast." 
 
 "That's sensible," I replied, going on deck. "Clear 
 away the anchor, and stand by the jib-halyards." 
 
 In a few moments more, the Grace was at an- 
 chor in the deep water off the major's house. The 
 great man was still asleep; but it would be neces- 
 sary to wake him. The belligerents on the island 
 would soon be punching each other with their 
 bayonets if sometlung was not done. But I could 
 not help feeling that the presence of Major Top- 
 pleton at the scene of action would hardly better 
 12
 
 178 LIGHTNING EXrEESS, OB 
 
 the situation. Ho was as violent, arbitrary, and 
 exacting as his son. It was possible that he might 
 do something to give the victory to the partisans 
 of his own side; but it was hardly to be expected 
 that he would prevent the fight. "^ 
 
 " Skotchley, will you go ashore and call upon 
 the major? You have only to tell him that the 
 Wimps have landed on the Horse Shoe," said I to 
 the dignified student. 
 
 "I don't object; but why don't you go?" he 
 replied. 
 
 "I wish to go somewhere else." 
 
 "Where?" he asked, curiously. 
 
 " I will tell you some other time, jDerlwips." 
 
 "Just as you like. Wolf." 
 
 I pulled uj) the tender, and both of us got into 
 it. I rowed to the steps in front of the major's 
 house, and landed Skotchley. I had made up my 
 mind what to do, and I had but little time to 
 carry out my jDurpose. I felt in duty bound to 
 prevent the fight on the island, if I could, even 
 independently of the mighty will and pleasure of 
 Major Toppletou. It was wicked to permit those
 
 TUE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 179 
 
 boys, armed with deadly weapons, and imtated by 
 a long-standing rivalry, to plunge into a strife which 
 might become more serious than either party in- 
 tended. 
 
 "Mr. Wolf!" called the sweet voice of Grace 
 Toppleton, just as I was about to push off the boat. 
 
 I was sorry to meet even her at such a moment, 
 great as the luxury would have been on an ordi- 
 , nary occasion. She tripped lightly down the walK 
 to the landing-steps ; and certainly she never looked 
 prettier and more graceful than on that pleasant 
 summer morning, with the fresh dew, as it were, 
 glowing upon her cheeks. 
 
 " Good morning, Mr. Wolf," she continued, as, out 
 of breath with tlie haste she had made, she pre- 
 sented herself before me. " That beautiful yacht ! " 
 she exclaimed, as she glanced at the elegant craft 
 which bore her name. " Isn't she a sylph ! " 
 • " She is all she seems to be," I replied, with be- 
 coming enthusiasm, " and I think she is worthy of 
 her name." 
 
 "IIow very gallant you arc, Mr. Wolf!" she 
 pouted.
 
 180 ' LIGHTNING EXPBESS, OR 
 
 " I have been sailing her all night, and I ought 
 to speak well of her." 
 
 " Father said he had sent you to Hitaca after 
 her ; hut we did not expect to see you till this 
 afternoon. I want to go on board of her. I was 
 60 surjjrised when I first saw her this morning!" 
 
 It was very awkward, but I could not help my- 
 self. I had a mission to j^erform which must be 
 done at once, or not at all. I could not disregard 
 her wishes, and I assisted her into the boat. 
 
 "I have been up to the Horse Shoe, where the 
 students are encamped, since I returned from Hita- 
 ca," I continued, as I seated myself at the oars. 
 
 " I supj)ose they are having a nice time up there," 
 she replied. 
 
 "I'm afraid not;" and as briefly as I could, I 
 told her the situation of afiairs between the con- 
 tending forces. 
 
 As I hoj^ed and expected of one of her gentle 
 nature, she was shocked and alarmed at the pros- 
 pect of a fight, especially as her brother was fore- 
 most in the strife. 
 
 " Skotchley has gone up to call your father, and 
 I suppose he will interfere," I added.
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 181 
 
 " I hope he Avill ; " but the manner in which she 
 spoke seemed to indicate that she entertained the 
 same doubt which had disturbed my calculation. 
 
 "I was thinking of doing something more," I re- 
 plied, rather doubtfully. 
 
 " What, Mr. Wolf? " 
 
 I related to her my adventure with Colonel Wim- 
 pleton during the night, and assured her that the 
 great man of Centreport was very thankl'ul to me 
 for the service I had rendered him. 
 
 " I was going over to see him," I added. 
 
 "To see Colonel Wimpleton!" she exclaimed, 
 as though she thought such a step would be the 
 sum of all abominations, for even she could not 
 wholly escape the pestilent rivalry that existed be- 
 tween the two sides. 
 
 " I am not afraiil of him. If I can induce him 
 to compel the students from his side to leave the 
 Horse Shoe, the fight will be avoided." 
 
 " I am soiTy you said anything to me about it, 
 for father will not let you speak to Colonel Wim- 
 pleton about the matter. But, Mr. Wolf, you do 
 as you think best, and I will not say a word."
 
 182 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OB 
 
 I assisted her on board of the yacht, and Tom 
 Walton was as polite to her as her beauty and her 
 position required. I was sorry to leave her; but I 
 was intent upon the duty of preventing the fight. 
 I pulled over to the other side of the lake. 
 Haughty servants told me the magnate of Cen- 
 trepoit was asleep, and must not be disturbed ; 
 but one who had seen me there in the night with 
 the colonel, ventured to tell him that I wished to 
 see him. I was promptly admitted to his bedroom, 
 where I stated my business. 
 
 "I don't think there is any great danger of a 
 quarrel," said he, after he had listened attentively 
 to my story. 
 
 "I think there is, sir. The students from this 
 side have landed on the Horse Shoe." 
 
 "Well, our boys have always used that island for 
 their camp," 
 
 " But the Toppleton students engaged the Horse 
 Shoe of the owner, and you will agree with me 
 that they have the best right to the ground. If 
 you will direct the boys from this side to ler.ve 
 the island, there will be no further trouble."
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 183 
 
 "Do you think I shall tell our boys to run away 
 from those on the other side?" deniancled he, in- 
 dignantly. "I am wiUing to do anything for you, 
 Wolf, after what has happened ; but I think you 
 need not concern yourself about this affair." 
 
 " I don't want to have a fight, sir." 
 
 "Xor I either." 
 
 " Then I hope you -will do the right thing, and 
 Bend your boys off the island." 
 
 "I will not do it." 
 
 "Well, sir, suppose "Waddie should get punched, 
 with a bayonet ? " I suggested. 
 
 " I think Waddie can take care of himself. But, 
 undei*stand me, Wolf, if I can do anything for you, 
 I will do it." 
 
 " I have nothing to ask but this." 
 
 " I will see what can be done," he replied, rub- 
 bing his head, which I judged was still suffering 
 from the effects of the brandy from the bottle that 
 had been lost overboard. " I don't want any fight- 
 ing. I will go up to the Horse Slioe by and by, 
 if I feel able." 
 
 I pressed the matter as strongly as I could ; but
 
 184 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 the stupid rivah-y was too strong in his mind to 
 permit anything which looked like yielding. I left 
 him, hoping that the peril of Waddie, if no higher 
 consideration, might induce him to take some active 
 steps to avert the disgraceful alternative. I pulled 
 with all ray might across the lake, and I was not 
 a moment too soon, for I had hardly jumped upon 
 deck before Major Toppleton appeared on the shore, 
 and hailed the yacht for a boat. Taking Grace with 
 me, I pulled to the steps. The great man had his 
 overcoat on his arm, and it was evident that he in- 
 tended to be a passenger in the yacht to the scene 
 of action. 
 
 " Let me go too, father," said Grace. " I must 
 sail in that beautiful yacht this very day." 
 
 "We cannot wait," replied the major, rather pet- 
 ulantly. 
 
 "I don't want you to wait. I am all ready," she 
 added. 
 
 "If there is going to be a fight up there, you 
 will be in the way." 
 
 " I will stay in the yacht. Don't say no ; be a 
 good papa."
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 185 
 
 And he was a good papa. Miss Grace was per- 
 mitted to liave lier own Avay, though, being hke 
 her mother, who was a very amiable and gentle 
 lady, having her own way did not seem to injure 
 her, as it did her brother. I need not say that I 
 was delighted with the arrangement. We got up 
 the anchor, hoisted the jib, and in a few moments 
 were standing down the lake before the fresh breeze. 
 On the way Joe Poole served up breakfast in good 
 style, and even the major declared that the beef- 
 steak and fried potatoes were excellent. 
 
 " The row has commenced ! " shouted Tom "Wal- 
 ton, at the helm, while we were at the table. 
 
 Fortunately our appetites had been satisfied be- 
 fore this startling announcement was made, and we 
 all hastened on deck to see the fight.
 
 186 LIGUTNING EXPEESS, OR 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 THE BATTLE OP THE HORSE SHOE. 
 
 MISS GRACE TOPPLETON turned pale when 
 Tom announced that the battle had com- 
 menced ; but her father only uttered an exclamation 
 of rage and impatience. The yacht was just enter- 
 ing the narrow channel between the Horse Shoe 
 and the Shooter, and our position commanded a full 
 view of the field. .The Wimpletonians had landed 
 on the north side of the island, near the middle of 
 which was a ridge. The camp of the Toppletonians 
 was at the head of the little bay between the two 
 arms of the Horse Shoe. Behind it was a gentle 
 slope of ground, which terminated at the ridge, 
 beyond which the descent on the north shore was 
 more abrupt. 
 
 On this longer declivity, the two hostile battal- 
 ions were drawn up in the order of battle. The
 
 THK KIYAL ACADEMIES. 187 
 
 statement that tlie conflict bad commenced was pre- 
 mature ; for, though the two " serried ranks " faced 
 each other, no bones had yet been broken. TIio 
 field presented the traditional aspect of boy figlits 
 Avlien the contestants meet in force ; the parties faced 
 each other, and eacli waited for the otlier to advance. 
 Though I was not an impartial judge, I could not 
 help seeing that the Wimpletonians had displayed 
 more generalship than the Toppletonians ; for, in- 
 stead of waiting on tlie steeper descent at tlie norfh 
 shore, with the ridge above them, for an attack, 
 they had boldly mounted the hill, and taken posses- 
 sion of the high ground, which gave them an advan- 
 tage that more than compensated for their inferior 
 numbers. 
 
 The Toppletonians had not discovered the move- 
 ment of the enemy till they appeared upon the 
 ridge, which is another convincing jiroof that "eter- 
 nal vigilance is the price of liberty." If they had 
 kept even half a dozen sentinels in the exposed por- 
 tions of the island during the night, they could 
 easily have prevented the landing of the Wimple- 
 tonians; but jn-obably they had no suspicion of a 
 night movement.
 
 188 LIGHTNIXG EXPRESS, OR 
 
 The combatants appeared to be waiting " for some- 
 thing to turn up ; " for, wliile the Grace was running 
 dowu the channel and coming to anchor, no move- 
 ment was made by either of them. The array did 
 not at present indicate the bloody encounter I had 
 feared, and had labored to prevent; but it was plain 
 enough that something would result from the situa- 
 tion. They would not be likely to face each other 
 all day without doing some mischief I could see 
 Waddie "VYimpleton, in his chapeau, white j^lume, 
 and gold lace, promenading np and down his lines ; 
 and, though I could not hear him, I knew very well 
 what big things he was saying. 
 
 "Well, what's to be done?" said Major Topple- 
 ton, .when the Grace had come to anchor. 
 
 " If I were you, sir, I would tell our boys to go 
 back into their camp," I replied. 
 
 " What ! and let the Wimpleton students have it 
 all their own way ! Not if I know myself," added 
 the major, indignant even at the suggestion. " Our 
 boys have hired the island, and it belongs to them. 
 They shall stay there ! " 
 
 The major was as crazy as the colonel had been,
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 189 
 
 and as neither was willing to sacrifice anything, 1 
 could not see how the fight was to be avoided. Of 
 course none of us had any influence Avith the in- 
 vaders, and we could not induce theiu to retire from 
 the island. 
 
 " Can't you think of any way to get the Wimple- 
 ton boys off^ Wolf?" asked the major, impatiently; 
 and I saw that my services were not required as a 
 peacemaker, but rather as an active belligerent. 
 
 " I don't see any way now, sir," I replied ; " but 
 I may think of something by and by." 
 
 " By and by ! They may kill each other before 
 you make up your mind," sneered the great man. 
 *'I will go on shore." 
 
 I pulled up the boat for him, and rowed him to 
 the landing-place. I walked up the slope with him, 
 in order to obtain a better view of the situation. 
 It had already occurred to me that a diversion in 
 llie rear of the Wimpletonians might compel them 
 to retire; but, as I was somewhat fearful that such 
 a step would make them more desperate, an<l hasten 
 the conflict, I did not deem it prudent to suggest 
 the idea. We were within a few rods of the Tup-
 
 190 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OE 
 
 pleton line, when Major Tommy discovered us. 
 Whether he was ashamed of his inaction, or fearful 
 that his father would interfere with the pastime he 
 had laid out, I do not know ; but our coming evi- 
 dently had some influence upon him, for he imme- 
 diately commenced yelling as though the battle was 
 to be fought with loud words. 
 
 " Attention — battalion ! " said he, flourishing his 
 sword. " Charge bayonets ! " 
 
 " Stop a minute, Tommy ! " called Major Toppleton, 
 senior. 
 
 " Forward — march ! " added Major Tommy, re- 
 gardless of his father's interference. 
 
 " Hold on a minute, Tommy ! " repeated his father. 
 " I want to see you." 
 
 "Forward — march!" screamed the little major, 
 desperately. " Xow give them fits ! Don't mind a 
 scratch ! Drive them before you ! " 
 
 "Charge bayonets!" cried Major Waddie, on the 
 other side; and it was clear enough that ho did 
 not intend to run away. 
 
 In vain did INlajor Toppleton senior attempt to 
 check this forward movement. The Toppletonians
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 191 
 
 dashed gallantly up the hill, rushing upon the enemy 
 with an impetuosity which threatened them with 
 total annihilation. But then the Wimj^letonians be- 
 gan to move forward ; and I felt my heart rising up 
 into my throat, and my blood growing cold in my 
 veins, as the combatants approached each other. I 
 could almost hear the groans of the wounded, and 
 Bee the outstretched forms upon the green sod, so 
 real did the scene appear to me. 
 
 The two lines me*, and I heard the clatter of 
 cold steel as the bayonets struck against each other; 
 but I had not time to form an exact idea of what 
 was going on before I saw the Toppletonians give 
 way in the centre. It was a confused niUee^ and I 
 could only see a general punching and hammering 
 with the muskets. When I saw a soldier on either 
 side make a direct thrust with his bayonet, it was 
 warded off with a blow. Indeed, tlie battle seemed 
 to be fought literally " at the point of the bayo- 
 net;" for, so far as I could judge, neither party 
 went near enough to do any damage. Each side 
 seemed to have the requisite discretion to keep out 
 of the reach of the weapons of the other side. I
 
 192 LIGHTNtXG EXPRESS, OK 
 
 think there were not many in either rank that had 
 the ferocity actually to wound their adversaries with 
 the weapons in their hands. 
 
 This was the beginning of the affray, and the 
 contending forces had not yet become desperate ; 
 and, though they rushed uj^on each other with 
 appalling savageness, as seen by the observer, the 
 contest was at a safe distance, neither party permit- 
 ting the other to come near enough actually 'to 
 inflict wounds. In fact, it was just such fighting as 
 I had often seen between parties of boys, and con- 
 sisted in rushing up and falling back. Dangerous 
 as the weapons were, there was really no blood- 
 thirsty spirit on either side. 
 
 The Toppletonian centre was broken. Captain 
 Bayard had been pressing things, and the force in 
 front of him, to avoid any actual punching of the bay- 
 onets, fell back. Major Waddie strode furiously up 
 and down his line — in the rear of it, of course — 
 yelled, and stormed, and gesticulated. "When he saw 
 the centre in front of him give way, he screamed in 
 his fury, and Bayard, who seemed to have some of 
 the spirit of his illustrious namesake, forced liis
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 193 
 
 company forward till some of them were actually 
 pricked by the steel of the Toppletonians. But 
 this spurring seemed only to infuriate them ; Wad- 
 die yelled louder than ever, and Bayard, perceiving 
 his advantage, encouraged his soldiers till the line 
 before them yielded, and were swept backward 
 down the hill. 
 
 Captain Pinkerton, on the right, inspired by the 
 success of the centre, and goaded on by the frantic 
 yells and gestures of Major Waddie, crowded his 
 company forward, and the line in front of him, 
 whose equanimity was disturbed by the rupture of 
 tlie centre, fell back also. 
 
 " Three cheers, and drive them ! " roared Major 
 Waddie, hoarsely, as his white plume flaunted in the 
 fresh breeze. 
 
 Then the Wimpletonians yelled along the whole 
 length of the line, and rushed down the hill, 
 the demoralized Toppletonians fleeing before them. 
 Major Toppleton and myself were obliged to retire 
 in order to avoid the onslaught of the victorious 
 battalion. 
 
 " The scoundrels ! " ejaculated the great man, who 
 1.3
 
 194 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 ai)pearecl to be quite as much disconcerted as his 
 
 SOD. 
 
 " The Wimps have the best of it," I vephed. 
 
 " This is disgraceful ! " muttered the major. 
 
 I thought so myself; not the defeat, as he under- 
 stood it, but the battle itself, as I understood it. 
 
 Near the camp of the Toppletonians was a belt 
 of trees extending across the island, into which the 
 discomfited battalion retreated. The Wirapletonians 
 followed them closely, and I was afraid the camp 
 and baggage of our boys would be captured by the 
 enemy. In the shadow of the grove, Major Tommy 
 and his two captains rallied the intimidated Topple- 
 tonians, and they made a stand under the friendly 
 shelter of the trees, the enemy halting at the verge 
 of the grove. The great man and myself hastened 
 to headquarters, where we found Tommy breathless 
 with rage and excitement at his unexpected defeat. 
 His father taunted him upon his misfortune, which 
 did not help his fiery mood. 
 
 "What could I do when the fellows gave way?" 
 stormed he. " They are a pack of cowards, and 
 would run a mile rather than be pricked with the 
 jiolnt of a j>in."
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 195 
 
 "It is easy enough for you to talk, Tommy Top- 
 pleton," snapped private Putnam. "If you went in 
 the front instead of the rear, it would make a dif- 
 ference with you." 
 
 " I was in the place Avhere a commander ought 
 to be," retorted Tommy, stung by this reproach. 
 " I will give you enough of it before you get 
 throuofh." 
 
 " You needn't call us cowards while you keep 
 yourself in a safe place," added Putnam. 
 
 " Attention — battalion ! " shouted Major Tommy, 
 suddenly. 
 
 " What are you going to do now ? " asked his 
 father. 
 
 " I'm going to drive the Wimps into the lake this 
 time." 
 
 " Wliat's the use ! If you go out of the grove, 
 you will only be driven back," replied the major, 
 senior. 
 
 "Why don't you make a flank movement?" I 
 suggested. 
 
 " What do you mean by that ? " asked Tommy, 
 whose attention was arrested by the idea.
 
 196 LIUUTXING EXPKESS, OR 
 
 " Send one company round to the other side of 
 the Wimps," I replied. 
 
 " If I send half my men away, the Wimps will 
 defeat the rest here." 
 
 " No ; half your force can hold this wood. If you 
 can get one company on the high ground, you will 
 have the advantage over them." 
 
 Major Tommy thought favorably of the idea ; and 
 I thought it would be safer for both parties to fight 
 the battle by running and manoeuvring than for 
 them to make a stand-up conflict on the open field, 
 as they had done. Briscoe was sent with his com- 
 pany to make the flank movement. He double- 
 quicked his command towards the east shore of the 
 island, and began to ascend the slope. Major Wad- 
 die promptly " smelt a mice," and despatched Cap- 
 tain Bayard's company to watch and check the 
 movements of the flanking force. I went with 
 Briscoe, intent upon using whatever influence I had 
 to keep the parties from coming into actual contact 
 with each other. We reached the summit of the 
 slope by hard running, in advance of Captain Bay- 
 ard ; and here the Toppleton company halted on the 
 highest ground on the island.
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 197 
 
 " Now you are all right, Briscoe," said I. " Send 
 half a dozen fellows to demonstrate against their 
 boats, and you will get tliem out of the way." 
 
 " You do that, "Wolf," replied he. " Go down, and 
 shove them off, and I will do the rest." 
 
 I ran down the slope alcne to the landing, where 
 I found Colonel Wimpleton.
 
 198 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OB 
 
 CHAPTER XYII. 
 
 THE PRISONER OF WAR. 
 
 COLONEL WIMPLETON was just landing from 
 a boat, in which he had been ferried over 
 from the main sliore, having come from Centreport 
 to this point in liis chaise. As soon as he landed, 
 he dismissed the man who had brought him over. 
 The two great men of the vicinity were both on the 
 island. 
 
 As soon as I left Captain Briscoe's company, and 
 moved towards the landing-place, Bayard, in com- 
 mand of the Wimpleton company, evidently suspect- 
 ed my j3urpose, though I i-eally had no intention of 
 meddling with the boats, but only of making a dem- 
 onstration. Half a dozen soldiers were sent in a 
 hurry to guard the fleet. This was Briscoe's oppor- 
 tunity. The force before him was now reduced so 
 that an attack was hopeful. I heard him shouting,
 
 TUE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 199 
 
 and a moment later the company of Bayard came 
 helter-skelter over the summit of the hill. Our 
 fellows, mortified by their first defeat, had made a 
 desperate charge, and diiven the enemy before them. 
 It was not safe, therefore, for me to meddle with the 
 boats, even if I had intended to do so. 
 
 " How goes the battle, Wolf? " asked the colonel, 
 •with a smile, as I met him on the beach. 
 
 "Just now it seems to be going in favor of Top- 
 pleton," I replied ; " though our boys were just 
 driven half way across the island by yours." 
 
 "Well, that's good." 
 
 "But I can't stay here now, sir; I am afraid I 
 shall be captured," I added, glancing at the six 
 soldiers who were coming down the hill towards me. 
 
 "I)ou't be alarmed, Wolf; I will see that you 
 are not hurt," laufjhed the colonel. 
 
 "I don't wish to be captured." 
 
 "You shall leave when you please. After think- 
 ing over the matter, I concluded that I should take 
 our boys off the island," added the great man of 
 Centrcport; "but I don't intend to have them driven 
 off."
 
 200 LIGHTNII^G EXPEESS, OB 
 
 "I'm very glad to hear it, sir." 
 
 "Where is Waddie?" 
 
 I explained the situation to him, and informed him 
 of what had already transpired on the island. lie 
 was pleased with the victory wliich those who bore 
 his name had achieved, and with this brilliant rec- 
 ord of the Wimpleton battalion he was ready to 
 retire. But while we were talking about the mat- 
 ter, the din of battle from the high ground saluted 
 US. It appeared that Tommy Toppleton, too impa- 
 tient to wait for the result of the flanking move- 
 ment, had charged upon the company of Wimpleto- 
 nians in front of him. Our fellows had wiped out 
 the disgrace of the early part of the action, and 
 had driven the enemy up the hill, over its summit, 
 regaining all the ground lost, and taking the sum- 
 mit of the slope, which was "the key to the situ- 
 ation." 
 
 "This won't do," said Colonel Wimpleton, as he 
 Baw with dismay that his party was defeated. "I 
 can't take them away under these circumstances." 
 
 But the battle was lost to the Wimpletonians. 
 Major Tommy had gained the crown of the hill, and
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 201 
 
 LelJ It with bis whole force. The ground was so 
 steep in fi-ont of him that double the number of the 
 foe could not dislodge him. The enemy had not 
 yet pitched their tents, and their baggage was now 
 in danger of capture. Major ^Yaddie consolidated 
 his battahon, and formed a line at the foot of the 
 hill, ready to defend his camp equipage. He was 
 furious at his defeat, and when he saw me his eyes 
 flashed fire. 
 
 "Arrest that traitor!" said he, flourishing his 
 sword, and pointing to me. 
 
 " Not yet, Waddie ! " interposed his father. " I 
 have sfiven him a safe conduct." 
 
 " You are not in command here," replied the un- 
 gracious son. " What are you doing down here, 
 Wolf Penniman?" 
 
 " I should have gone before if your father had not 
 detained me." 
 
 "Keep cool, Waddie," said the colonel. "You 
 have enough to do to whip the Toppletonians." 
 
 "That's what I'm going to do," added Major 
 Waddie, as he glanced at the summit of the 
 hill.
 
 202 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OB 
 
 " I will take care of Wolf, and see that he don't 
 whijj the whole of you." 
 
 "I will hang him as a traitor if he don't start 
 quick. He has no business over here." 
 
 " He is a non-combatant," laughed the colonel. 
 
 I do not know what the gallant commander of 
 the Wirapleton battalion would have deemed it 
 
 * 
 
 necessary to do with me, if the exigency of battle 
 had not called his attention to other matters. I do 
 not pretend to be a brave fellow, but I am willing 
 to say I was not afraid of being hanged, even inde- 
 pendently of the powerful protection of the colonel. 
 Major Tommy, flushed with his recent success, was 
 intent upon following up his victory. I heard him 
 call his battalion to the charge, and the words in- 
 duced my feathery persecutor to leave me. Tommy 
 evidently intended to drive the enemy into the lake, 
 or to force them to surrender on the shoie. 
 
 " Charge — bayonets ! Forward — march ! " yelled 
 he; and down came the Toppletonians at a furious 
 pace. 
 
 " Now stand up to it, fellows ! " screamed Waddie.
 
 THE KrVAL ACADEMIES. 203 
 
 " This is your last chance. Don't run if they punch 
 you til rough." 
 
 Not only Wadtlie, but the two captains in his 
 battalion, who had more real influence than the com- 
 mander, urged the Wirapletonians to stand firm, 
 and not be driven from their position. But the 
 time fur argument was short. The victorious Top- 
 ])letonians swept down the hill, and rushed furiously 
 at the foe. This time I am quite sure there were 
 some wounds given on both sides. Major Tommy, 
 mortified, no doubt, by the taunts of Putnam, and 
 pci-haps of others, did not march in the rear of his 
 column, but very imprudently placed himself in ad- 
 vance of it. Fortunately for him, there were several 
 privates near him who were inspired by his gallant 
 example, and the centre of the column broke through 
 the enemy's front. This would have been a success 
 to the Toppletonians if the riglit and left wings had 
 supported the movement with equal zeal. They 
 did not, and were fijrced back by the desperate 
 Wimpletonians, and in a moment more were retreat- 
 ing n]i the hill, closely pursued by the enemy. 
 
 When it was too late, Tommy saw where he was.
 
 204 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 He was standing, supiiorted by only half a dozen 
 privates, several rods in advance of his battalion. 
 A squad of the enemy, led on by Captain Pinkerton^ 
 charged upon him. The daring little major defend- 
 ed himself Avith zeal and courage, slashing right and 
 left ■with his sword. His supporters, seeing the situ- 
 ation, fell back and joined their companions. Closely 
 pressed by his exultant foe. Tommy struck savage 
 blows against the muskets of his asaulters; but sud- 
 denly his sword blade snapped ofi' near the hilt. 
 
 " Capture him ! Capture him ! " shouted Pinker- 
 ton ; and sending part of his squad behind Tommy, 
 he cut off his retreat. 
 
 The gallant major was now unarmed, and incapa- 
 ble of making any defence. His companions in 
 arms had been forced back to the summit of the 
 hill. 
 
 " Surrender ! " cried Pinkerton. 
 
 "Never!" yelled Tommy, with tragic grandeur, 
 as he made a dive at the captain, with the inten- 
 tion apparently of wresting his sword from him. 
 
 Such bravery deserved a better fate ; but two of 
 the pnemy came behind the impetuous major, and,
 
 THE KIVAL ACADEMIES. 205 
 
 grasping him hj the shoulders, threw him down. 
 The whole squad then fell upon him, and poor Tom- 
 my was a prisoner of war. Two of the stoutest of 
 his captors, each of them half a head taller than he 
 was, were detailed to guard the major, and he was 
 marched to a tree near the camp baggage. 
 
 The Toppletonians were driven to the top of the 
 hill, and resumed their position upon its summit. 
 It was useless for the Wimpletonians to attempt to 
 drive them beyond the ridge, and they returned to 
 their fomicr halting-place on the level ground. I 
 began to be a little uneasy about the fate of Tommy 
 when Major Feathers returned, for I Avas afraid the 
 latter, inspired by no lofty ideas of military honor, 
 would subject his prisoner to some indignities. I 
 saw Waddie hold a conference with his two captains, 
 the result of which was soon apparent. Captain Bay- 
 ard, attended by a single private, who carried a white 
 handkerchief suspended on a pole, as a flag of truce, 
 walked up the hill. I was not informed until after- 
 wards of the nature of their mission ; but, in tlie 
 opinion of the "Wimpletonians, the capture of Tommy 
 decided the lute of the day, and thoy regarded the
 
 206 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OK 
 
 battle as ended, with victory perched upon their 
 banners. Major Waddie was graciously pleased to 
 declare that he did not wish to pursue his conquest 
 any farther, and if the Toppletonians would retire 
 from the island, their commander should be returned 
 to them unharmed. 
 
 By the misfortune of Major Tommy, Captain 
 Briscoe was the ranking officer, and the message 
 of Major Waddie was delivered to him. By the ad- 
 vice of Major Toppleton, senior, the terms of peace 
 were promptly rejected, and an intimation given that 
 the Toppletonians intended to recapture their com- 
 mander, and drive the invaders into the deep waters 
 of the lake. While these negotiations wei'e in prog- 
 ress. Colonel Wimpleton left me, and went to the 
 headquarters of the battalion. Doubtless he saw his 
 powerful rival on the top of the hill, and wished 
 to counteract the influence of his counsels with his 
 own. 
 
 When the flag of truce returned, I saw a private 
 run to the tree where" Major Tommy had been se- 
 cured with a rope taken from one of the boats. 
 Then the two stout fellows in charge of him con-
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 207 
 
 ducted him to a boat, and pushed off. It was in- 
 tended that the commander of the Toppleton bat- 
 talion should not be recaptui-ed, and the threat of 
 his forces was rendered futile. But his command 
 immediately repeated the assault, when the nature 
 of Colonel Wimpleton's advice was evident. The 
 beach in the rear of the Centreport battalion was 
 covered with small round stones, with which the 
 soldiers had plentifully supplied themselves. The 
 onslaught of the Toj^pletonians was received with a 
 volley of these missiles. They reeled under this un- 
 expected reception, and being on the grass they 
 could not procure any similar ammunition. Captain 
 Briscoe, imitating the example of his illustrious com- 
 mander, marched in front. The stones seemed to be 
 aimed at him, and he actually fell, hit by one of 
 them. His forces, appalled at this savage warfare, 
 and by the fall of their leader, halted, and then fell 
 back beyond the reach of the mischievous missiles. 
 Briscoe was picked up, and borne to the top of the 
 hill. The affair was becoming more serious, and, I 
 may consistently add, more disgraceful, especially as 
 the contending parties were now virtually directed
 
 208 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 by Major Toppleton and Colonel Wimpleton, who 
 were old enough to have known better. 
 
 It was plain enough that our boys could not 
 stand up against these volleys of stones, and that 
 the Wimpletonians could hold their ground for the 
 rest of the week. The battle was now to be a mat- 
 ter of strategy and manoeuvring. On the hill, as 
 they saw Major Tommy sent off in the boat, they 
 concluded that he was safe enough for the present, 
 and were not disposed to accept any ignominious 
 terms of peace. The two fellows in charge of the 
 prisoner of war had pu^Ued off a quarter of a mile 
 ii-om the shore, and were watching the issue of the 
 combat. I was curious to know what would be done 
 next, but I concluded to ojierate a little on my own 
 account. Following the shore round the island, I 
 reached the pier, and went on board of the yacht. 
 Skotchley and Grace, in the standing-room, were 
 watching the action, while Tom Walton arid Joe 
 Poole had gone up to the mast-head, where they 
 could obtain a better view of the field of battle. 
 
 " All hands, unmoor ! " I called, and my ready crew 
 descended to the deck.
 
 THE EIVAIi ACADEMIES. 209 
 
 The mainsail had not been lowered, and we had 
 only to get up the anchor and hoist the jib. Before 
 the fresh breeze we stood down the channel towards 
 the boat in which Tommy was an unwilling pas- 
 
 senger. 
 
 14
 
 210 LIGHTNING EXritESS, OB 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 RESCUING A PPaSONEB. 
 
 i^N the passage I told Grace and Ned Skotch- 
 ley what liad transpired dnrnig the time I 
 liad been oa sliore -, and both of them agreed with 
 me that it was disgraceful to allow boys to fight. 
 Grace even had the courage to say that her father 
 ought to have compelled the Toppletonians to leave 
 the island, rather than encourage such outrageous 
 conduct. 
 
 "What are you going to do now?" asked Skotch- 
 ley. 
 
 "I'm going to recapture Tommy." 
 
 "I thought you were a non-combatant," laughed he. 
 
 " So I am ; but I'm not going to leave Tommy 
 in the hands of those fellows. I'm afraid the Wimps 
 will abuse him when they have time to attend to 
 his case."
 
 THE niVAL ACADE:inES. 211 
 
 "Don't let tbera hurt him," pleaded Grace. 
 
 « I will not. Tommy is as brave as a lion ; if he 
 had been as prudent as "SVaddic, he would not have 
 l)ecn captured," I replied. 
 
 By this time we were within hail of the boat in 
 which the prisoner of war was held. His guards did 
 not know the Grace, as she was a new craft on the 
 lake, and did not expect any mischief from her. 
 Tbcy sat on each side of the vanquished little 
 major, whose hands were tied together so that lie 
 could do no harm. I ran the yacht up into the 
 wind so that her bowsprit was over the boat. 
 
 "What are you about? You will run into lis!" 
 shouted one of the sentinels. 
 
 ""We won't hurt you," replied Tom "Walton, as 
 he hooked on to the boat. 
 
 I ran forward, and Tom and I dropped into the 
 boat, while Joe Poole held the painter, which I 
 tlircw up to him to avoid accidents. 
 
 " "Wolf Pennlman ! " exclaimed Baxter, one of 
 the guards, when lie recognized me. " "What do 
 you want ? " 
 
 "I want Major Tommy," I replied, cutting that
 
 212 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 young gentleman's fetters, while Tom Walton stood 
 between me and the astonished sentinels. 
 
 " You can't have him ! He is a prisoner," retorted 
 Baxter, picking up his musket. 
 
 " He w%as a prisoner, but he isn't now," I added. 
 " You are free, Tommy. Jump aboard as quick as 
 you can." 
 
 But Raymond, the sentinel in the bow of the 
 boat, presented his bayonet, while Tom Walton, 
 with an oar in liis hand, Avas checking a forward 
 movement on the part of Baxter. It is not easy 
 to walk over a bayonet in the hands of a stout 
 fellow who has been trained to use it skilfully, 
 and the prospect before me was not very encour- 
 aging. However, Joe Poole turned the fortunes 
 of the day in our favor, by fastening to the back 
 of Raymond's collar with the boat-hook, and pull- 
 ing him over backwards into the bottom of the 
 boat. I seized his musket, and Avrenchcd it from 
 his grasp, so that the obstacle to Major Tommy's 
 escape was removed. 
 
 The little magnate was not slow to avail himself 
 of his opportunity, and sjtringing over the prostrate
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 213 
 
 form of Raymond, still pinned down by the boat- 
 hook, he leaped on board of the yacht. The com- 
 bat, so far as I was concerned, was haj^pily ended, 
 and Tom "Walton and I made good our retreat, 
 which was effectually covered by Joe Poole, who 
 flourished his boat-hook with a vigor that set at 
 nought the paltry bayonets of the war-worn vet- 
 erans from whose gripe we had rescued the unfor- 
 tunate commander of the Toppleton forces. 
 
 "Don't let them go!" shouted Tommy, as 1)6 
 beheld the result of the brief struggle. " Capture 
 them ! " 
 
 " Let go the painter ! " I whispered to Joe Poole. 
 
 " Capture them ! " repeated Tommy, furiously, as 
 he saw the boat recede from the yacht. 
 
 " Hard a-port the helm ! " I called to Skotchley, 
 who was in the stan din ij- room. 
 
 " What are you about ? " demanded Tommy, ai 
 I went aft to take the helm. 
 
 "Don't meddle with them, Mr. Wolf — don't^ 
 please!" interposed Grace. 
 
 " Shut up, Grace ! If you say a Avord, I'll throw 
 you overboard," said the ungallant major, who waa
 
 214 LIGnTNING EXPRESS, OB 
 
 unhappily one of those boys who believe they may 
 say anything to r sister. 
 
 " I came out here after you, Tommy," I rejiliecl^ 
 indignant at the liarsh words the little major had 
 addressed to Grace. "I don't think it is worth 
 while to meddle with those fellows." 
 
 "What do you suppose I care what you think!" 
 cried Tommy. "Isn't this my father's yacht?" 
 
 "It is yoiir father's yacht." 
 
 "Then you will capture those fellows, or I will 
 know the reason why," he added, stoutly. 
 
 " Don't touch them, Mr. "Wolf — don't, please," 
 said Grace. 
 
 "Mr. Wolf!" sneered Tommy. "Mr. Wolf will 
 do what I tell him." 
 
 " I don't think it is quite proper to get into 
 a row with a young lady on board!" I added, 
 mildly. 
 
 "Wolf Penniman, you are a coward and a trai- 
 tor!" exclaimed Tommy, "And you arc another!" 
 he added, fixing his indignant gaze upon Skotchlcy. 
 
 "Thank you. Tommy," replied the dignified stu- 
 dent, coolly.
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 215 
 
 "Tou shall be court-martialed as a deserter and 
 a coward ! " 
 
 "Well, I think I can stand it." 
 
 ]\Lajor Tommy glanced at the boat from which 
 he had been removed, and in which Win two guards 
 had taken the oars and were pulling for the shore. 
 He seemed to think that they would add two more 
 to the force of the Wimpletonians, and that it was 
 a grave military indiscretion to permit the enemy 
 thus to be augmented. Besides, he must liave his 
 own way, and any opposition was quite enough to 
 rouse the evil spirit in his nature. He insisted 
 again that the two guards should be captured. I 
 tried to excuse myself from meddling in the war- 
 fare, and Grace stood by me with a zeal which 
 brought down the wrath of her. brother upon her. 
 
 " I say that boat shall be taken," persisted he, 
 violently. 
 
 "It is impossible," I replied, weary of his tyran- 
 ny. " She is dead to windward of us." 
 
 « Please don't, Mr. Wolf," added Grace. 
 
 "Hold your tongue, Grace!" snapped he, as ho 
 sprang to the tiller, and shoved me one side.
 
 216 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OB 
 
 "Don't, Tommy," added Grace, placing her hand 
 upon his shoulder to deter him. 
 
 The little monster actually turned upon her, and 
 struck her a blow in the face which sent her reel- 
 ing over into her seat. I could not stand that ; 
 my blood boiled up, and boiled over. I sprang 
 upon him, and in a small fraction of an instant, 
 Major Tommy Toppleton was lying flat on the 
 floor of the standing-room. 
 
 "O, don't touch him, Mr. Wolf!" begged Grace. 
 
 "You villain you, how dare you put your hand 
 upon me ? " gasped Tommy, springing to his feet, 
 as savage as a young tiger. 
 
 "I don't like to see any one strike a yoiing lady, 
 least of all when she is his sister." 
 
 " I'll let you know ! " whined he, crying with pas- 
 sion, as he leaped uiDon me. 
 
 "Walton and Skotchley each grasped one of his 
 arms, and held him so that he was powerless. He 
 raved, tore, and swore ; and it was evident enough 
 to me, when my indignation subsided, that I bad 
 sacrificed myself, if not my father and the whela 
 family.
 
 THE KIVAL ACADEillES. 217 
 
 «I -won't sny anything more, Tommy," interposed 
 Grace, terrified by the violence around her. "You 
 may have your own way." 
 
 «Give me that hehn, Wolf!" cried Tommy. 
 
 "I will give it to you," I replied, moving aside, 
 influenced by the action of Grace ; and I don't 
 know but Tommy would have beaten his head to 
 jelly against the trunk if some concession had not 
 been made to his Avrath. 
 
 He cooled oflT as rapidly as he had become heated, 
 when all opposition was removed. He threw the 
 yacht up into the wind, and Tom Walton and I 
 trimmed the sails ; but the new helmsman could 
 not manage her, and she lay with her sails flap- 
 ping idly in the wind. 
 
 "Ease her ofl" a little, Tommy, and she will go 
 it," I ventured to suggest. 
 
 " Mind your own business, Wolf Penniman. Your 
 time is out from this moment, and Grace shall never 
 j»ut licr foot into this yacht again, if it is named 
 after lier," blustered Tommy. 
 
 I subsided, and seated myself on tlie trunk amid- 
 8hip8 to wait the issue. The new skijtpcr, howev«ry
 
 218 LIGHTISriNG EXPRESS, OB 
 
 adopted my suggestion, though he snubbed me for 
 making it. The Grace, accommodating as she was, 
 would not sail into tlie wind's eye, and before Tom- 
 my was ready to tack, in beating up to the chase, 
 the boat hmded her hands on the beach. I saw 
 that he was vexed ; but he " chewed up " his wrath. 
 He soon came about, and headed for the channel 
 between the Horse Shoe and the Shooter. I con- 
 cluded that he must be anxious to join his bat- 
 talion ; but it would be impossible to beat the 
 yacht up the narrow passage. It was no use for 
 me to say anything, and I did not, for he would 
 be sure to go in direct opposition to any sugges- 
 tion of mine. 
 
 lie ran the Grace iip to the north point of the 
 Shooter, and came about. I thought it my duty 
 to tell him that the water was very shoal ahead 
 of him, as he apjDroached the Horse Shoe on this 
 tack. lie politely insinuated that I was to hold 
 my tongue, which I succeeded in doing for- a mo- 
 ment longer, until the yacht grated on the gravel 
 bottom, and stuck fist. 
 
 "That's just where I wanted her," said Tommy, 
 unmoved by the event. " Joe Poole ! "
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEinES. 219 
 
 Joe Poole appeared before the imperious little 
 magnate, and was directed to bring up the boat 
 and land our uncomfortable passenger. Tommy 
 jumped into the boat, and as he took his seat in 
 the stern-sheets, he delivered his parting volley at 
 me, to the effect that, like Othello, my occupation 
 Avas gone, and that I should be driven out of Mid- 
 dlejjort as a coward and a traitor. To this mild 
 speech I jiermitted myself to make no reply. 
 
 "Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!" shouted the Topple- 
 ton battalion on the shore. 
 
 This shout of triumph attracted the attention of 
 the major, and he hurried up Joe Poole, who soon 
 landed him on the beach. On the whole, I con- 
 cluded that I had not made much by meddling 
 with the conflict, even so for as to rescue Tommy 
 fiom his captors. During the events which I have 
 related, I had closely watched the movements of 
 the contending forces. Company B of the Top2)le- 
 ton battalion had been sent round the island to 
 flank the enemy, and obtain a position where stones 
 were available as ammunition. This operation had 
 been successful, and tlie Wimpletonians had been
 
 220 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 forced back from their stronghold, for they could 
 not stand up against volleys of stones any better 
 than their rivals. Company A had dashed down 
 the hill at the right time, and the enemy were 
 driven upon their baggage. This success had drawn 
 forth the shout of triumph. 
 
 Fortunately for us on board of the Grace, Tom- 
 my had sailed her shaking in the wind, so that she 
 had gone on the shoal very gently, though hard 
 enough to give us two hours of severe exertion. 
 As we Avorked, moving balltist from the forward to 
 the after part of the yacht, we watched the move- 
 ments of the contending forces. As I anticipated, 
 Tommy ordered another charge as soon as he 
 reached the battalion, though the Wimpletonians 
 were actually engaged in loading their baggage 
 into the boats. "We saw a flag of truce hoisted by 
 the defeated party, and a parley took place, the 
 result of which was, that they ,were permitted to 
 retire without further molestation. Long and loud 
 were the cheers of Toppleton when the fleet moved 
 away from the island, and pulled towards the 
 Shooter. The victors then returned to their camp.
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEiTlES. 221 
 
 We got tlie Grace off at last, and, after passing 
 around the Horse Shoe, I anchored off the pier 
 in the channel Major Toppleton soon appeared, 
 accompanied by Tommy, and I expected to be dis- 
 charged at once.
 
 222 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 A TYRANNICAL SON. 
 
 « T SUPPOSE my time is out, Miss Toppleton," 
 
 _i_ said I to Grace, as I saw the big major and 
 the Httle major approaching the pier. 
 
 " Your time out ? " she replied, looking anxiously 
 at me. 
 
 " I shall be discharged from my situation, and 
 l^erhaps be driven out of Middleport." 
 
 " O, no ! I -hope not, Mr. Wolf." 
 
 " Tommy is very arbitrary, and after what has 
 happened, he will not permit me to remain on the 
 same side of the lake with him." 
 
 " I am sorry you touched him," said she, musing. 
 
 " I should not have touched him if he had struck 
 me. I was indignant and angry." 
 
 "Well, I don't blame you, Mr. Wolf, for it is 
 abominable for a boy to strike his sister," she added.
 
 THE KIVAL ACADEMIES. 223 
 
 placing her hand iii>on her pretty flice, where her 
 brother's rude hand had left its mark. "But Tom- 
 my rules the whole house at home ; and I suppose 
 he will have his own way now, as he always did." 
 
 As Tommy got into the boat which I had sent 
 for him and his father, I saw that he was still in a 
 very unamiable frame of mind. lie Avas talking 
 loudly and indignantly to his father, who appeared 
 to be trvinfj to soothe him and moderate his wrath. 
 For my own part, I could not regret what I had 
 done, unpleasant as the consequences promised to be. 
 It was not in my nature to stand by and see a little 
 bully, like Tommy, strike a young lady, — not pat 
 her gently, but strike her a heavy blow, — not even 
 if he were her brother. I had been tempted to 
 give the young ruffian the pounding which he richly 
 deserved, and to continue the operation until he was 
 willing to promise better things. 
 
 Perhaps the handsome offer Avliich Colonel "Wim- 
 jileton had made me rendered me somewhat moie 
 independent than I should otherwise have been. I 
 was certainly in good condition to be discharged, 
 and did not feel much like submitting to any gross
 
 224 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OE 
 
 inclignitios from tlie great man of Middleport, or his 
 hopeful son. But Major Toppleton had been very 
 kind to me, and to my father, and I could not for- 
 get the service he had rendered to us. 
 
 The boat came alongside, and Tommy leaped upon 
 the deck, followed by his father ; and I could not 
 help noticing that the senior major looked very 
 anxious and uncomfortable. Tommy had doubtless 
 been making strong speeches to him, and it was 
 really melancholy to think of a man of his abilities, 
 dignity, and influence reduced to a kind of slavery 
 by the tyranny of his own son; and all the more 
 melancholy because he could not realize that he was 
 spoiling the boy by this weak indulgence. 
 
 " Wolf Penniman," said the little major, majesti- 
 cally, " I always keep my promises." 
 
 " Keep cool. Tommy," interposed his father, step- 
 ping into the standing-room, where Grace and I 
 were seated alone, for Skotchley and Tom Walton 
 had gone forward. 
 
 "You know what I said, father. I won't have 
 Wolf around me any longer. He has been a coward 
 and a traitor, and he had the audacity to knock me
 
 THE KIVAL ACADEMIES. 225 
 
 down. "Wolf Penniman, you are discharged ! " con- 
 tinued Tommy, blustering furiously. 
 
 " Don't be too fast, Tommy," interposed bis father. 
 " "Wolf went after the boat in which you were a 
 prisoner, captured it, and restored you to your com- 
 mand. Captain Briscoe told you that he did not 
 dare to make his last move till he saw that "Wolf 
 had taken you out of the hands of the enemy." 
 
 "I don't blame him for that; but he refused to 
 obey my orders, and then knocked me down. I 
 say you may discharge him, or discharge me." 
 
 The alternative was a reminder of the Hitaca in- 
 cident, and a hint that, if his father did not obey 
 orders, Tommy would run away again, and there 
 would be no suitable person to inherit the great 
 man's millions. I made no reply, but bowed meekly 
 to my fate. It appeared that, after all, I was not 
 to run the Lightning Express train, about which so 
 much had been said. 
 
 "Don't let him discharge Mr. "Wolf, father," in- 
 terposed Grace, her pretty cheeks red with indigna- 
 tion ; and with such an advocate I could ■ ajQTord to 
 be still. 
 
 15
 
 226 LIGHTNING EXPEESS, OR 
 
 " Discharge Mr. Wolf ! " sneered the little mag- 
 nate. " Will you learn to mind your own business, 
 Grace?" 
 
 " He struck me in the face, father, and that was 
 the reason why Mr. Wolf knocked him down. I am 
 Borry he did so, but I think Tommy was to blame," 
 continued Grace. 
 
 "You needn't stick up for him; if you do, it 
 won't make any difference." 
 
 "I am astonished that you should strike your 
 Bister," added Major Toppleton, whose painful ex- 
 pression fully proved his sincerity. 
 
 " Well, you needn't be ! " replied Tommy, rudely 
 and disrespectfully. " If she don't mind her own 
 business, and let my affairs alone, I shall teach her 
 better. I have said all I have to say, and I'm 
 going ashore to look out for my battalion. Remem- 
 ber, Wolf is discharged ! " 
 
 Tommy abruptly left the yacht, and, leaping into 
 the boat, ordered Joe Poole to pull him ashore. 
 The fiat had gone forth. I was discharged. Tom- 
 my was the president of the road, and doubtless he 
 had the power to dismiss me.
 
 THE EITAL ACADEMIES. 227 
 
 " Here is trouble," said Major Toppleton, with a sigh. 
 
 "I hoi^e you won't let Mr. Wolf be dischargetl," 
 saiJ Grace, when the irate little magnate was out 
 of heariufj. 
 
 " What can I do ? " replied the major, impatiently. 
 " Tommy is the president of the road, and he has 
 the right to discharge an employee. If I interfere, 
 there will be such a tempest as we had a year ago." 
 
 Poor magnate ! How I pitied him ! Just as I 
 liad seen a baby tyrannize over its loving mother, 
 BO did Tommy tyrannize over his father. The great 
 man — how little he seemed to be then! — mused 
 for a while over tlie, unpleasant situation. 
 
 " ni tell you what we can do, Wolf. I want 
 a skipper for this boat. If you will withdraw from 
 the railroad for a time, I will give you this situa- 
 tion, with the same pay you are now receiving." 
 
 "I am entirely satisfied, sir, and sliall bo, what- 
 ever you or Tommy may do," I answered, meekly. 
 "I certainly like the boat better than the train; 
 but I su])pose Tommy will not permit me to take 
 charge of her." 
 
 The major bit his lips with vexation. Ilis fetters
 
 228 LIGHTNING EXPEESS, OR 
 
 galled him, and he had not the resolution to shake 
 them off, lie ordered me to get the yacht under 
 way, and start for Middleport. As soon as she was 
 clear of the narrow channel, the major asked me 
 down into the cabin, and we had a talk, which 
 lasted till the Grace came to anchor before the 
 owner's mansion. 
 
 "You know how I'm situated. Wolf," said he, 
 turning his gaze from me, as if ashamed to acknowl- 
 edge his subservience to the wilful boy. " Tommy 
 must have his own way ; he is desj^erate if he does 
 not. He will run away, or drown himself in the 
 lake, if he does not." 
 
 I could not help smiling at the infirmity of the 
 father, and he made haste to defend himself. Tom- 
 my was subject to fits when he was a child, and he 
 was fearful that irritation would bring on a return 
 of the malady. The young gentleman had actually 
 threatened to commit suicide if he could not have 
 his own way. 
 
 " I only wish to smooth the thing over for a time, 
 for Tommy is a good-hearted boy, and he will come 
 to his senses if he is not thwarted," added he.
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 229 
 
 " Tou are not a flitlier, Wolf, and you can't under- 
 stand the matter." 
 
 "I am willing to do whatever you desire, sir," I 
 replied. " Perhaps I ought to say, that I can afford 
 to be discharged just now. You have nsed me 
 very handsomely, ]Major Toppleton, and I am grate- 
 ful for your kindness. I will never leave your 
 service of my own accord. Last night Colonel 
 "VTimpleton told me about his new steamer, which 
 is to run in opj^osition to our Lightning Express, 
 and offered me a man's Ava^es to 2;o either as entri- 
 ncer or as captain of her. I told him I could not 
 leave my friends while they used me so well, and 
 declined the offer. I did not mean to tell you of 
 this, and should not, if things had not turned out 
 just as they have." 
 
 The major bit his lip again. He was disposed 
 to be angry ; and, in a passion, he was as nearly- 
 like Tommy as one pea is like another. Uut he did 
 not give way to the inclination. 
 
 "I declined the offer," I repeated, when I saw 
 hira strut'ii-rini' with the mischief within him. 
 
 " "When will that steamer be ready to run ? " ho 
 asked.
 
 230 LTGIITNIXG EXPRESS, OR 
 
 " In a couple of months, the builder told me." 
 
 "I'm glad you told' me of this," he continued, 
 after chewing upon it for some time. " Perhaj^s it 
 Avill have some influence upon Tommy." 
 
 And there the matter ended for the present. 
 Grace said she would do all she could for me ; 
 and however the rest of the house might regard 
 nic, I felt sure of an earnest advocate in her. She 
 Avent on shore with her father, and as the skip- 
 i:»er of the yacht, I spent the rest of the day in 
 woi-king upon her, and in putting down a set of 
 moorinGjs for her. 
 
 The next day I took a party up the lake in her, 
 and for the rest of the week I was kept busy in my 
 new occupation. I acquitted myself to the satisfac- 
 tion of my employers, not only in pleasant weather, 
 but in a heavy squall, Avhich caught us in the mid- 
 dle of the Avidest part of the lake, off Gulfport. 
 
 The Wimpletonians encamped on the Shooter 
 after they were driven from the Horse Shoe. The 
 combat of Monday Avas not decisive enough to sat- 
 isfy them, and the Avar Avas renewed, and continued 
 during the Aveck, Avith varying success. Each party
 
 THE raVAL ACADEMIES. 231 
 
 stole tlie boats of tlie other, and inflicted wliatever 
 luiscliief it could. On Thursday night, in the midst 
 of a violent storm, ■\vhcu the Toppleton Guards 
 sought shelter in their tents, the invading hordes 
 of Wimpletoniaus crossed the channel, and actually 
 conquered the territory of their rivals. Having 
 levelled their tents, cut the cords, and broken up 
 the tent-poles, they retired, satisfied with the mis- 
 chief they had done. The Toppletonians were de- 
 feated in a similar attempt to invade the Sliooter 
 the next night ; and when the end of the week 
 arrived, neither could claim any material advantage 
 over the other. The Wimpletonians had retrieved 
 the disaster of the first dav, and would have lield 
 the island if they had not been afraid of the inter- 
 ference of the owner. 
 
 Both parties returneil to their studies, their hatred 
 of each other not a jot abated, ami more than ever 
 before the Toppletonians were on the lookout fur 
 some opportunity to spite the other side. 
 
 "When the battalion returned on Saturday niglit, 
 I Avas np the lake in the Grace, and I did not see 
 JMiijor Torr.my for several days. AVhen we did meet.
 
 2o2 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OB 
 
 he seemed to have forgotten everything that had 
 happened ; but Grace told rae she had listened to 
 the conversation between her father and him re- 
 lating to the affair with me. At first the young 
 gentleman was furious at the idea of retaining rae 
 in the yacht; but w^hen he heard of Colonel Wini- 
 jileton's offer he yielded the point, and permitted 
 me to remain. 
 
 On the 1st of September the Lake Shore Railroad 
 was completed. Lewis Ilolgate had run the dummy 
 while I was skipper of the yacht ; but the major 
 would not permit him to go on the locomotive, and 
 I was summoned back to my old position without 
 opposition from the little n)agnate.
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 283 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 THE LIGHTNIXG EXPRESS TEATS". 
 
 THERE was something about Tommy's actions 
 ■which I did not like. Though he sjioke to me, 
 as before, tlie old grudge was not wiped out. I saw 
 that he and Lewis Holgate were very thick together, 
 and I soon found that my fireman had ceased to be 
 as tractable as at first, I heard he had reported 
 among the boys that I was a Wimpletonian at heart, 
 and would sell out the Lake Shore Railroad to the 
 other side any time when I could get a chance. 
 
 The road was completed, and I ran the first train 
 tlirough to Ucayga. Major Toppleton had altered 
 the Middleport into a ferry-boat at my suggestion, 
 and she plied, in connection with the railroad, from 
 our station on one side of the river to the town on 
 llie other. When we had gone over the ground a 
 few times, the major sprang the trap. Thd two
 
 234 LIGnTXING EXPRESS, OE 
 
 boats ■vvhicli ran the whole length of the lake were 
 advertised to start from Middleport, touching at Cen- 
 treport. Passengers from the latter place could cross 
 in one of them, and go by the railroad to Ucayga 
 — they could, but they did not like to do so. The 
 steamers plied in connection with the road, and the 
 Centreporters were as angry as though they had 
 been sluU out from the rest of the world; for their 
 splendid boat was not yet ready to run in opposi- 
 tion to the new arranjTeraent. 
 
 On Monday morning the Lightning Express train 
 Was to make its first trip. Major Toppleton told me 
 to be sure and "make time." The track had been 
 carefully examined, and strengthened where it Avas 
 weak. I was to prove to the Centreporters that a 
 steamboat could not comi^ete with the Lake Shore 
 Railroad. Everybody was excited, and the president 
 of the road absented himself from school, in order 
 to see that the programme was properly carried out. 
 I could have dispensed with his services ; but he 
 insisted upon riding on the foot-board, jirobably to 
 see that I did not sell out the concern to the other 
 side.
 
 THE EIVAL ACABE^nES. 235 
 
 "The cars are full, Wolf," said Tommy, after I 
 had backed the locomotive into the station, and the 
 cars were shackled to it. 
 
 " I am glad to hear it," I replied. 
 
 " I saw quite a number of jjcople from the other 
 side among the passengers." 
 
 " So much the bettor. We shall convince them 
 that we can make time on this side of the lake." 
 
 Turning suddenly as I made this remark, I saw 
 Lewis Holgate give Tommy a significant wink. I 
 did not understand what it meant, and it troubled 
 me a little. I should have been very glad to get rid 
 of my fireman ; but he Avas on ^uch intimate terms 
 with the president that it was useless for me to say 
 anything. He did not attend to his duty, did not 
 keep the working i)arts of the engine well oiled, and 
 even neglected liis fires. In fact, ho had risen above 
 liis business since he had run the dummy. 
 
 "All aboard!" shouted the gentlemanly conduct- 
 or, as he gave me the signal to start. 
 
 As I always did before I let on the steam, I 
 glance<l at the machinery around mo. The reversing 
 lever had been changed since I adjusted it. It must
 
 236 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OB 
 
 have been done by one of my companions in the 
 cab. I restored the lever to its j^roper jDosition for 
 going ahead, and opened the throttle valve. Tlie 
 train started, but it went heavy. The engine acted 
 weak. Glancing at the steam gauge, I saw that it in- 
 dicated only three quarters of the necessary pressure. 
 
 " How's your fire ? " I asked of Lewis. 
 
 « Good ! " 
 
 "Look at it and see. The steam is low." 
 
 He obeyed me; but I saw that he put hardly a 
 spoonful of coal into the furnace, and closed the door, 
 "while I was looking out ahead. The train went well 
 down the grade ; but when we approached Si^angle- 
 port, we dragged hard. 
 
 " Fill up your furnace, Lewis," said I, rather sharp- 
 ly, as I observed that the gauge had hardly gained 
 anything. 
 
 He put another spoonful of coal into the furnace. 
 
 " Fill it up ! " I added, warmly ; and I began to 
 feel that some one was trying to sell me out. 
 
 " It won't burn if I put in too much," growled 
 Lewis. 
 
 " Shovel it in," I continued, glancing into the fire 
 box, which was nearly empty.
 
 THE RIVAL AC^VDEMIES. 237 
 
 "More yet," I added, as he attemjDted to close 
 the door. 
 
 I kept my eye on him till I was satisfied that 
 we should soon liave all the steam we could use. 
 AVhcn I stopped the train at Spangleport we had 
 lost five minutes, and, what was worse, I had nearly 
 lost my temper. Lewis Holgate appeared to bo 
 laLorin'^ for the defeat, rather than the success, of 
 the Lightning Express train. The presence of Mr, 
 President Tommy on the foot-board seemed to be a 
 partial explanation of his conduct. But I was deter- 
 mined that the enterprise should not be a failure. 
 I was fully resolved to make time if steam could 
 do it. Lightning Express was on trial, and if it 
 failed, the Centreporters, whom I was now accused 
 of flxvoring, would take courage. 
 
 "We stopped but a moment at Spangleport. I 
 opened the furnace, and stirred up the fire myself. 
 At the same time I koi)t one eye on Lewis, and 
 the other on Tommy; for I wanted to catch one of 
 tlicm reversing a crank, or doing any other. mischief. 
 ]}oth of them loolced innocent, though I saw tlicm 
 exchanging significant glances. By this time I had
 
 238 LIGUTNING EXPIIESS, OR 
 
 a full head of steam, and was satisfied that I could 
 make up the lost time, if no further obstacles were 
 thrown in my way. The eight miles of road be- 
 tween Spangleport and Grass Springs was almost as 
 straight as an arrow, and I expected to recover tlie 
 lost ground on this run. Only an hour had been 
 allowed for the passengers to reach Ucayga. If the 
 train Avas behind time, those going east and west 
 would lose their passage. 
 
 "All aboard!" shouted the conductor, as he gave 
 me the signal to start the train. 
 
 " You are on time, Wolf, and you needn't hurry 
 yourself," said Tommy, as he consulted his watch. 
 
 " There's time enough," I replied, detemiined not 
 to be deceived by him. 
 
 I was nervous and excited, for I was conscious 
 that both of my companions on the engine were 
 laboring to make the Lightning Express a failure 
 in my charge. I kept my hand on the lever of the 
 throttle valve, almost afraid that it would be wrenched 
 from my -grasp. I let on the steam, and kept letting 
 it on till the Ucavcia — for that was the name which 
 had been given to the locomotive, in compliment to
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 239 
 
 the place which it was necessary to conciliate — 
 seemed to fly through the air. 
 
 "Shovel in the coal, Lewis," said I to my unwill- 
 ing fireman, while we were rushing on at this furious 
 rate. 
 
 " I think there is enough coal in the furnace," re- 
 plied lie, opening the door. 
 
 "I don't think so. Shovel it in!" 
 
 lie put in about half a shovel full, and did it 
 BO doggedly that I was fully convinced he was 
 laboring to defeat the experiment. I spoke to him. 
 very sharply. I threatened to stoji the train, and 
 send for Major Toppleton. 
 
 "I am the president of this road. If you have 
 any complaints to make, you will make them to 
 me," interposed Tommy, who was holding on to the 
 cab with both hands. 
 
 "Will you tell the fireman, then, to do his duty?" 
 
 "He is doing it," 
 
 " Will you tell him to put in more coal ? " 
 
 " Fill it u]», Lewis," added Tommy, who seemed 
 to be conscious that there was a point beyond which 
 even he could nut go.
 
 240 LIGHTNING EXPEESS, OK 
 
 My rascally assistant then attempted to choke the 
 fires by overloading the furnace ; but I watched him, 
 and succeeded in preventing him from doing the 
 mischief he intended. I continued to increase the 
 speed of the Ucayga until, I think, we were going at 
 the rate of forty miles an hour. Tommy's hair stood 
 on end, and so did my own, for that matter ; but I 
 was desperate. I blew a long whistle as we ap- 
 proached Grass Sjirings. TThen I shut off the steam 
 I looked at my watch. We had made the eight 
 miles in twelve minutes, and the train was on time 
 when we went into the Springs. I was satisfied 
 then. 
 
 The moment the engine stoj^^^ed. Tommy jumped 
 off. He did not say anything, but I was convinced 
 that he did not like riding on the locomotive, going 
 at lightning-express rates. I was glad to get rid of 
 him. I need not say that the events of the morning 
 made me very uncomfortable. I had seen but little 
 of Tommy since the events on the Horse Shoe ; but 
 I was conscious that he was nursing his wrath 
 against me. Long before this time he would have 
 driven me out of Middleport if he had not been so
 
 THE BIVAL ACADEMIES. 24l 
 
 uni:)opular himself among the boys. My friend Dick 
 Skotchley — for as such I was proud to regard him 
 — had fought my battle for me among the students. 
 Tommy was so conceited and overbearing that all 
 the fellows hated him ; and they were ripe for a 
 mutiny against him in his capacity as president of 
 the road, as well as in that of major of the battalion. 
 More than this, Tommy's flither was still my friend, 
 though he feared his son. Without egotism I may 
 Bay that I was popular in Middleport. If I had not 
 been, I should have been kicked out, like a dog, 
 by my imperious little master. 
 
 " How are you. Wolf? " shouted Tom Walton, as 
 I was about to start the train. 
 
 " Jump on, Tom," I replied, as the conductor gave 
 the word to go ahead. 
 
 My friend leaped into the cab, and I let on the 
 Bteam. He told me he was spending a few days 
 with Ilia aunt at the Springs, and that ho was look- 
 inj; for somethini; to do. He was an active, indus- 
 trious, quick-witted fellow, who never needed to bo 
 told twice how to do Iho same thing. Tliough 
 Lo knew nothing about au engine,, he had the abili- 
 16
 
 £42 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 ty to learn, and it immediately occurred to me that 
 he would make a first-rate fireman, for it was evi- 
 dent that Lewis Ilolgate and myself could not much 
 longer stand together on the same foot-board, 
 
 "This is bully — isn't it, Wolf?" said Tom, as 
 the engine attained her highest speed, though, as 
 there were now occasional curves, I was obliged to 
 ease her a little at times. 
 
 "Do you like it?" I inquired. 
 
 " First rate. It is almost as good as the Grace — ■ 
 not quite," replied he, with proper enthusiasm. " Is 
 this the Lightning Express folks talk so much 
 about?" 
 
 "This is the Lightning Express. We have come 
 through in a hurry this time. Five minute's' delay 
 would ruin the Lake Shore Railroad, and cause 
 more crowing over at Centreport than ten thou- 
 sand roosters could do in a year. But we are on 
 time." 
 
 "I'm glad you are," laughed Tom. "I expect 
 the train will always be on time while you run it." 
 
 "If nothing happens, I shall ]iut my passengers 
 down in Ucayga at the time promised."
 
 TUE ElVAL ACADEMIES. 243 
 
 " I hope iiolhing will happen, then." 
 
 But at that very instant, before he had finished 
 the remark, I saw, as we shot round a curve, a little 
 child at play between the two rails. A Avoman was 
 running towards it in frantic haste. My blood froze 
 with horror. At first I felt like fointing ; but } 
 closed the valve and whistled to put on the brakes. 
 
 "Jam down that brake, Lewis ! " I gasped to the 
 fireman, indicating the one on the tender. 
 
 Tom AYalton did not say anything, but passing 
 through the window in the cab, he made his way to 
 the cow-catcher. I grasped the reversing levers, and 
 I think all the passengers must have been thrown off 
 their seats Avhen I checked the train. But it was 
 still doubtful whether I could stop in season to save 
 the child, and my heart was iu my mouth.
 
 241 LIGUTNIXG EXPRESS, OR 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 MAKING UP TIME. 
 
 IT seemed to me, if the locomotive ran over tliat 
 child, that I could not have the audacity to live 
 another day, though it would not be my fault. It 
 was so awful, so horrible, that I prayed to be 
 saved from the catastrophe. I did not feel as though 
 I could ever hold up my head again if that inno- 
 cent little child was sacrificed. It would be better 
 .that the Lake Shore Railroad should be sunk at 
 tlie bottom of tlie lake than that a single jirecious 
 life should be lost. 
 
 My blood ran cold through my veins as I gazed 
 at the little child, wlio seemed to be paralyzed with 
 astonishment as the iron monster swept towards 
 her. It was a little girl, not more than four or 
 five years old. The woman who ran shriekine: to- 
 wards the track was doubtless her mother. What
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 245 
 
 a moment of agouy it was to her! My heart bled 
 for her, and the triumph of the Lightning Express 
 sank into insignificance as I contemplated the thrill- 
 ing scene. 
 
 As the engine came nearer to the little girl, my 
 hopes rose higher, for our speed was efTeotually 
 checked by the efforts we had made. Tom "Walton 
 was on the cow-catcher, and I knew that he would 
 do the riG;ht thincr at the risjht time. The child 
 showed no disposition to move ; indeed, I think she 
 had no power to do so, even if she comprehended 
 the nature of her peril. As we came near enough, 
 I saw her eyes set in a kind of fixed stare, which 
 indicated astonishment rather than fear. 
 
 "Jam down the brakes, Lewis!" I called to the 
 fireman, as I labored to check the speed of the en- 
 gine ; and I must do him the justice to say that 
 he was not at all backward in obeying my order, 
 though I doubt whether he would have been equally 
 zealous if it had been I, instead of the child, who 
 was on the track. 
 
 The speed of the train was checked, but it was 
 not stopped ; and so far as the life of the child
 
 246 LIGHTlSriNG EXPRESS, OE 
 
 was concerned, we might as well have been going 
 at the rate of forty as five miles an hour, for the 
 sliohtest blow of the cow-catcher would have killed 
 her. All this transpired within a few seconds. 
 Hardly an instant elapsed after the steam was shut 
 off, and the brakes put on, before I was trying to 
 back the engine. The sparks flew under the drive- 
 wheels, but still the iron mass swept on towards 
 the child, whose instants appeared to be numbered. 
 It seemed to me that I stopped breathing as the 
 little child disappeared behind the forward part of 
 the locomotive. I expected to hear a shriek — to 
 be conscious that the child was a gory, mangled, 
 and shapeless mass beneath. 
 
 Almost at the same moment, Tom Walton straight- 
 ened up, holding the child in one arm. The engine 
 had almost stopped, and was still groaning and strug- 
 gling under my ineffectual labors to bring it to a 
 complete stand. My heart leaped the instant I saw 
 the child in the arms of my friend. My blood, 
 rolled back by the fearful suspense, seemed to be 
 bursting through my veins, and I was disposed to 
 shout for joy.
 
 mu',,Vm ,M:i":;:rft'"rr 
 

 
 THE KTVAL ACADEMIES. 247 
 
 « Sbo is safe ! " cried Tom, at the top of liis 
 voice, as he leaped from tlie eugine upon the 
 'Xround, and placed the little girl in the arras of 
 lier mother. 
 
 I saw the horror-stricken parent press the little 
 one to her bosom, I heard the sob of convulsive 
 agony which attended the tremendous reaction. It 
 was like passing from death to life for her, and I 
 felt that I could almost understand even a mother's 
 emotion. 
 
 "Thank God! Thank God!" I cried; and they 
 were not idle words that I uttered, for it seemed to 
 me that the Good Father had interposed to save 
 me from what I should have remembered with hor- 
 ror all the rest of my life. 
 
 I could not but regard it as an interposition of 
 Providence in my favor, rather than tlie child's ; 
 but in the mother's favor rather than that of either 
 of us, for she would have been the greatest sufferer. 
 I am sure this incident had a powerful influence 
 upon me, not for the moment, or the day only, but 
 for all tlie rest of my life. It has kept my eyes 
 open when I was disj)0sed to close them ; it has
 
 '2iS LIGHTNIXG EXPRESS, OR 
 
 decided tbe question of running a risk when noth- 
 ing else seemed to restrain me ; it taught me 
 to regard human life as too sacred to be trifled 
 with. 
 
 I saw the fond mother clasp her child, and with 
 the reaction came the thought that I was running 
 the Lightning Express train ; that the reputation 
 of Middlej)ort depended upon the time I should 
 make. 
 
 " Jump on, Tom ! " I called to my friend, as he 
 paiised for a moment to gaze at the mother and 
 her rescued child. 
 
 " That Avas a narrow squeak ! " said he ; and the 
 whole face of the generous fellow expanded into one 
 smile of satisfaction. 
 
 "It was, indeed, Tom," I replied, as I let on the 
 steam, and whistled to take off the brakes. "It 
 was a merciful providence that you were on the 
 engine with me. If you had not been, the child 
 would have been dead at this instant." 
 
 " I am glad I was here, then. I think that woman 
 will keep her child in the house after this," re- 
 plied he.
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 249 
 
 I crowded on the steam again, and once more 
 the train flew like the wind along the lake shore. 
 All the time I was thinking of that little child ; 
 of the ancruish that would have filled that cottage 
 by the lake, at this moment, if Tom TV^alton had 
 not happened to be on the engine with me. I 
 could have done no more than I did do, and though 
 the train was on the very point of stopping, there 
 was still momentum enough left in it to have 
 crushed the little one to death. I was grateful 
 to God as I had never been before for sj^aring me 
 such a calamity. 
 
 In the exhilaration of the moment I urged forward 
 the locomotive till I saw the steamer which was 
 waiting to convey the passengers across the river. I 
 looked at my gold watch, tliought of Grace Top- 
 pleton, as I always did wlien I glanced at its face, 
 and almost forgot why I had taken it from my 
 ])Ockct in thinking of the expression of her beau- 
 tiful face when I should relate to her the thiilling 
 incident whicli had just occurred. I was on time; 
 I was ahead of time, for I had driven the oiigiiie 
 at a furious speed. But I had worked carefully;
 
 250 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 I had favored it on the curves, and I felt as safe 
 myself as if I had been in my father's house. 
 
 Tlie brakes were put on, and the train stopped 
 at the rude pier which had been built for the 
 steamer. Major Toppletou had carefully instructed 
 Captain Underwood, and the boat was ready to 
 start on the instant. Hardly had the cars stopped 
 before the deck hands began to load the baggage 
 on the trucks. Everybody worked as if the salva- 
 tion of the nation depended upon his individual 
 exertions, and I am afraid that some of the pas- 
 sengers had occasion to weep as they saw the 
 rude manner in which their baggage was tossed 
 about. I do not think it would have taken a mo- 
 ment lonsjer for the men to handle the trunks 
 respectfully — for this seems to me to be the proper 
 word, since the feelings of the traveller are so 
 largely centred in his luggage. 
 
 Major Toppleton stood on the platform, and drove 
 up the men. He did not seem to care whose trunk 
 was smashed if he only succeeded in carrying out 
 his own plans. He had allowed just one hour for 
 the transportation of the passengers from Middle-
 
 THE RIVAL ACADKiTTES. 251 
 
 jiort to the stntion in Ucnj'gn, and I think lie 
 ■would cheerfully have given ten thousand dollars 
 rather than fail in the enterprise. 
 
 Tommy stood on the platform, near his father ; 
 Lut tliere was no expression of satisfaction on his 
 face. He had labored to defeat the enterprise in 
 order to overwhelm me. It was disaster to him, 
 and I am inclined to think he was still holding 
 in livelv remembrance the disobedience of which 
 I had been guilty three months before. 
 
 The trucks, piled high with trunks and valises, 
 were wheeled on the forward deck of the Middle- 
 port, from which they could be rolled to the bag- 
 gage car on the other side when the train arrived. 
 The boat started. The long experience of Captain 
 Underwood enabled him to clear or make a landing 
 in the shortest possible time. But fifteen minutes 
 liad been allowed for getting the passengers over, 
 an<l I had the satisfaction of seeing the trucks on 
 the platform upon the other side of the river full 
 five minutes before the train was due. ^My anxiety 
 liad come to an end. I looked upon the Lightning 
 Express as a glorious triumph, and, in contrast with
 
 252 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 it, I could not help thinking how cheap and mean 
 we should have felt if the train had rushed off 
 before the j^assengers arrived. The failure would 
 have been charged upon me, and I am afraid I 
 could not have saved myself by exposing the con- 
 spiracy which had been instigated by Tommy. 
 
 The trains from the east and from the Avcst, 
 which passed each other at Ucayga, were both 
 on time, as they generally were. I ,saw the truck 
 unloaded, then loaded again with the baggage of 
 the passengers who were going up the lake, and 
 in a few moments the Middleport was crossing 
 the river. The train was to leave at quarter past 
 ten, but the promptness of the steamer's people 
 allowed me five minutes of grace. Lewis had left 
 the engine, when he knew that it was his duty to 
 " oil up," and I was performing this work myself, 
 when Major Toppleton came up, his face beaming 
 witli smiles. My fireman was talking with Tommy 
 on the platform. 
 
 " Well, Wolf, this works to a charm," said the 
 magnate, rubbing his hands with satisfaction. 
 
 "Yes, sir; we came through on time, after all,"
 
 TUE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 
 
 255 
 
 I replied, as I poured the oil on one of tbe pis- 
 ton rods. 
 
 «I heard there was a child on the track this side 
 
 of the Springs." 
 
 "Yes, sir; Tom Walton, who was on the engine 
 M-itli me, went out on the cow-catcher and saved it. 
 I tluiik we should have lost the trip if Tom had 
 not been with me," I continued, fully explaining 
 the exciting incident, 
 
 « Tom is a good fellow, and he always has his 
 liead near the ends of his fingers," answered the 
 
 major. 
 
 I Avanted to tell him that Tommy and my fire, 
 man had done what they could to defeat the great 
 enterprise; hut I concluded that it would be nse- 
 less to do so, for the son was the master. I had 
 made a good impression in Tom Walton's favor, 
 and I reserved my next step till a more conven- 
 ient season.
 
 254" , LIGUT^^ING EXritESS, OK 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 THE NEW FIBEMAN". 
 
 " A LL aboard!" shoutecl our bustling conductor, 
 .Xjl- who was a very gentlemanly young man, 
 and had had considerable exi^erience in this ca- 
 jjacity. 
 
 He wore a gold badge on the lajiel of his coat, 
 wrought in the shaj^e of a train of cars, on which 
 was inscribed the word " Conductor," in such curious 
 old Enfrlish text that no one who did not know 
 what it was could read it. lie alleged that the 
 jewel had been j^vesented to him by a host of ad- 
 miring passengers ; but those who knew him best 
 declared that he had spent a whole month's salaiy 
 in its purchase. It w\as a A'ery jn-ctty thing, and, 
 wherever he got it, he was certainly polite enough 
 to have merited it. 
 
 The gentleman with the gold jewel bowed, and
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 255 
 
 gracefully made the signal to me ; and, after glan- 
 cing at the reversing handle, I grasped the throttle 
 valve, ready to start. At this moment Lewis sprang 
 upon the footboard. I had attended to the fire 
 myself, and Avas thoroughly disgusted with the con- 
 duct of my fireman. 
 
 " Stop ! " shouted Tommy, imperiously. 
 
 It was the president of the road who spoke, and 
 I was obliged to obey. 
 
 " It is against the rules of the road for any one 
 to ride on the cnmne," continued the little maornate. 
 
 " I never heard of any such rule before, Mr. 
 President, or I should not have disregarded it," I 
 replied, as gently as I could, though I know my 
 face flushed with indiirnation. 
 
 " I make the rule now, then," added Tommy. 
 
 "Tom is only going to Grass Springs with me," 
 I ventured to suijijest. 
 
 "lie sliall not ride on the engine. Conductor, you 
 will collect his fn-e," replied Tommy, glancing at 
 the gentlemaidy person Avith the gold jewel. 
 
 "Wolf, I haven't a red cent in my trousers pock- 
 et ; but I suppose I can Avalk to the Springs," said
 
 256 LIGHTNING EXPEESS, OR 
 
 my friend, who knew Low vain it would be to 
 api^eal against the orders of the magnificent little 
 jjresident. 
 
 I slipped half a dollar into his hand, and he 
 jumped down. 
 
 " Have you the money to pay your fare ? " de- 
 manded the gentlemanly conductor, for he was 
 ready enough to "spoony" to the j)resident. 
 
 " I have," answered Tom, with dignity, as he 
 stepped into the forward car. 
 
 It was a gratuitous insult to me, and Lewis Hol- 
 gate chuckled with delight. I bit my lips with 
 vexation ; but I said nothing — it was of no use 
 to -say anything. Even Major Topj^leton himself 
 would not have dared to disj^ute the fiat of his son. 
 
 "All right!" cried the conductor; and I started 
 the train, a minute behind time. 
 
 I was vexed and unhappy. I felt like a free 
 man reduced to slavery. I had lost Tommy's favor, 
 and I was nobody, though everybody else praised 
 me. I felt that I had done my duty to the road, 
 and to Middleport in general. I had worked hard 
 at electioneering to keej) Tommy in his position as
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 257 
 
 president. I bad supported him to the best of my 
 ability; but he insulted me without remorse. I 
 could not help thinking that it was stupid and 
 servile in me to stand it ; and I did not think I 
 could endure another snubbing without resenting it. 
 I felt weak and ashamed of myself, especially as 
 Colonel "Wimpleton was still anxious to have me 
 go in the new steamer. 
 
 I ran into Grass Springs on time, and Tom left 
 the train, though not without saying a parting 
 word to me. I wanted him to "fire" with me, 
 and I had a plan in my mind to bring it about ; 
 but while the j^resident of the road was bottling 
 up his spite against me, I could hardly hope to 
 gain ray point. 
 
 The steamer for Ilitaca was advertised to leave 
 Middleport at eleven o'clock, and at the appointed 
 hour I had the passengers on the wharf. Within 
 a few moments of the time, the boat was oif, and 
 those who were bound to Centreport made the 
 passage in an hour and a quarter from Ucayga, 
 which was three quarters of an hour loss than 
 they had ever Ju;conn)lished it before. Major Top- 
 17
 
 258 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OK 
 
 pleton was more delighted than ever, and, though 
 it was against the rules of the road for any one to 
 ride on the engine, he jumjjed upon the footboard 
 as lively as though he had been a boy. I ran up 
 to the engine-house. 
 
 "It works splendidly, Wolf I" said the great man, 
 rubbing his hands. 
 
 " It has come out right this time ; but I think 
 it is making rather close calculations," I replied, as 
 we walked out of the building. 
 
 "What do you mean, Wolf?" he asked, anxious- 
 ly, as though he feared there was still room for 
 the great enterprise to fail, as indeed there was if 
 Lewis Ilolgate continued on the engine with me. 
 
 " We have hardly five minutes to spare now, 
 and the slightest accident might cause us to miss 
 our connections." 
 
 "But with me the battle is to make the time to 
 Ucayga inside of an hour. If it is moie than an 
 hour, it will sound bad, and we might just as well 
 ])e an hour and a half as an hour and a quarter. 
 I thought it was done handsomely this trip." 
 
 "Perhaps it was, sir; but I was five minutes
 
 THE FvIVAL ACADEMIES. 259 
 
 behind time wlien we reached Spangleport, and if 
 I had not run at the rate of a mile in a minute 
 and a half we should have missed the trains. Then 
 the child on the track threw me back two minutes 
 more, and compelled me to run the engine at its 
 highest speed. The iron on the track is not heavy 
 euouQ-h for such high rates." 
 
 " But why were you five minutes late at Span 
 gleport?" asked the major. 
 
 Should I tell him why? It might endanger my 
 place to bring a cliarge against Tommy; but I felt 
 • myself independent enougli to do so. 
 
 "My fireman di'l not do his duty. I have been 
 obliged to run tlie engine and fire too," I replied, 
 explaining all that Lewis had done. 
 
 " What, Ilolgate ! Discharge him then, at once," 
 sail the great man, impatiently. 
 
 "I am afraid that will not be so easy a matter," 
 I adiled, with a smile. 
 
 "I think it will." 
 
 "Lewis does not act altogether on ]m own ac- 
 count, though he wants my place." 
 
 "Turn him off. Don't let him run another tri])."
 
 260 LIGUTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 "I am sorry to say, sir, that Tommy is at the 
 bottom of the mischief." 
 
 « Tommy ? " 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 I told him that Tommy had been working against 
 me since the affair at the Horse Shoe ; that he was 
 trying to undermine me. The major was incredu- 
 lous. Tommy was obstinate, he knew, but the 
 president would not do anything to injure the Lake 
 Shore Railroad. He was willing to believe that 
 Lewis Holgate wished to get me out of my place, 
 but not that his son was a party to the consjjiracy. 
 
 " Lewis left the engine while we were waiting 
 for the boat at Ucayga, and I should not have had 
 steam enough to start the train if I had not shov- 
 elled in the coal myself. He did not even oil up, 
 as he should have done, and as I told him to do," 
 I continued. 
 
 " Discharge him, then." 
 
 "But all this time he was talking with Tommy; 
 and you may be sure that your son will not permit 
 him to be discharged." 
 
 Major Toppleton bit his lips. He was beginning
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 2GI 
 
 to comprehend the situation. He was actually afraid 
 to cairy his purpose into execution now, and, as I 
 expected he would when the pinch came, he changed 
 the subject of conversation, and said no more about 
 getting rid of Lewis Ilolgate. 
 
 " I think, if we could save the two stops at Span- 
 gleport and Grass Springs, I could make the time 
 without difficulty, even if we lost a few moments 
 on the way," I suggested, as the entering wedge 
 of the plan I had formed. 
 
 . "But we can't neglect those two places. The 
 people would tear up the rails if we failed to ac- 
 commodate them." 
 
 "We will, not neglect them. I suggest that you 
 run the dummy half an hour before the Lightning 
 Express for way passengers." 
 
 I explained fully my plan, and he was willing to 
 adopt it, especially when I added that Lewis Ilol- 
 gate could liandle the dummy very well indeed. 
 He understood me then, and I thouglit I could see 
 a smile of relief on his face. 
 
 " IJut you must have a fireman," he added. 
 
 "Yes, sir; ami I wouM like to have Tom Walton. 
 He is a faithful fellow, and learns (puck."
 
 262 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 " Engage him then at once. Who is the super- 
 intendent now ? " 
 
 " Wetherstane, sir." 
 
 He knew very well who the superintendent was, 
 and knew also that he was one of the president's 
 most bitter opponents. Wetherstane Avould dis- 
 charge any one whom Tommy did like, or hire any 
 one whom he did not like, without any scruples, 
 and enjoy the operation. When the session of the 
 Institute closed, the superintendent was waited upon 
 by the major. I do not know what passed between 
 them; but the next day posters in all the places 
 on the line announced the new arrangement. Tom 
 Walton was engaged. 
 
 In the afternoon I ran the Lightning Express 
 through the second time. Tonmiy was not on the 
 engine this time, and by closely watching my fire- 
 man, I compelled him to do his duty ; but without 
 this care on my part, we should have failed in our 
 connections. The next day, the last that Lewis was 
 to run with me, for the new arrangement was to 
 take effect on Wednesday morning, I found that 
 the tender tanks were empty just as the engine
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 263 
 
 was to move down to the station for the train. 
 They had been filled an hour before, and I was 
 satisfied this was another trick to bring me into 
 disgrace. If I had not discovered the fact in sea- 
 son to coiTect the mischief, the trip would have 
 been lost, to say nothing of a worse calamity, if 
 anything could be worse in the estimation of the 
 major. 
 
 The pit under the track where the engine stood 
 was half filled with water, and it was evident enough 
 to me that my rascally fireman had uncoupled the 
 connecting hose while I was at dinner, and emptied 
 the tanks in this manner. I was provoked, and 
 disposed to pitch into the rascal. But this wa.s 
 his last chance, I thought, and I concluded to 
 hoM my peace. The scoundrel had probably drawn 
 off more of the water than he intended, or I might 
 not have discovered the condition of the tender in 
 season to fill it. But the train started on time, and 
 I was fortunate enough to make the connection at 
 Ucayga. 
 
 I had Tom "Walton's appointment in my pocket, 
 and when we stopped at the Springs I gave it to
 
 264 LIGHTNING EXPEESS, OK 
 
 him, telling liim to be at Micldleport tlie next morn- 
 ing. This sharp movement had been prudently kept 
 from the president, and I hoped, as he would be ia 
 school when the train started, that he would not as- 
 certain what had been done until my friend had 
 made one or two trijjs. 
 
 The next morning, at half past eight, Lewis Hol- 
 gate started the dummy for Ucayga. He was very 
 curious to know what I was going to do for a fire- 
 man ; but I kej)t Tom in the shade till he was on 
 the way to the foot of the lake. There was to be 
 an awful row soon ; but I was willing to postpone 
 it as long as possible. My friend was faithful and 
 intelligent, and before the train reached Ucayga, he 
 comprehended his duties. I made my time without 
 hurrying on this occasion. 
 
 In the afternoon, just as the Lightning Express 
 was to start on her second trip. Tommy rushed up 
 to the engine, looking as furious as a lunatic. At 
 Ucayga, where the dummy waited till the express 
 train had started, Lewis Ilolgate discovered who his 
 successor was. That Tom was a friend of mine was 
 enough to bring down uj^on him the wrath of the
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 2G5 
 
 president. With such an assistant, I was not likely 
 to i^ermit the Lightning Express to be a failure. 
 
 "What are you doing on that engine?" demand- 
 ed Tommy. 
 
 « I fire on this engine now," replied Tom Walton, 
 good-naturedly. 
 
 "Xo, you don't! not while I am president of the 
 Lake Shore Railroad. Get off, and clear out!" 
 
 "If he leaves, I do," I interposed, quietly; but 
 my blood was uj). 
 
 Tommy looked at me, and ground his teeth with 
 rage.
 
 2GG LIGHTNING EXPEESS, OR 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 THE PRESIDENT AND THE ENGINEER. 
 
 IN" five minutes it would be time for the Light- 
 ning Express train to start, and that was a very- 
 short time in which to fight the impending battle. 
 Tommy was as unreasonable as a mule, and it was 
 useless to attempt to conciliate him. Besides, I was 
 tired of being buffeted by him. I was ashamed of 
 my own servility, and much as I liked my occupa- 
 tion, I liad deliberately come to the conclusion that 
 it would be better for me to "hire out" for my 
 board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy's 
 capricious toes. I had always treated him respect- 
 fully and kindly ; but he had insulted me a dozen 
 times within a month. 
 
 "Are you the president of the Lake Shore Rail- 
 road?" demanded Tommy, violently. 
 
 "I haven't that honor," I replied.
 
 THE r.IVAL ACADEmES. 267 
 
 " Then it is not for you to say who shall and who 
 shall not run on the engine." 
 
 "That is very true; but it is for rue to say wheth- 
 er I will run on it myself or not. Tom "Walton was 
 regularly appointed by the superintendent to fire on 
 this engine. He does his duty to my satisfaction." 
 
 "Who appointed him? I never heard of his ap- 
 pointment till half an hour ago." 
 
 Tom coolly took the letter of the superintendent 
 from his pocket, and exhibited it to the president. 
 
 "If tliat isn't all right, it isn't my fault," added 
 the new fireman. 
 
 " That isn't worth the paper it is written on," said 
 Tommy, liis face rerl Avith Avrath. 
 
 "What's the reason it isn't?" inquired Wether- 
 stane. " I wrote it and signed it, and I am super- 
 intendent of the road." 
 
 "Did you write tliat?" gasped Tommy. 
 
 " I did ; and I'm superintendent of the Lake Shore 
 Raih-oad," answered Wetherstane, whose back was up. 
 
 "Witliout consulting me?" 
 
 "I didn't know thnt tlie superintendent had to go 
 to the president every time a new fireman was wanted.
 
 2G8 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 If Tom Walton isn't fireman, then I'm not superin- 
 tendent," 
 
 " I won't have Tom Walton on the road," fumed 
 Tommy, as he glanced at the fireman, who looked 
 as good-natured as the quarter of an apple pie. " I'm 
 president of this road." 
 
 "And I'm sujjerintendent," retorted Wetherstane. 
 
 "Then I order you to discharge Tom Walton at 
 once. If you appointed him, you did. Now dis- 
 charge him." 
 
 Wetherstane saw that he could not very well 
 refuse to obey this order, since his right to appoint 
 the obnoxious fireman was not now disputed. 
 
 " I'll discharge him to-night, if you insist upon it," 
 said he, doggedly. 
 
 "I insist upon it now. Tom Walton, you are dis- 
 charged," added the president. 
 
 " I don't want to make a row, and I guess I'll 
 be off"," Avhispered the new fireman to me. 
 
 " You can't help yourself," I replied ; and he 
 jumped down from the foot-board. 
 
 "All aboard!" shouted the gentlemanly conductor. 
 
 I let ofi" steam, and stepped down from the logo-
 
 THE IIIVAL ACADEMIES. 260 
 
 motive. The conductor made the signal to start ; 
 but I did not heed it; I had lost my interest in the 
 Lightning Express. 
 
 " All right ! Go ahead ! " said the conductor, im- 
 patiently, when his signal was disregarded. 
 
 " Jump on your engine, and go ahead," added 
 Tommy. 
 
 " I can't run the engine without a fireman ; and I 
 would not if I could," I replied ; and I felt that I 
 was vindicatingc mvself 
 
 " Do you mean to say you won't run this train ? " 
 demanded Tommy. 
 
 "That is precisely what I mean. I won't run it 
 without Tom Walton. You discharged him on pur- 
 l)Ose to insult me." 
 
 " Where's Faxon ? " asked Tommy, who seemed to 
 be conscious, at last, that the train must go. 
 
 Faxon was in the station, and appeared to ansAver 
 to liis name. 
 
 "Faxon, you will run this train through," contin- 
 ued Tommy. 
 
 "1 dun't know liow. I can run the dummy, but 
 I don't know anything about running a locomotive,"
 
 2V0 LICUTNING EXPRESS, OB 
 
 replied Faxon, who was among the number of those 
 who were utterly disgusted with the tyranny of the 
 president. 
 
 " We are five minutes behind time now," fretted 
 the conductor, who had come forward to learn the 
 cause of the delay. 
 
 " Here comes Major Toppleton," said half a dozen 
 of the interested spectators. 
 
 The magnate bustled into the centre of the group, 
 and Tommy told him I refused to run the train, 
 and had taken that moment to spite him. 
 
 "My fireman has been discharged," I replied. 
 
 " Tom Walton ! " exclaimed the major. 
 
 " Yes, sir ; turned out ! " laughed Tom. 
 
 " This won't do, Tommy," said the great man, pull- 
 inor out his watch. 
 
 " Tom Walton can't run on this train," replied the 
 little president, decidedly. 
 
 " Let him go this trip, till we can arrange matters," 
 pleaded the father. 
 
 "No, sir; he shall not put foot on the engine 
 asrain." 
 
 "Cut we are losing the trij)," protested the major.
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 271 
 
 "I can't help that." 
 
 " "Won't you run tins trip through to oblige me ? " 
 said the magnate, taking me aside. 
 
 " I can't run it without a fireman," I rcphed. " I 
 Avill do anything to obUge you, sir; but Tommy 
 means to ruin me if he can." 
 
 " Start the train, and I will see that Tom Walton 
 is with you as soon as you will need him," added 
 the great man, in a wliisper. 
 
 "I will, sir." 
 
 I jumped upon the engine, and started her, just 
 ten minutes behind the time. I saw Major Topple- 
 ton take Tom Walton into the forward car with 
 him, as I opened the throttle valve. The president 
 also jumped upon the rear car, after the train start- 
 ed, as though he suspected the pm-pose of his dis- 
 obedient father, and intended to defeat him. As 
 the train went out of the station, Tom crawled 
 over the tender, and took his place on the foot- 
 board. ^ 
 
 "Tommy is rather rough on me," said he, with 
 liis usual good-natured smile. 
 
 "lie is rough on almost everybody, and the rough-
 
 212 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OB 
 
 est of all upon bis own father," I replied, as I let 
 on more steam. "Fill up the furnace, Tom. We 
 are behind time, and must make up ten minutes. 
 We will make time as long as we are on the 
 eno-ine." 
 
 In a few moments the train was flying down the 
 gentle slope, and, by the time we came to the up 
 grade beyond, Tom had steam enough to do anything 
 of which the engine was capable. I knew that Tom- 
 my was in one of the cars, and I wondered that he 
 did not stop the train, as by this time he must be 
 aware that his father had disobeyed and evaded his 
 peremptory mandate. I could hardly keep from 
 lauo-hin<r when I thought of the magnate of Middle- 
 port, so haughty and unyielding to others, bowing 
 so low to his own son. It was simjDly ridiculous, 
 and very ludicrous. But I had little doubt of the 
 ultimate fate of Tom Walton and myself. The 
 world was upside down on our side of the lake, 
 and the great man had virtually become the little 
 man. 
 
 I was not quite sure that Major Toppleton could 
 help himself, after he had so often yielded to Tommy,
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEillES. 273 
 
 and thus encouraged him to insist upon having his 
 own way. After abandoning his fortress even once 
 before, I did not see how he could hold it afterwards. 
 But all this was a question between Tommy and his 
 father, and they must fight it out themselves. My 
 self-respect would not any longer allow me to be the 
 victim of his petty tyranny. Yet I have no hesita- 
 tion in saying that Tommy, if his wilfulness could 
 have been subdued, would have been one of the 
 best fellows in the world; and the sequel of my 
 story will justify my belief. 
 
 I had no difficulty in making up the ten minutes 
 we had lost by the president's unseasonable demon- 
 stration, and at a quarter to ten I stopped the train 
 at tlic ferry landing. I confess that my heart beat 
 a lively tattoo against my ribs, as I saw the passen- 
 gers hastening into the boat, for I dreaded a scene 
 with Tommy and his father. I would have avoid- 
 ed it if I could, for I had no taste for disturb- 
 ances. But neitlier Tommy nor his father appeared 
 at once. 
 
 "Wolf, I don't want you to get into trouble for 
 my sake," said T(jm Walton. " I am willing to 
 18
 
 274 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OK 
 
 take myself off, and let you live in peace with 
 Tommy." 
 
 •' Tommy don't want peace with me. Ever since 
 our affair at the Horse Shoe, he has been down upon 
 me," I replied. " I don't know how the mnjor pre- 
 vailed upon him to let me stay as long as I have. 
 But he has insulted me and domineered over me 
 in every possible mannei-, and I have stood just as 
 much of it as I can. If you were not a friend of 
 mine, Tommy would not object to you." 
 
 " Well, I don't want to stand in your way. Wolf," 
 added Tom. 
 
 "You don't stand in my way. If you are dis- 
 charged, it Avill be for my sake. I lliink we had 
 better liang together. If I can't hold this place for 
 you, I may be able to get you another quite as 
 good." 
 
 " Thank you. Wolf; you have always been a good 
 friend, and I will do just Avhat you say. If you 
 think it would be best for me to go, I want you 
 to say so." 
 
 "I don't think so. My mind is made up. If you 
 can't stay, I can't; and I shall stick to my text to
 
 THE ElVAL ACADEillES. 275 
 
 the end of. time," I replied, with sufficient emphasis 
 to be understood. 
 
 The gentlemanly conductor, with the gold jewel, 
 walked up to the engine at this moment, and inter- 
 rupted our conversation. 
 
 " There's going to be the jolliest row you ever 
 heard of," said he, chuckling as though he enjoyed 
 the prospect, 
 
 "AYhere is the president?" I asked. 
 
 "He and his governor are talking over the mat- 
 ter in the car. The little gentleman made an awful 
 tempest on the train, and all the passengers laughed, 
 and enjoyed the fun. The president is going to 
 have his own way, or drown himself in the lake," 
 laughed the conductor. 
 
 I learned that this remark was " founded on 
 facts," and it was evident that Tommy had not for- 
 gotten his old tricks. I stood on the engine, expect- 
 ing the crash every moment; but I was ready 
 for it. 
 
 Tlie dummy, in charge of Lewis Ilolgate, stood on 
 the track ahead of the locomotive, ])repaied to fol- 
 low our train. Tonnny and his father seemed to
 
 27G LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OE 
 
 be having a hard time of it, for neither of them had 
 appeared when the boat from the other side returned, 
 and I concUided that the scene was to be deferred 
 till a more convenient season. As the passengers 
 were getting into the cars, I saw the major go on 
 board of the steamer, which immediately started for 
 the other side. A moment later Tommy approached 
 the em^ine, attended bv Lewis Ilolc-'ate. 
 
 " Our time has come, Tom," I whispered to my 
 companion. 
 
 " Now, Tom "Walton, you will get off that engine, 
 or the baggage masters shall pitch you off," began 
 the president. 
 
 " I got off before when you told 'me," rej^lied 
 Tom, huighing. "I always obey orders." 
 
 "Of course you include me in the order," I 
 added. 
 
 " I don't include you. Wolf Penniman ; but you 
 will find that you are not the president of the Lake 
 Shore Railroad, and can't dictate to me. If you 
 are mean enough to leave, after all we have done 
 for you, you can do so."
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 277 
 
 I \ras mean enough to leave after all they bad 
 done for me, and stepped down upon the platform. 
 
 "Just as you like; but don't let me see you 
 round this road again," continued Tommy, bis faco 
 red with anger. 
 
 I walked away with Tom Walton.
 
 f '8 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OB 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 THE PKESIDENT HAS A FALL. 
 
 I DO not think, after all Tommy's blustering, 
 that he believed I would really leave the ser- 
 vice of the Lake Shore Railroad. It was j^lain 
 enough that Major Toppleton had been crowded 
 down in the debate with his son, and had yielded 
 the point. I supposed he had gone over to Ucayga, 
 to avoid the unpleasant scene that was likely to 
 ensue. In this, however, I was mistaken, for I after- 
 wards learned that he had gone to procure the ser- 
 vices of an engineer, for he had not much confidence 
 in the ability of Lewis Holgate to run the locomo- 
 tive. 
 
 I bought two tickets for Middleport at the office, 
 ai*d with Tom took a seat in one of the cars. 
 Tommy was busy instructing Lewis in regard to 
 his duties on the engine, of which he knew as
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 279 
 
 little as any person connected with the road, and 
 he did not follow my movements. 
 
 " Well, we are men of leisure now, Tom," I re- 
 marked, as we seated ourselves. 
 
 "I have had rather too much of that sort of 
 thing lately, and I would rather not be a man of 
 leisure," answered Tom, dryly. 
 
 " You will soon find something to do," I replied. 
 
 "Is Lewis Holarate croiuor to run this train?" 
 
 " I suppose so. Tommy and he are on the best 
 of terms ; and I know that Lewis has been trying 
 to use me up for some time, in order to get my 
 place. I hope he is satisfied now." 
 
 "Docs he understand the business?" asked Tom, 
 curiously. 
 
 " lie did very well on the dummy ;' but he is too 
 careless to be relied on. I don't think he undor- 
 Btands a locomotive. lie hasn't his thoughts about 
 him always. But I hope he will do well." 
 
 The train started, and dragged at a snail's ymce 
 for a mile. I realized from the motion that the 
 engineer did not feel at home on the foot-board, 
 for it was attended by frequent jerks, and by as
 
 280 LIGHTNING EXPEESS, OB 
 
 frequent slacking of the speed. When the con- 
 ductor picked up the tickets, he told me Lewis 
 had with hiui on the foot-board a man from the 
 steamer, so that he could not have been embar- 
 rassed by having too much to do. At Grass Springs 
 we were ten minutes behind time ; but Lewis did 
 better on the next stretch, which was level and 
 sti'aight ; but even here he was losing time, and 
 it was fortunate that the boat would wait at Mid- 
 dleport until the arrival of the train. 
 
 After we passed the Springs I saw Tommy stalk- 
 ing through the car, and coming towards me. I 
 pitied him much more than I should if he had 
 been defeated .in his jiurpose, for success to him 
 was ruin. In spite of all he had done to vex and 
 annoy me, I tried to harbor no ill will against him. 
 lie knew that the train was behind time, and that 
 it was still losing. I had no doubt that the fact 
 vexed him. It seemed to me that an ojiportunity 
 presented itself by which I could show him that 
 I had no ill feelings towards him. I wished still 
 to carry out the- good principles which my mother 
 had taught me ; and, as the little president ap-
 
 THE EITAL ACADEMIES. 281 
 
 proached my seat, I promptly decided that I would 
 ride on the engine the rest of the way, and give 
 Lewis such instructions as he evidently needed. I 
 meant to do this, hoping it would make things a 
 little pleasanter between us. 
 
 "Tommy, I suppose you see that Lewis is losing 
 time," said I, as he halted in the aisle, and stared 
 at me as savagely as though I had been a snake 
 in his path. 
 
 " What are you doing here ? " demanded he. 
 
 " I was going to say, if I could be of any ser- 
 vice, I would ride on the engine with Lewis, and 
 show him how to run it." 
 
 " I guess not," said he, shaking his head. " "What 
 are you doing here?" 
 
 " I'm going home," I replied, not comprehending 
 what he was driving at. 
 
 "Didn't I tell you never to let me sec you about 
 this road again?" continued he, with imperial majes- 
 ty, and, I may add, with lion-like ferocity. 
 
 " I believe you did ; but I am going home, and 
 the railroad is now the only conveyance up tlio 
 lake."
 
 282 LIGHTNING EXPEESS, OK 
 
 " How dare you disobey me ? " stormed he. 
 
 "I was not aware that I had disobeyed you." 
 
 " What are you on this train for, then ? " 
 
 "But I paid my fare, and Tom Walton's too," I 
 replied. 
 
 "I don't care if you did! After what has hap- 
 pened, I won't have you on the road." 
 
 "Even Centreporters are allowed to ride on the 
 road by paying their fare." 
 
 " No matter if they are ; you can't." 
 
 "After I get home, I won't trouble you or the 
 road," I added, mildly. 
 
 " But you won't get home on this road," said 
 he, seizing the connecting line which ran through 
 all the cars to the engine, and giving it a violent 
 twitch. 
 
 Lewis Holgate, unfortunately for me, understood 
 this signal, and whistled to put on the brakes. The 
 conductor was counting his tickets at the end of the 
 car, and came forward to witness the scene. The 
 train came to a halt. 
 
 " Now, Wolf Penniman, out with you ! " said 
 Tommy, fixing a savage gaze upon me.
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 283 
 
 « I don't wish to make any trouble, Tommy ; but 
 I have paid my fare, and I intend to ride to Mid- 
 dleport," I rephed, as calmly as I could, though my 
 blood was boiling with indignation at the gratui- 
 tous insults heaped upon me. 
 
 "Good, my boy! Don't budge an inch," said 
 a respectable-looking gentleman in the seat be- 
 hind me. 
 
 " Mind your own business ! " snapped Tommy to 
 the speaker. 
 
 "What, you young puppy!" said the gentleman, 
 springing to his feet. "Don't you give me a word 
 of impudence! If you do, I'll thrash you Avithin 
 an inch of your life ! " 
 
 This was not exactly the kind of customer Tom- 
 my liked to deal with, for there was fight in the 
 stranger's eye ; but he was just the person whom 
 Tommy's case required. 
 
 "Are you going to get out, "Wolf Penniman, or 
 are you going to be put out?" added the presi- 
 dent, turning from the stranger to me. 
 
 " I'm not going to get out, and it remains to be 
 seen whether I'm going to be put out."
 
 284 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 "He has paid his fare," suggested the gentleman- 
 ly conductor, in a low tone. 
 
 " Give him back his money, then." 
 
 I refused to take it, and the belligerent gentle- 
 man urged me not to budge an inch. 
 
 "Put him out, conductor," said Tommy. 
 
 "If you put him out, you must put me out," 
 suggested Tom Walton, with one of his broad, 
 good-natured laughs. 
 
 "Put them both out!" stormed Tommy. 
 
 "I shall be prosecuted, if I do, for assault and 
 battery." 
 
 "That's so," growled the gentleman behind me. 
 
 " I'll see you through," interposed Tommy, violently. 
 
 " This thing has gone far enough," said the stran- 
 ger, rising in his seat. " This road was chartered 
 for the accommodation of the public. These two 
 young men have paid their fare, and have behaved 
 themselves properly in the car. I say, for one, they 
 shall not be put out." 
 
 " So say we all of us ! " shouted several of the 
 passengers, who were annoyed by the delay ; and 
 most of them understood the merits of the case.
 
 TUE KIVAL ACADEMIES. 285 
 
 " Xow, conductor, start your train, and don't keep 
 us waiting here all day," added the gentleman. 
 
 " Go ahead ! " shouted some of the passengers. 
 
 "You can't go ahead till these fellows are put 
 out," replied Tommy, who seemed to feel that he 
 had the weather-gage in the dispute. 
 
 "Go ahead!" "Go ahead!" cried the passen- 
 gers. 
 
 " Why don't you put them out, as I tell you ? " 
 said Tommy to the conductor. 
 
 " If you say so, I will, whatever happens," replied 
 the conductor. 
 
 " I do say so ! " 
 
 The proprietor of the gold jewel put his hand 
 upon my collar ; but he had hardly done so before 
 my belligerent friend did him a similar service, and 
 jerked him away from me. Other passengers crowd- 
 ed forward. 
 
 " It's an outrage ! Bully for the young engineer," 
 shouted the noisiest of tlie crowd. 
 
 Tlie conductor was iiitiinidated. lie had no heart 
 in the job ho had undertaken, and he gave u[) wilh 
 uo blipw of light.
 
 '2SQ LIGHTNING EXPEESS, OR 
 
 " Now go ahead ! " said the belligerent stranger. 
 " We won't submit to any outrage here." 
 
 " This train won't start till those joersons are put 
 out of the car," added Tommy. 
 
 "Won't it?" 
 
 "No, it won't. I'm the jorcsident of this road," 
 replied Tommy. 
 
 " Are you ? Well, this train's going ahead," added 
 the strano-er. 
 
 To my astonishment, he seized the distinguished 
 little functionary by the collar, and dragged him 
 towards the door. The conductor attempted to 
 interfere ; but the passengers, among whom there 
 were hardly a dozen Middleporters, crowded upon 
 him, and prevented him from doing anything. 
 
 "Out with him!" "Out with him!" called the 
 indignant passengers, not a few of whom were Cen- 
 treporters. 
 
 The stout stranger landed Tommy on the ground, 
 and then, by a dexterous movement, pitched him 
 down the steep bank to the beach on the siiore of 
 the lake. If the president of the road was never 
 astonished before, he was astonished then. IIo^ had
 
 ■■I vAi; 
 
 /r1 
 
 
 11 ii.i:. 
 ..1, .|,,, 
 
 1 1' ' I ''if' 'V ■■■ '\ 
 
 
 
 G 

 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 287 
 
 discovered that his lordly will, though it carried 
 terror into his own family, could not accomplish 
 much among the general public. 
 
 "Now go ahead!" said the gentleman, as he 
 stepped into the car. 
 
 "I can't go Avithout the president," rephed the 
 conductor. 
 
 "Then go with him!" yelled a stout fellow, who, 
 I think, had drank more liquor than was good for 
 him, as he seized the gentlemanly official, and 
 hustled him alter the president. 
 
 Some one pulled the string ; but the train did 
 not start. I looked out the window, I was sorry 
 to see that Tommy appeared to be hurt, for he 
 sat on the ground, rubbing one of his legs. The 
 conductor went to his assistance. Lewis Holgate 
 now appeared, and I told the stranger he was the 
 engineer. 
 
 " Will you go ahead now ? " demanded my xm- 
 compromising friend. 
 
 "What's the row here?" inquired Lewis. 
 
 lie was informed j but, instead of going ahead,
 
 288 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OK 
 
 he went clown to the i:)\nce where Tommy and 
 the conductor were. Several of the passengers got 
 out, ancT went forward to the engine. Half a dozen 
 of them beset me with entreaties to run the train 
 up to Middleport ; hut I jiositively refused. In- 
 deed, I was thinking of going to the assistance 
 of the disabled president, though I was sure my 
 services would not be welcome, when the train 
 started. The passengers crowded in, and it was 
 evident that some one had taken possession of the 
 engine. 
 
 " Here's a pretty kettle of fish ! " said Tom 
 Walton. 
 
 " I'm sorry for it ; but I can't help it. I have 
 as much right to ride on this road as any one else," 
 I replied. 
 
 "We are going it now," added Tom, as the 
 train began to leap forward at the rate of thirty 
 miles an hour. 
 
 "Don't you submit to any imposition, young 
 man. I've heard all about your case, and if you 
 want any help, call on me," said my belligerent 
 supporter.
 
 THE ElVAL ACADEMIES. 28ft 
 
 I tbankcJ him, and he gave me his card, 
 which I deposited in ray wallet. The new en- 
 gineer understood his business, and in less than 
 half an hour we entered the station at Middle- 
 port. 
 
 19
 
 200 LIGHTJ^IJ^a EXPRESS, OB 
 
 CHAPTER XXV- 
 
 THE PEESIDENT IN TROUBLE. 
 
 I HAD not waited to ascertain the condition of 
 Tommy Toppleton. I had seen the stout stran- 
 ger pitch him down the bank. The gentlemanly- 
 conductor had rushed down after him, to render 
 whatever assistance he might require. Lewis Hol- 
 gate liad left the engine to sympathize with his 
 powerful young friend. My occupation was gone ; 
 but I felt a certain pride and satisfaction in hav- 
 ing, stood up for ray rights. I had not allowed 
 Tommy to tread upon me this time, and I felt 
 more like a man than I had ever felt before. 
 
 I wish to add, to some of my unreasoning young 
 friends, that I felt an equal pride and satisfaction 
 in the Ihct that I had so often submitted. I had 
 not made haste to get into a row, and it was just 
 as pleasant to think of what I had endured, as of
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 291 
 
 the resistance I had macle to oppression. If Tom- 
 my had been even tolerably reasonable, there could 
 have been no trouble. It was a very agreeable 
 reflection that I had not been forward in making 
 issue with my imperious young master. If he had 
 not been laboring to ruin me, I think I could even 
 have borne his insults. 
 
 I was very curious to know what construction 
 Major Toppleton wonld put upon my conduct 3Iy 
 gratitude to him made me anxious to retain his 
 good opinion, and I had submitted to much for 
 his sake. He certainly could not blame me for 
 what I had done. I had merely refused to be 
 ])Ut out of the cars f.fter I had paid my fare. I 
 liad simply rebelled against an exhibilion of i»etty 
 malice, as contemptible as it was unreasonaljle. But, 
 after all, it was not safe to pi-edict what the mag- 
 nate of Middleport would do when his son was 
 involved in the affair, for the father was quite as 
 much a victim of the young gentleman's tyranny 
 as I was. 
 
 The stout stranger was on his way to Ilitaca, 
 and he went on board the steamer to continue his
 
 292 LIGHTXING EXPRESS, OE 
 
 journey. Of course there was a great deal of s:i:« 
 cited talk about the incident of the day, and ol;' 
 the dozen Middleporters on board, those who L^>j 
 the courage to say anything condemned Tommy 
 and upheld me. I thought I was safe enough ; 
 and perhaps I should have been, if exciting news 
 had not come down from the scene of the affair. 
 
 The engineer who had taken possession of the 
 locomotive let off the steam ; and being on his v/ay 
 ujj the lake, he abandoned the machine. As there 
 was no one to take charge of it, Wetherstane, the 
 superintendent, asked me to run it into the engine- 
 house, which I did. I had been duly discharged, 
 and it was not jjroper for me to do anything more. 
 I walked home with Tom "Walton, and we dis- 
 cussed the matter as thoroughly as the occasion 
 required. 
 
 " How do you suppose it's coming out, Wolf? " 
 asked Tom, as good-naturedly as ever, but still 
 anxiously. 
 
 "I haven't the least idea," I replied. "I have 
 yielded as long as I could, and I am willing to 
 take the consequence."
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 293 
 
 I felt that I was not likely to be a martyr as 
 long as Colonel Wimpleton kept his offer of a 
 place on the new steamer open to me, Avith the 
 promise of a man's wages. 
 
 "If I were the major, I should rebel against 
 Tommy a little, just to see how it would seem," 
 laughed Tom Walton. " Don't it look strange that 
 a great man like him — I mean the major — should 
 be such a fool as to let his son have his own 
 way ? " 
 
 " It is strange ; but I have learned that Major 
 Toppleton is more afraid of Tommy than of all 
 the rest of the world." 
 
 "If my mother should let me have my own 
 way like that, I couldn't respect her. I should 
 tliink the major would turn over a new leaf, and 
 be a free man." 
 
 " He is his own master — " 
 
 " Not much ! " exclaimed Tom, interrupting rac ; 
 " Tommy is master here." 
 
 " Well, he has the right to obey his son, if he 
 chooses to do so," I added. " I don't know, but I 
 can't lielp thinking that this matter has come to
 
 294 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 a head now. Major Toppleton wants me to run 
 the engine, and Tommy don't want me to do it. 
 I hope the thing will be settled to-day." 
 
 It was settled that day. 
 
 I went home, and pretty soon my father came 
 to his dinner. He had, of course, been my con- 
 fidant in all the matters relating to my quarrel 
 with Tommy. I told him all about the stirring 
 events of the morning, after we sat down to din- 
 ner; and he was so interested that he neglected 
 to toucli the food before him till he had heard 
 the whole of it. 
 
 " Have I done wrong, father ? " I asked. 
 
 " Certainly not. You couldn't have done any- 
 thing else. You live here, and the railroad is now 
 the only way for you to come up the lake. You 
 paid your fare, and they had no more right to put 
 you off the cars than they had to throw you into 
 the lake," he replied, warmly. 
 
 I ought to add here, that my relations with the 
 road had been discussed every day, and often two 
 or three times a day. My father, and my mother 
 especially, had cautioned me not to be impulsive,
 
 THE KIVAL ACADEMIES. 295 
 
 and not to resist while it was decent to submit. 
 Our obligations to Major Toppleton were acknowl- 
 edged, and all of us were very anxious to keep the 
 peace with him. 
 
 " I don't see how Major Toi^pleton can uphold 
 that boy any longer," added my mother. 
 
 "I don't see how he ever could do it," said my 
 father. " But that is his business, not mine. I 
 don't think we make much, however, by trying to 
 keep on the right side of these rich men by sacri- 
 ficing our own self-respect. I am thankful that the 
 major does not hold the mortgage on my house." 
 
 "I suppose he could get it, if he wanted it," sug- 
 gested my mother. 
 
 "Well, it has two years to run, whoever has it; 
 and as long as I pay the interest, we shall be safe 
 enough," continued my father. " I am thankful we 
 are not in such a scrape as we were on the other 
 side of the lake." 
 
 We ate our dinner in peace, in spite of the storm 
 which had raged without. My flithor was in deep 
 thought, and it was not difficult to conjecture the 
 subject of his meditations. Doubtless he congrat'
 
 296 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OB 
 
 ulated himself most heartily that it was not in the 
 power of either of the magnates to harass and 
 annoy him. The major could discharge us both, 
 and even make Middleport too warm to contain 
 ns ; but the colonel was ready to receive us both 
 with open arms. It seemed just as though I was 
 a shuttlecock, to be batted back and forth from 
 one side of the lake to the other at the Avill and 
 pleasure of the mighty men who ruled the neigh- 
 borhood. 
 
 But I had some hope that Major Toppleton would 
 sustain me, or at least that he would not persecute 
 our family, even if he yielded to the caprices of 
 his son. Whatever mischief had been done, I had 
 not done it, though I had been the indirect cause 
 of it. I had not stopped the train ; I had not put 
 Tommy out of the car ; I had not pitched him 
 down the bank. If these things had been done 
 on my behalf, I had no agency in them. The in- 
 dignant passengers, who were detained by the whim 
 of the little president, had been the responsible 
 actors, and I had no doubt the stout stranger was 
 ready to answer for his conduct. Whether he was
 
 THE KIVAL ACADEMIES. 297 
 
 or not, this was not my affair, I bad bis card in 
 my pocket; but so far as I could ascertain, no one 
 knew anything about bim. I regarded him as a 
 person of some consequence. 
 
 We finished our dinner, and my father was on 
 the point of returning to the mill, when Tom Wal- 
 ton rushed into the kitchen, out of breath with 
 running. Ilis appearance indicated that some un- 
 usual event bad occurred, for my friend was one 
 of the cool sort, and not easily stirred by small 
 matters. 
 
 " The dummy has just come in," exclaimed Tom, 
 in the intervals between his rapid breathing. 
 
 "Well, what of it?" I inquired, not deeming 
 this very startling intelligence. 
 
 " Tommy Toppleton's leg is broken," gasped Tom. 
 
 " Broken ! " I exclaimed. 
 
 " Snapped off, like a iiij^e-stem, below the knee, 
 they say." 
 
 " I am sorry for that," I added ; and I almost 
 wished it had been my leg, instead of the little 
 tyrant's. 
 
 " His father is the maddest man that ever drew 
 the breath of life."
 
 298 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 "I dare say," said my father, shaking his head. 
 
 " How did it happen ? " I inquired. 
 
 " Why, that stout man did it when he pitched 
 him down the bank," answered Tom. " I'll bet it 
 will cost that man a penny or two. That's what 
 they say up to the station." 
 
 " I will go up and see about it," I added, taking 
 my hat. 
 
 "You!" ejaculated Tom, with a stare of aston- 
 ishment. 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 " If you know what you are about, you will 
 keep out of the way," suggested Tom, with sig- 
 nificant emphasis. 
 
 " I haven't done anything that I am ashamed 
 of," I replied. "I am not afraid to see the major, 
 and tell him the whole story. I'm sorry for Tom- 
 my's misfortune, but it is all his own fault." 
 
 " Face the music. Wolf," said my father. " Xo 
 one ever makes anything by skulking in the dark. 
 You have a tongue, and you can explain your own 
 conduct better than any one can do it for you." 
 
 "But they are all down upon you like a hundred
 
 THE KIVAL ACADEMIES. 299 
 
 of brick, Wolf," continued Tom, who was fearful 
 that I might be lynched in the excitement which 
 he said prevailed in the vicinity of the major's 
 house. 
 
 "I can't help it. When I was insulted, I did 
 not resist nor make any row." 
 
 " But you left your train at the time it ought to 
 have started," said Tom. 
 
 "I should not have done so if the president had 
 not taken that time to insult me. It was not neces- 
 sary for him to discharge my fireman at such a time. 
 But no matter for all this; I am going up to Major 
 Toppleton's house. It he chooses to kick me out, 
 lie may do so." 
 
 I could not help feeling that my chances of a 
 fair hearing at such a time Avere very small, but I 
 could not have kei:)t away from the centre of the 
 excitement if I had tried. I must know uiy fate, 
 whatever it might be.
 
 800 LIGHTJSING EXPRESS, OR 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 THE NEAV STEAMER. 
 
 OWEVEE, much Tommy Toppleton deserved 
 the fate which had befallen him, I really- 
 pitied him. I am sure that not a single emotion 
 of triumph had a place in my heart. I neither 
 said nor thought that it served him right. I was 
 sorry for him, and my regret was entirely unselfish. 
 The only personal consideration that disturbed me 
 was the reflection that I must in the future be en- 
 tirely banished from the presence of Grace Topple- 
 ton. I had not the impudence, boy of sixteen as 
 I was, to believe that I was in love with her. If 
 such a thought had entered my head, the wide 
 difference between her social position and mine 
 would have driven it out. 
 
 I was deeply interested in her as a friend. She 
 had been very kind and considerate towards me.
 
 THE EIVAL ACADEMIES. 301 
 
 She had treated me with respect and regard, and 
 did not seem to think that I was not her equal in 
 the social scale. I never spoke to her, and never 
 even thought of her, except Avith a respect border- 
 ing upon reverence. I was content to stand off at 
 a proper distance and admire her pretty face, her 
 graceful form, and her gentle manners. I thouglit 
 hhe was an angel ; uot merely because she was 
 beautiful in person, but because her pure heart and 
 kind manners seemed to elevate her far above tho 
 low and selfish lives of those around her. 
 
 By the time I reached the mansion of Major 
 Toppleton, the excitement hud in a measure sub- 
 sided. The bone of Tommy's leg had been set, 
 but he was suffering severe pain. It appeared that 
 the major had jirocured the services of an engineer 
 at Ucayga, who Iiad run the dummy up from that 
 jioint, starting only half an hour behind the Light- 
 ning Express. Arriving at tlie place where the im- 
 ])eriou3 little president hud stopped our train, tho 
 magnate found the conductor and Lewis Ilolgato 
 bearing Tommy towards the nearest house. lie was 
 placed in the dummy and brought home.
 
 302 LIGHTNIXG EXPRESS, OR 
 
 Of course Lewis and the conductor told their own 
 story, and I was represented as the wickedest fellow 
 in that part of the country. All the mischief had 
 been done by me ; and as Tommy lay writhing in 
 agony, my sins became as mountains in the eyes 
 of his father. Tommy was a saint then, and I 
 was a demon. 
 
 I went to the side door of the mansion and rans 
 the bell. The servant Avho opened the door be- 
 stowed upon me a look of positive horror. I in- 
 quired for Major Toppleton, and was shown into 
 the library, where I had so often before conferred 
 with the great man. As I was entering the room, 
 Grace crossed the hall, and discovered me. 
 
 "O, Mr. Wolf! Why did you come here?" ex- 
 claimed she ; " my father is terribly incensed against 
 you." 
 
 "I have only done what I thought was right, 
 Miss Grace," I replied. " I did not even know 
 that Tommy was hurt, till a few moments ago." 
 "Father says you were the cause of it." 
 " I was not — at least, not intentionally." 
 "I know you were not. Whatever happens, Mr. 
 Wolf, we shall bo friends."
 
 TOE ETVAL ACADEMIES. 303 
 
 To my astonishraeut slic extended her pretty, 
 white hand, and I took it. It -svas her good by 
 to me. 
 
 "I know you would not do any wrong, Mr. 
 "Wolf," she continued; "and I wish Tommy was 
 like you." 
 
 She gently shook my hand, and left the room. 
 "Whatever her flither tliought, she understood the 
 situation williout any explanation. She had hardlv 
 left, the room before her father came in. lie looked 
 ngly and remorseless, as he had never before been 
 to me. 
 
 " Have you the impudence to come here, after 
 what has happened, Wolf?" said he, with a heavy 
 frown. 
 
 " I hope you will not consider it impudence, sir. 
 I did not know that Tommy was hurt till a little 
 while ago," I replied, as meekly as the occasion 
 required. "I am very sorry indeed that anything 
 has happened." 
 
 "Don't be a hypocrite. Wolf ! " 
 
 " I am not, sir ; I am truly sorry that Tommy 
 was hurt."
 
 304 LTGHTNIXG EXPRESS, OB 
 
 " You are the cause of all this ; and if you had 
 broken his leg yourself, you would not have been 
 more to blame." 
 
 "You have always been veiy kind to me, and 
 you cannot understand the matter, or you would 
 not say that." 
 
 " I understand it very well. I think, after all I 
 have done for you, I had a right to expect some- 
 thing better from you. You insisted upon crossing 
 and vexing Tommy." 
 
 " He was very unreasonable, and I could not sub- 
 mit any longer. I paid my fare in the cars, and 
 there was no other way for me to get home." 
 
 " That's enough. You needn't attempt to explain 
 it. Pei'haps Tommy was wrong; I don't say that 
 he was not. But it was not for you to make 
 trouble." 
 
 «I don't think I made it, sir." 
 
 "I think you did. No more words. You have 
 abused my good nature. I don't want to see you 
 again. You and your father are both discharged, 
 and the sooner you leave Middleport, the better 
 you will suit me."
 
 THE PaVAL ACADEMIES. 305 
 
 I afterwards ascertained that Tommy liad insisted, 
 even in the midst of his agony, that my father and 
 I should be immediately discharged. Grace tohl me 
 this when I met her on the lake a few weeks later 
 in the season. She said it to defend her father, 
 who, arbitrary as he was, had some well-defined 
 ideas of justice. 
 
 I took my cap and left the house, after an attempt 
 to declare that I felt no ill-will towards the major, 
 who, however, would not permit me to finish tlie 
 sentence. The catastrophe had come. The hint 
 tliat the sooner our family left Middleport, the bet- 
 ter it would suit the magnate, seemed to indicate 
 an intention on his part to drive us out of the 
 town. When I reached home, I found my father 
 there. The mandate dismissing him had already 
 been sent to him. We talked the matter over for 
 a time ; and while we both regretted Tommy's mis- 
 fortune, we agreed tliat it would be better for both 
 of us to work for half the wages we liad been 
 receiving, rather tlian be the slaves of the little 
 magnate. 
 
 For my own part, I felt that I had borne enough 
 20
 
 306 LIGHTNING EXl'KESS, OK 
 
 from Tommy. I was willing to be tried on thu 
 facts of the case, for I think no one will say that 
 I ought to have submitted to being put out of 
 the cars, after I had paid my fare, just to gratify 
 the petty malice of the little tyrant. I had done 
 my duty faithfully, even while the president of 
 the Lake Shore Railroad had been willing to sac- 
 rifice the interest of the concern for the sake of 
 ruining me. 
 
 In the afternoon, when it was time for the train 
 to arrive from Ucayga, I went to the station. The 
 Lightning Express had not appeared, and it did 
 not come till half an hour behind time. In spite 
 of his sufferings. Tommy still felt an interest in 
 the outside Avorld, and insisted that Lewis Holgate 
 should have the locomotive. Ilis father could not 
 deny his request, though he knew' that Lewis was 
 incompetent. The engineer, whom the major had 
 engaged, refused to serve as fireman under a boy, 
 and the steamboat hand was retained in this posi- 
 tion. The trains east and west had waited that 
 day for the Lightning Express, or the passengers 
 would have been compelled to lie over.
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 307 
 
 The next day, Lewis did a little better ; but in 
 the course of the week he was behind time twice ; 
 and once the conductors ou the other lines refused 
 to wait. But Tommy obstinately declined to per- 
 mit his friend to be superseded by the expeiieiicec) 
 engineer who ran the dummy. Lewis declared that 
 it was not his fault that the train was behind time ; 
 but I knew that he was lacking in judgment. He 
 did not understand when to ease off the machine 
 and when to crowd on the steam. lie had no 
 talent or fitness for his occupation. 
 
 I had made up my mind not to apply to Colonel 
 Wimpleton for any situation. If he wished to em- 
 ]iloy me, and to redeem some of his large promises, 
 lie knew that I was out of a situation, and he could 
 Bend for me. I did not mean to begin by cringing 
 to him. I suppose, after the first impulses of grati- 
 tude subsided, some of the old feeling of malice 
 towards me came back to him. It is very likely 
 that Waddie, who had never forgiven me for de- 
 ranging his plans, during the battle on the Horse 
 Shoe, by recapturing Tommy, had some infiuence 
 with Lis lather. \Vhutever the reason was, I was
 
 808 LIGHTNING EXPKESS, OB 
 
 not sent for. Father and I worked in the garden, 
 ^v]lero there was enoncrh for both of xis to do. He 
 liad money enough on hand, our johit earnings, to 
 bupport the family f)r some months. We were botli 
 of tlio opinion that it v.-as not prudent to apply to 
 Colonel Winipleton for situations. If he wanted us, 
 he must come for us. 
 
 While we were thus waitincf for " somethinsf to 
 turn up," the Ucayga, the new Centreport steamer, 
 arrived. She was certainly a magnificent boat, sur- 
 jiassing all the ideas I had ever formed of a floating 
 jialace. I went over to see her, and I could not 
 but realize that she would be a formidable rival of 
 the Lightning Express, even if she did require 
 lialf an hour longer to make the trip. On her 
 passage down the hike, she had made sixteen miles 
 an hour without pressing; but as half her freight 
 and passengers depended upon Ruoara, she was to 
 be allowed an hour and three quarters for the trip, 
 against an hour and a quarter required to make 
 the passage by the Lake Shore Railroad. 
 
 Flaming posters about the streets of Centreport 
 auuouuced that the Ucayga would leave at quarter
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES, 309 
 
 past eight, and connect with the trains east and 
 west at the foot of the lake. It all looked very 
 pretty, but the battle was yet to be fought. The 
 competition was for through-passengers. When the 
 boats from Ilitaca reached Centreport twice each 
 day, the question with travellers was to be, wheth- 
 er they would go to Ucayga by the new steamer 
 or by the railroad. The boats from up the lake 
 usually arrived at quarter past eight and quarter 
 past two, allowing fifteen minutes at Centrepoit, 
 and fifteen more to land their passengers at Mid- 
 dleport. If the Ucayga could get oft" on time, she 
 was safe enouG;h on her connections. It was a 
 question of minutes and seconds on which tlie suc- 
 cess of the steamboat enterprise depended. But 
 of the hard-fought battle which ensued, I shall speak 
 in another story — "On Time," 
 
 Everybody in Centreport and Middleport was ex- 
 cited over the impending contest, fur it was still 
 a battle between the two sides of the lake. Major 
 Tdppleton professed to be entirely confident of the 
 result, and mysteriously hinted at resources for win- 
 ning the race which had not yet been developed.
 
 810 LIGHTNING EXPRESS, OB 
 
 The TJcayga made her first trip crowded with pas- 
 sengers, wliile the Lightning Express train was com- 
 paratively deserted. Still the major was confident, 
 declaring that "a new broom sweeps clean," but 
 the passengers would soon return to the railroad, 
 especially during the approaching winter, when the 
 steamer was liable to be troubled with ice in the 
 lower part of the lake. 
 
 But a shadow soon came over the dream of 
 Colonel Wirapleton, who boasted grandiloquently 
 over his success. The up-lake boats began to be 
 regularly ten minutes late ; and one day, in spite 
 of all the crowding done on board of the Ucayga, 
 she missed her connections. Then she did it again, 
 and again, and i^Goj^le would not trust her. Steam- 
 er stock went down. As Major Toj^pleton's hopes 
 rose, Colonel "Wimpleton's fell. It was plain enough 
 now that the major required the Hitaca boats to be 
 ten minutes late. The colonel swore terribly when 
 he realized the nature of the trick. 
 
 As my connection with the Lightning Express 
 had ceased, it would not be proper for me to re- 
 main any longer under that flag; and I must take
 
 THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. 3H 
 
 leave of the Lake Shore Railroad for the present, 
 to forage in a ne^y field. 
 
 About the time the Ucayga arrived at Centre- 
 port, Tommy Toppleton was able to leave the 
 house on ciiitches. The only word the major 
 had spoken to me since our interview in his man- 
 sion, was to tell me that I had lamed his son for 
 life. I did not believe this, and it was a great sat- 
 isfaction for me to hear the doctor say that Tom- 
 ray's leg would be as good as ever in a few weeks. 
 I hoped his sufferings would do him good, and do 
 something to modify his arbitrary character. 
 
 I need hardly say that the rival Academies were 
 still rivals. Neither was satisfied with the result 
 of the battles on the Horse Shoe, and each was 
 thirsting for an opportunity to ovcrwheliu the 
 other. I could not justify myself for giving the 
 details of this miserable warfare, if it were not for 
 contrasting it Avith the glorious peace and frater- 
 nity which grew out of it. 
 
 Tommy was, perhaps, as unpopular us ever ; but 
 
 his misfortune, if it did not excite the sympathy of 
 the Toppletonians, i^revented them from manifesting
 
 312 lilGHTNIXG EXPRESS. 
 
 their feelings in a mutiny, as they intended, at my 
 discharge. I am happy to say that I stood first 
 rate with the students on the Middlcport side, when 
 Tommy and his flithcr had done their worst ; but 
 the mutiny came at last, when Tommy's tyranny 
 could be no longer endured. I was satisfied. I 
 shall always remember with pleasure most of my 
 experience on the Lake Shore Railroad, and espe- 
 cially on the LiGHT^^mG ExruEss.
 
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 "Books that our Toachers ougM to have en hand to SPICE UP with now ana 
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 C3-EO. 1^. b.-^k:ei?.'s 
 
 Selections in Prose and Poetry, 
 
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 and ATTRACTIVE PIECES for SCHOOL SPEAKERS 
 
 and READING CIRCLES. 
 
 In the words of the Gospel Banner, — 
 
 ' From grave to gay, from lively to severe' 
 In poetry and prose ajiuUcious mixture here } 
 Jjeside outlandish dialects, full of irords odd and queer^ 
 Which stir one's sense of humor as they fall upon the ear^ 
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 Published in Parts, each Part containing Fifty Selections. Paper Covers, 15 
 
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 SO cents each. 
 
 1 *■» I ' 
 
 I?,EA.I3IISrO CLXJB 3sro. 1. 
 
 '•tVe have many readers and books that purport to furnish pieces for the use 
 of amateur speakers and juvenile orators. But the great defect in nearly all of 
 them is, that their selections are made from the same series of authors. We are 
 surfeited ad naiiseatn with ' The boy stood on the burning deck, ' ' On Linden, 
 when the sun was low,' 'My name is Norval ! ' or, ' My voice is still for war.' 
 But in this volume, the first of a series, Mr. Baker deviates from the beaten 
 track, and furnishes some fifty selections which have not been published before 
 in any collection of readings. Mr. Baker has himself written many pieces for the 
 amateur stage, and achieved a reputation as a public reader, so that he is eminently 
 qualified by his own experience for the task of teaching others." — i'hil. Age. 
 
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 " In its adaptation to day schools, seminaries, colleges, and home reading, the 
 work will be found very superior in its variety and adaptability of contents." — 
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 of short articles, serious, humorous, pathetic, patriotic, and dramatic. Send and 
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 tion, Jan. 1876. 
 
 "The young elocutionist will find it a convenient pocket companion, and the 
 general reader derive much amusement at odd moments fi-om its perusal." — 
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 Wolf Run. 
 
 Brouoht to the Fro^'t. 
 
 The Mission of Black Rifle. 
 
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 PLEASANT COVE SERIES. Six vols. Illus- 
 trated. Per volume $1-25 
 
 Ahthub Bhowx, the Youxg Captain. 
 
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 Child of the Island Glen. 
 
 John Godsoe's Legacy. 
 
 Fisher Boys of Pleasant Cove. 
 
 THE WHISPERING PINE SERIES. Six vols. • 
 
 Illustrated. Per volume $1.25 
 
 The Spark of Genius; or, The College Life 
 
 of James Trafton. 
 The Sophomores of Radcliffe; or, James 
 
 Tkafton and hi*; Bosom Friends. 
 The WnisPEuiNG Pine; or, The Graduates of 
 
 Radcliffe. 
 Winning his Spurs; or, Henry Morton's First 
 
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 The Turning of the Tide; or, Radcliffe Rich 
 
 AND HIS Patients. 
 A Stout Heart; or, The Student from over 
 
 THE Sea. 
 
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 Lion Ben of Elm Island. 
 
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