Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter V.
Then,asDykeappliedthereverse,itdrewbackfromthegreaterdanger,returningtowardstheless.Inevitablynowthetwoengines,oneontheup,theotheronthedownline,mustmeetandpasseachother.
Dykereleasedthelevers,reachingforhisrevolver.Theengineeroncemorebecamethehighwayman,inperilofhislife.Now,beyondalldoubt,thetimeforfightingwasathand.
Thepartyintheheavyfreightengine,thatlumberedafterinpursuit,theireyesfixedonthesmudgeofsmokeonaheadthatmarkedthepathofthefugitive,suddenlyraisedashout.
“He’sstopped.He’sbrokedown.Watch,now,andseeifhejumpsoff.”
“BrokeNOTHING.HE’SCOMINGBACK.Ready,now,he’sgottopassus.”
Theengineerappliedthebrakes,buttheheavyfreightlocomotive,farlessmobilethanDyke’sflyer,wasslowtoobey.Thesmudgeontherailsaheadgrewswiftlylarger.
“He’scoming.He’scoming—lookout,there’sashot.He’sshootingalready.”
Abright,whitesliverofwoodleapedintotheairfromthesootywindowsillofthecab.
“Fireonhim!Fireonhim!”
Whiletheengineswereyettwohundredyardsapart,theduelbegan,shotansweringshot,thesharpstaccatoreportspunctuatingthethunderofwheelsandtheclamourofsteam.
Thenthegroundtrembledandrocked;aroarasofheavyordnancedevelopedwiththeabruptnessofanexplosion.Thetwoenginespassedeachother,themenfiringthewhile,emptyingtheirrevolvers,shatteringwood,shiveringglass,thebulletsclangingagainstthemetalworkastheystruckandstruckandstruck.
