Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter V.
Hefoundhimselfsettlingtotheoldpositiononthecabseat,leaningonhiselbowfromthewindow,onehandonthecontroller.Allatonce,theinstinctofthepursuitthatoflatehadbecomesostrongwithinhim,promptedhimtoshootaglancebehind.Hesawtheotherengineonthedownline,plungingafterhim,rockingfromsidetosidewiththefuryofitsgallop.Notyethadheshakenthetrackersfromhisheels;notyetwasheoutofthereachofdanger.Hesethisteethand,throwingopenthefire-door,stokedvigorouslyforafewmoments.Theindicatorofthesteamgaugerose;hisspeedincreased;aglanceatthetelegraphpolestoldhimhewasdoinghisfiftymilesanhour.Thefreightenginebehindhimwasneverbuiltforthatpace.Barringtheterribleriskofaccident,hischancesweregood.
Butsuddenly—theengineerdominatingthehighway-man—heshutoffhissteamandthrewbackhisbraketotheextremenotch.Directlyaheadofhimroseasemaphore,placedatapointwhereevidentlyaderailingswitchbranchedfromtheline.Thesemaphore’sarmwasdroppedoverthetrack,settingthedangersignalthatshowedtheswitchwasopen.
Inaninstant,Dykesawthetrick.Theyhadmeanttosmashhimhere;hadbeencleverenough,quick-wittedenoughtoopentheswitch,buthadforgottentheautomaticsemaphorethatworkedsimultaneouslywiththemovementoftherails.Togoforwardwascertaindestruction.Dykereversed.Therewasnothingforitbuttogoback.Withawrenchandaspasmofallitsmetalfibres,thegreatcompoundbraceditself,slidingwithrigidwheelsalongtherails.
