“Washington!  Washington!  When will you stop using words that don’t mean anything!” cried the old man, hurrying forward.  “I presume you mean there has been a railroad wreck?”

“That’s it, Perfessor.  De extenuatin’ circumstances ob transmigration—­”

“That will do, Washington!” said the aged man, somewhat sternly.  “You must stop talking, and act.  This is no time for foolishness.  There may be people hurt.  Come along and let us see what we can do.”

“Yes, sah!” replied the negro, calming down.

Then the two hurried down along the track, piled high with the debris of the runaway freight train.

“My!  My!  This is a terrible wreck!” cried the old man, as the two climbed over the mass of wreckage.

“Hi, Perfessor!” called the colored man, suddenly.  “I’ve found something!”

“What is it, Washington?”

“It’s a boy, an’ he dead!”

“Oh, that’s too bad!”

“An’ heah’s another, an’ he’s dead!  Dis catafterme is de most—­”

“Now, Washington, remember what I told you.  No big words wanted at the present time.  Where are the boys?”

“Here, Perfessor,” and the negro showed the old man where Mark and Jack were lying, close together on a pile of sand.  The professor bent over them.  He felt of their hearts and listened to their breathing.

“Here!” he cried, suddenly.  “They’re not dead!  They’re only stunned!  Maybe we can save them!  Hurry, Washington, and carry them to my cabin.  You take one and I will bring the other!”

“You don’t need to carry any ob ’em,” answered the colored man.  “Dis chile is strong ’nuff, I reckon, to tote dem two boys,” and, suiting the action to the words, he stooped down, put an arm around each of the prostrate forms and lifted one on each shoulder. “’Bout face!  Forward march!” he cried.

With the old man following, the negro made his way along a path that led over the fields, until he came to a long and rather narrow shed built on the edge of the woods.

“Be sure no one is in sight before you go in!” cautioned the old man, as he opened the door, which was fastened with several padlocks.  “It would never do to have my secret discovered now.”

“Nobody in sight, master!” exclaimed the colored man, as he turned, with the two unconscious boys on his shoulders, and gazed about “De coast am clear.”

“Then hurry inside and we will see what we can do for the poor lads.  I fear they are seriously hurt.”

The negro slipped in as the old man held the door open, hurriedly closing it afterward, and bolting it on the inside.

“Put them on my bed,” went on the gray-haired man.  “Then hurry back to the wreck!  There may be more people hurt, whom you can aid.  Don’t stop to talk, but hurry back.  I will see to the boys.”

Not very willingly the negro left the shed.  When he was gone, and the door was securely fastened after him, the old man went over to where Mark and Jack lay, both still unconscious.