CHAPTER XXXV

nshewentoutofPortLawrenceandinatwinklingfounditshutoffbehindherbythearmiesofthepines. AmileandahalffromPortLawrencetherewasasmallrailroadstationwithalittlestation-housewhichatthishourofthedaywasdeserted,sincenolocaltrainwasdue.NotasoulwasinsightwhenBarneyandValancyemergedfromthewoods.Offtotheleftasuddencurveinthetrackhiditfromview,butoverthetree-topsbeyond,thelongplumeofsmokebetokenedtheapproachofathroughtrain.TherailswerevibratingtoitsthunderasBarneysteppedacrosstheswitch.Valancywasafewstepsbehindhim,loiteringtogatherJune-bellsalongthelittle,windingpath.Buttherewasplentyoftimetogetacrossbeforethetraincame.Shesteppedunconcernedlyoverthefirstrail. Shecouldnevertellhowithappened.Theensuingthirtysecondsalwaysseemedinherrecollectionlikeachaoticnightmareinwhichsheenduredtheagonyofathousandlifetimes. Theheelofherpretty,foolishshoecaughtinacreviceoftheswitch.Shecouldnotpullitloose. “Barney—Barney!”shecalledinalarm. Barneyturned—sawherpredicament—sawherashenface—dashedback.Hetriedtopullherclear—hetriedtowrenchherfootfromtheprisoninghold.Invain.Inamomentthetrainwouldsweeparoundthecurve—wouldbeonthem. “Go—go—quick—you’llbekilled,Barney!”shriekedValancy,tryingtopushhimawa