CHAPTER XXIV
IN "THE BARRENS"
Ralph Fairbanks had taken a terrible risk, and had met with his first serious accident since he had commenced his career as a young fireman. When he next opened his eyes he was lying in his own bed, a doctor and his mother bending solicitously over him.
Slowly reason returned to him. He stared wonderingly about him and tried to arise. A terrible pain in his feet caused him to subside. Then Ralph realized that he had suffered some serious injury from his reckless drop into the locomotive cab near the picnic grounds.
"What is it, doctor?" he asked faintly.
"A bad hurt in one arm and some ugly bruises. It is a wonder you were not crippled for life, or killed outright."
"The train—the picnic train!" cried Ralph, clearly remembering now the incidents of the stolen engine.
