The rails sank beneath the wheels and then sprang up until the load on the next axle pressed them down again; the snow flaked off the side of the road-bed, which was built up with broken rock.

Festing thought the movement was too marked and waited for the locomotive, which was coupled to the back of the train.
The engine was of the ponderous, mountain type, but it ran smoothly, with steam cut off, and although the ground trembled and the rails groaned as it passed, there was no threatening disturbance.
"The bank's holding up, and this was about the worst spot," Charnock remarked.

"We had some trouble in bedding the king posts in the slippery stuff." Then Kerr gave them a nod as he went by.

"Looks pretty good, and they have a full load on the cars." "I think we'll wait until the train comes back," Festing said to Charnock.

"The engineer will open the throttle wide to pull her up the grade." They sat down in a hollow of the bank, for a bitter wind blew through the gorge, and after a time the roar of falling gravel echoed among the pines.