Bits of gravel struck him and rattled against the lamp.
The blurred, dark figures of men who sat upon the load cut against the fan-shaped beam, and in the background he saw a shower of leaping sparks.
But the other light was growing and Lister turned the wheel.

Burning oil splashed around him, a pillar of fire rushed up, and when a whistle screamed he let go the valve and turned from the blinding dust.

He was shaking, but the heavy snorting stopped.

The engineer had seen the light and cut off steam.
When Lister looked round the train was gone.

He had done what he had undertaken, and after waiting for a few moments he started back.