At that point there was a very heavy grade and cattle trains came down it at sixty miles an hour.

Two trains swung past us, and to my surprise the conductor then gave the signal to go ahead.

We did start, when I at once ventured to remark to him that only two trains had so far gone by.

He pooh-poohed my assertion; but after a few minutes began to think that he himself might just possibly be wrong.

Meantime I got out on the platform and was ready to jump.