"Goodbye!" Duck called, and rolled gently over the crossing to the other line. Duck loved coasting down the hill, running easily with the wind whistling past. He hummed a little tune.

"Peeeeeep! Peeeeeep! Peeeeeep!"

"That sounds like a Guard's whistle," he thought. "But we haven't a Guard."

His driver heard it too, and looked back. "Hurry, Duck. Hurry!" he called urgently. "There's been a break-away, some trucks are chasing us!"

There were twenty heavy loaded trucks. "Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!" they laughed. "We've broken away! We've broken away!" and before the signalman could change the points they followed Duck on to the down line.

"Chase him! Bump him! Throw him off the rails!" they yelled, and hurtled after Duck, bumping and swaying with ever-increasing speed!

The Guard saved Duck. Though the trucks had knocked him off his van, he got up and ran behind, blowing his whistle to attract the Driver's attention.

"Now what?" asked the Fireman.

"As fast as we can," said the Driver grimly, "then they'll catch us gradually!"

They raced through Edward's Station whistling furiously, but the trucks caught them with a shuddering jar! The Fireman climbed back, and the van brakes came on with a scream.

Braking carefully, the Driver was gaining control.

"Another clear mile and we'll do it!" he said.

They swept round a bend.

"Oh glory! Look at that!"

A passenger train was just pulling out on their line from the station ahead!