THE wrecking crew had arrived shortly before the boys and the
professor got back, and there was a big crowd of passengers and train
men around the laborers.

"Never mind eating," called Ned. "Come on, watch 'em. We can get a
bite afterward."

"Not for mine," sung out Bob, as he made a dive for the dining car.
"I'll be with you pretty soon."

"There he goes again," remarked Ned with a sigh. "I couldn't eat when
there's any excitement going on. I want to see how they get the cars
on the track."

"So do I." said Jerry.

They pressed on to where, by means of powerful hydraulic jacks, men
were busy raising up the engine, which, because of its weight, had
sunk quite deeply into the ground. The jacks were small, but one man
worked the handle, which pumped water from one part of it to another,
and elevated a piston, that, in turn was forced up with terrible
pressure, thus raising one end of the ponderous locomotive.

When the wheels were clear of the earth other men slipped under them
some peculiar shaped pieces of iron, so arranged that when the
locomotive was pulled or pushed ahead by another engine, the wheels
would slip upon the rails.

In turn each of the wheels of the engine and tender were so fixed.
Then word was given the engineer of the relief train to back down and