Reade!" implored

ith the lariat and failed, was kn

r called over his shoulder. "I'll be

s now engulfed to his

f this!" begged the poor fellow, frenzi

n, friend!" Tom called,

e raw-hide lariat dropped

nd chest free, so that you can slip the noose down under your armpits. Keep

re that the engulfing quicksand was

tever was to be done to save the chief engineer must be done swi

Harry Hazelton was riding as fast

at the edge of the group, dismounting and

at horse and fly for a

e was pushing his way through the rapidly forming cro

are not needed. We don't want to put a lot of wei

edge of the platform. In a twi

rong hold on the collar o

me!" comm

, Mr. Hazelton. No more

f me, I t

isted Foreman

me, or I'll

Payson doggedly, maintaining his grip o

e foreman dragged Hazelt

you, if you interfere wi

Mr. Reade. Be cool, sir. Keep your h

chum going under the sands of t

n three or four men, at a sign from Payson, seized the

y, "order these fo

the rawhide lariat, and had made it fast about his own

erged to his waistline

Man-killer. Only a few seconds below the shifting level of the sand would be enough to smother the life out of him. Scores of st

ll the trouble, was now in the sand up to his mouth. The

led Tom, in cool encouragement. "

strong, sudden wrench and succeeded in drawing

again moaning piteously as he saw a h

zation of the other's peril. Of his own danger the

son had permitted, but strong-armed laborers stood on eithe

to scream, but the sand shifted into his mouth. In pitiable terror the poor fellow closed his mo

the thunde

d the horseman

ing from the saddle, the rider tossed a small bundle of ropes at

core of frantic voices, as the engulfe

led one of the ropes, gathering

Harry shouted,

ough the air, then s

fallen four feet to one side of Reade, and the

ke a sure throw, Harry

n made a thro

My head's cooler," c

eady throws, but each

screamed Harry, snat

en might be making throws," sp

and bent over f

as reaching up under his arm-pits. The young chief engineer had had the pre

Tom Reade, as a final cast-Harry's-sen

m, for his back was turned to the eastward,

uick, Tom, or you're done

erned answer. "It isn't half bad out here.

e!" ordered Hazelton hoarsel

"Haul away! Careful,

score of men seized the other end

up and down

ed. "You haven't made the

. "That wouldn't be fair play. Ha

tied under the shoulders of the engulfed laborer. It was magnificent, though s

coming line hauled the head of the unconscious laborer above th

s frantically working with another line, knottin

u men!" he called. "Be

ntly at the side of the

ng to do, Mr. Haze

d Harry. "I'm going to reach Tom Read

ide line; it's hemp,"

gh," retorted Haz

know ab

get a good hold. Also, one of you play out this

!" called the voice of Tom Reade, w

o you," Tom,

dangerou

t to com

't! Maybe I can

, if you went under, do you think I c

!" shou

s,

Hazelton come-y

got hi

eized by the strong

yson insisted. "It's a

me. Let me go

. I've Mr. Re

no longer in comman

mand enough

of the foreman. "If Tom Reade dies out yonder, and you've

back. Harry Hazelton, ordinarily the best

ere. You needn't heed any words from Reade. Now, you men

rted out on the deadl