The Paul Bedford Collection by Paul Bedford

The Paul Bedford Collection by Paul Bedford

Author:Paul Bedford [Bedford, Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Robert Hale
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00


In the cab Tatum Barklam and the captain braced themselves as the massive locomotive with its projecting cowcatcher ploughed through the buffers and off the track. With the iron wheels now moving through earth, the speed dropped off, but not sufficiently to save the poorly built structure. It was as though Ma Bristow’s rooming house was struck by a combination of earthquake and tornado. With an awful rending sound the whole clapboard wall gave way under the unstoppable onslaught.

A choking cloud of dust and splinters showered over the cab as the engine thrust on into the building. With timber supports snapping like matchwood, the first floor gave a tremendous shudder. The nearest two rooms were suddenly open to the elements and both Dalton and Sarah were visible. Somehow she remained on the bed, even though it had been thrown to one side as the floorboards snapped in two over the top of the iron boiler. Dalton had instinctively grabbed the Sharps before dropping flat next to the far wall. Most of the train was now off its supporting rails, the earth acting as a drag that finally brought the locomotive to rest inside the building. It was only the support of the huge boiler that prevented the entire rear of Ma Bristow’s doomed house from collapsing in on itself.

Inside the cab the two men were miraculously unharmed. The vulnerable smokestack was the only part of the engine to have suffered major damage. It had completely sheared off and ended up in a steaming heap in what had been the rear parlour. Back in the rear carriage, the President had wisely remained on the floor until the train came to a grinding halt. His experience of bloody violence could be traced back to the Mexican War, so his next action came completely naturally. He crawled over to his desk and removed a Navy Colt revolver.



Download



Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.