was there nothing she could do ? there was one thing....A light! the engineer would see the light, though shouts would seem no more than a faint whisper in the hut she had only half a handle, and if she took that on the line the rain and wind would put it out at once. in her poverty she had neither lamp nor lantern and the winter fires had almost finished the piles of sticks that she had gathered in the woods
searching anxiously round the little hut, her eyes rested on the wooden bedstead and wooden chairs they were very old these were the only things to burn
with trembling hands the two woman chopped and cut the bedstead until it lay on the floor in pieces then carrying these in their arms they climbed to the line and piled up the wood in the middle of the track
covering a match from the wind the old woman struck it began to blaze up the rumble of the train could be heard
nearer and bearer came the roar of the train they could see the light in front of the engine then it slowed down and came to a stop close the blazing pile