The opposition can make it plain enough that your crowd dynamited its own roadbed through a well-founded fear that the tracks clear through weren't strong enough to stand the passing of a train.

Don't be afraid, Reader the enemies of your road will know how to explain the dynamiting this side of Brewster's." "That's a question for tomorrow, Black," rejoined Tom Reade.
"No man can ever tell, today, what tomorrow will bring forth." Too-oo-oot! sounded a locomotive whistle again.

One of the men in the thicket threw himself to the ground, pressing his ear to the earth.
"There's a train, or a locomotive, at least, coming this way from Lineville, boss," reported the fellow.
"A train ?" gasped Black.

Then his face cleared.

"Oh, well, even if it's a fully equipped wrecking train, it can't get the road mended in time to bring the through train in before midnight, as the charter demands." Now the train from Lineville came closer, and the whirr of its approach was audible along the steel rails.