Just saw the Buster Keaton film The General last week and have obsessively
watched it repeatedly since! Just one question though...when Johnnie Gray
reports that The General had been stolen by what he thought were deserters,
he starts rallying Southern soldiers to board the train. He removes the peg
that links the cars together and goes on his way. And yet, just before he
sees the train cannon, he seems to be shocked that he's the only one in
pursuit. My question--which is a bit embarrassing to ask--is whether he was
intentionally pulled out the peg to separate the trains or what? Was it to
make his "abandonment" of the soldiers look like a mistake?

Thanks,
Andrew

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