“Well, that lucky stone came in handy, after all,” remarked Ned.
“It sure did,” agreed Bart, “though he could have used the end of a flag stick just as well, if he had thought of it.”
While the engineer, firemen, and some of the brakemen worked over the disabled engine, another trainman walked back to the nearest telegraph office to summon a relief engine. Meanwhile the passengers waited with what patience they could.
“Well, suppose we eat now,” proposed Bart.
“Good!” exclaimed Frank. “Pass out the sandwiches,” which Bart proceeded to do.
In the seat across the aisle from the boys was a little girl. Hungrily she eyed the food as it came out of the baskets, and, in a voice that could be heard from one end of the car to the other, she piped out:
“Mamma, I’m hungry. Why didn’t we bring some lunch?”
“Hush, dear,” said the child’s mother. “We will soon be at our station, and we can get something to eat.”
“Not very likely to be there soon, ma’am,” observed the fat man, who was in a hurry. “By Jove, I wish I’d thought to bring a snack. I will, next time I travel on this road.”
“But, mamma, I’m awful hungry,” insisted the child, as she gazed eagerly at the chums who were munching away in great enjoyment.