It was nearly dusk when the train reached South Dover. The place was only a name. There was not a building within a mile of the tool sheds and water tank that marked the spot.
The train slowed up for Ralph, who jumped off. He waved his hand to Griscom in adieu, and looked all about him.
South Dover was a switching and make-up point for the accommodation of Dover freight transfers. It had a dozen sidings and spurs. Freight coming into Dover on a north destination was switched here, and made ready to be taken up by through trains.
A man on a track bicycle had just set some lights. He whirled away towards Dover as Ralph stood looking about him.
No other human being was in sight. On a near siding stood half a dozen freight cars. Over on another track, near the water tower, stood a dead freight dummy.
"I can't make out much here," reflected Ralph. "No one in sight, no indication why Van mentioned the place."
He strolled over to the dead locomotive. Its tender was full of coal. Ralph opened the furnace door. Everything was ready to kindle up, and the gauge showed a full water supply.
"I see," mused Ralph. "There is to be some switching, or a night run. I don't know how soon, though. Well, I'll hang around a bit. Something may develop."
Ralph walked down the short line of freights, casually inspecting the cars. As he came to the last one he dodged back in a very lively fashion.
Climbing up the embankment to the left were four persons. They had just emerged, it seemed, from thick underbrush lining the tracks.