He gave Griscom the go ahead signal. The engineer looked puzzled, but there was no time to waste, for the tracks were now signaled clear ahead. He put on steam and the train moved on its way, leaving Ralph and Van behind.
The boy paid no further attention to locomotive or Ralph. He struggled to his feet, and looked up the country road, then down it. The gig had disappeared, but a cloud of dust lingered in the air over where it had just turned a bend.
Van started forward in this direction. There was a pained, confused expression on his face, as if he could not quite get the right of things. Ralph came up to him and detained his steps by placing a hand on his arm.
The way Van shook off his grasp showed that he had lost none of his natural strength.
"What you want?" he asked suspiciously.
"Don't you know me?"
"Me? you? No."
"Hold on," persisted Ralph, "don't go yet. You are Van."
"That's my name, yes."
"And I am Ralph--don't you remember?"