CHAPTER XII
THE RAILROAD PRESIDENT
The young fireman had a good deal to think of as he lay in the locomotive cab, unable to help himself in any way. All the smooth sailing of the past week was remembered in strong contrast to the anxieties of the present moment.
Ralph had not recognized any of the crowd who had appeared about the engine during the evening. The leader, however, seemed to know his name. This inclined Ralph to the belief that some one of the party did know him, and naturally he thought of Ike Slump and his associates.
“They are desperate men, whoever they are,” he decided, “and they must have planned out this scheme to perfection to keep track of Mr. Trevor and follow us up along the line. That man in the water tank is a daring fellow. He must have had a pleasant time in there. It was an original move, anyhow.”
It was in vain that Ralph endeavored to release himself. He was stoutly tied. All he could do 90 was to wriggle about and wonder how soon he would be set free by his captors or discovered by others.
It must have been fully three hours before there was any break in the monotony of his situation. Ralph heard some one whistling a tune and approaching rapidly. Soon a man appeared on the cab step, looked Ralph over coolly, and observed:
“Tired of waiting for me, kid?”