“So would I,” said Nat.
Their train stopped at a small station, and was held there for some time.
“Wonder what we’re waiting for?” ventured Jack. “What’s the matter?” he asked of a brakeman who passed through their car at that moment.
“Some block on the line ahead,” was the reply. “We’ll go in a few minutes.”
There was some fretting among the passengers at the delay, but finally the train started off again. It proceeded slowly. Then followed some sharp whistles, and finally there sounded a report like a gun.
“It’s a hold-up!” cried an excited man.
The boys and all about them leaped to their feet in alarm.
“That’s what it is,” went on the man. “It’s a Wild West hold-up! Better hide your watches and money.”
He began emptying his pockets of his valuables, and was thrusting them under his seat.