Jerry looked at his watch and gave a low whistle.
“By Jove! She’s stopped,” he cried. “That’s it. I forgot to wind my watch last night. Oh, what a chump!”
“Then we’ve missed the Limited,” said Ned.
“And Noddy Nixon is ahead of us,” added Bob.
“I’m afraid so,” admitted Jerry, a look of disappointment on his face. “Has the local from Belmont gone?” he asked.
“Some time ago,” replied the agent. “She doesn’t stop here. The Limited will have passed her by now, though.”
The boys said nothing. They did not know what to do. Their enemy was ahead of them, and they were stranded. The professor was calmly looking for bugs on the wall of the depot.