This was true, the satchels of the pair having been missed in the confusion. The owners were too excited to notice it. Andy's plans had come to naught.
"Oh, well, I don't care," he said. "A joke would lose its flavor now, anyhow. I'll get a chance to play another before we reach the prairies, and if I don't, I can have some fun with the cowboys."
"You want to be careful about that," warned Billy. "A cowboy is a bad customer to play a joke on, unless he takes it in the right way. He's very likely to get back at you worse than you expect."
"Oh, I guess I can take care of myself," said Andy, airily.
"That's just like him," murmured Frank. "He'll get his good and plenty some day, and it'll teach him a lesson."
Little was talked of in the train save the recent accident. Some who had loved ones in the hospital car made frequent trips to it to learn how they were doing, and most of the reports were favorable.
"How's the man who was hurt in the boiler explosion?" asked Billy, as the doctor who had first attended the wounded ones came through their car.
"Not very well," was the grave answer. "We want to operate, but we can't risk it on the train. We are hoping for the best."
Almost unconsciously Billy put his hand in his pocket where he carried the valuable paper, and there was a look of relief on his face as he felt its folds.
The rescue train ran to the nearest station which, fortunately, happened to be in a city where there was a hospital. To this institution the worst of the injured were taken, others being sent to hotels. Those who wished to continue their journey were to be provided with accommodations on the next regular train, and our boys took advantage of this offer.