‘What’s that?’ asked David.
‘Why, a full-speed express goes as fast as it can, doesn’t it? And an empty-speed express goes as slow as it can. Hullo! It’s stopped whistling.’
The cow jumped out of the door, which immediately slammed to after her, and disappeared among the crowd on the platform. The train started at a great speed, so it seemed to David, but as it got going, it went slower and slower, until he could scarcely believe that it was moving at all. He felt rather lonely at the idea of spending five or six years in the train, but after all, if it moved so slowly, it would not be difficult to jump out. Unless he found another cow-porter, which didn’t seem likely, he would have to leave his luggage behind, but he would not really miss it much, since he had never had it before, and had not the slightest idea what it contained.
A pecking noise at the window attracted his attention, and he saw a crow sitting on the ledge outside.
‘Let me in,’ it said. ‘It’s time to rest. I shall stop flying for the present.’
David let down the window, and the crow fluttered on to the floor.
‘But if you stop flying, shall I become invisible?’ he asked.
‘Yes, of course. You’re getting dim now. Pop! Now you’ve gone.’
David held up his hand in front of him, but he could see nothing at all of it. It must have been there, because when he touched the end of his nose with it, it felt quite solid. But he had certainly vanished for the present, for there was nothing whatever of him to be seen.
‘I wish you wouldn’t interfere with me like that,’ he said. ‘You wouldn’t like it if I made you invisible.’