Their appearance had caused a great deal of speculation and gossip among the loafers around the place and many curious glances were thrown in their direction, but no one came near them. The train was late as usual, but it came at last and they climbed aboard with a certain feeling of relief. There might be a wreck but there would not be any quicksands or swamps and a wreck seemed rather trivial compared with those two things which they had come to hate so cordially in the past few days.
“Well, we are on the home stretch now,” Scott exclaimed comfortably.
“Yes,” Murphy retorted, “for the first time in what seems like a century we know where we are going and how we are going to get there.”
The train stopped at the first station. There did not seem to be much of an excuse for a station there, nor anywhere else along the line for that matter, but the train always stopped at all of them as if it hoped that sometime there might be somebody there. This time it was not disappointed. Scott was looking out of the window and he saw a lone man step across the platform and get on the front end of the car. No one else was in sight there, not even a station agent.
Before he had drawn in his head he felt Murphy grab him suddenly by the knee and squeeze it meaningly. He looked inquiringly at Murphy and then followed his glance up the car. The new passenger was walking slowly toward them and he instantly recognized Qualley. The car lamps evidently dazzled Qualley’s eyes after his wait in the darkness and he had not seen them, but just as he was turning into a seat he stopped for a glance over the occupants of the car and recognized them. With well-feigned surprise he changed his mind about the seat and came towards them, smiling.
“Blamed old fox!” Murphy growled under his breath. “If he knew what we know he would have kept off this train.”
“Well,” Qualley exclaimed good-humoredly, shaking hands with them, “I didn’t expect to see any one I knew on this train. Glad to see you. Good ways from home, aren’t you?”
“Quite a jump,” Scott replied. “We’ve been out having a look at the country. Quite a journey for you, too, isn’t it?”
“Yes, first time I have been out of camp for a long time. Company wanted me to come down here and look over some turpentine prospects. They are thinking of leasing in here.”
“Aren’t you afraid they will take advantage of your absence to steal all the logs in the pond?” Scott asked, and he nudged Murphy secretly with his foot.