“THE CAPTAIN SAID WE WERE TO WAIT”
The face of the lonely track-walker now shone with delight at his company and, as soon as he had heard Carlota speak, he recognized that she belonged to a higher social class than his own. He pulled his forelock when he addressed her and his manner was both respectful and protecting.
“Is it the railroad? ’Tis that same. Are the rails the rails? They be. Do the trains come to-night? Why not? Same’s every other. But it’s not for a train I do be waitin’. As I was a-sayin’, the folks that lives here doesn’t. They’ve moved down to the next station on ‘Tuttle,’ more by token there’s more good wather for fillin’ the ingines an’ drinkin’, whilst here the bottom’s dropped out. Was a well sunk, one o’ thim artaysians, same’s all down the track, yet somethin’ or ’nother pumps it out down below, as fast as it fills an’ faster. So, says the Superintendent, says he, to Misther Burnham, says he: ‘Take the traps of your misthress an’ childer’ an’ go there,’ says he. So they went, a week maybe; an’ ’twas I just stepped back here, the night, to look for me shovel that’s lost. I’m abidin’ a hand-car will be along, by and by; an’ I’m thinkin’ how Mike’ll be starin’ at a couple o’ Injuns, for passengers on it.”
“But we must stay here, right here. The Captain talked a deal about ‘Obedience,’ and his orders were: ‘Stay.’ So we must,” said Carlota, firmly.
“But, sister, there is nothing to eat and nowhere to sleep!” protested Carlos, who had not himself been “lectured.”
“There is the floor. And we can find something to eat—to-morrow. We need only just sleep, till then.”
“An’ it’s not here ye’ll try it!” returned Dennis, indignantly. “What’s a Captain more nor a man?”
“He’s a soldier. A gentleman. He knows.”
“He knows nought. He isn’t the ‘Super’, is he? He hasn’t the charge o’ the railroad same as of soldiers an’ Injuns.”
The discussion was closed by a rumbling sound, which grew steadily louder, and made Carlota clasp her brother’s hand. He, also, looked toward Dennis with a new fear, almost as great as her own, till he saw the trackman’s face beaming with satisfaction.