Then Carlota was swung to the little platform car, her brother beside her, and the men were working the handles which propelled it over the rails. For a moment or two, the children felt as if they were being hurled to ruin; then the sensation of flying exhilarated them, and they cautiously looked about them.
“Isn’t—it—wonderful! Will it—run off—the rails?” whispered Carlota.
But nobody heard her; though a little later Carlos put down his head and halloed in her ear:
“I should like to ride like this—forever!”
She did not answer, save by an ecstatic squeeze of his hand. Then all at once, she caught sight of a dark object lying on the ground, which they whizzed past and left behind. After another short distance, a similar, uncanny, motionless body; and her heart sank drearily. These were the carcasses of dead cattle which had been too ignorant to get out of the way, had been slain by passing trains. In fresh terror she hid her face on her brother’s breast and waited for her own direful end. Then on and on, till it seemed she could not endure the agony of suspense, and thought:
“I’d rather be killed quick—quick—than wait—this way!”
But, at last, with a little jerk the car came to a standstill and Dennis cheerily called out:
“Misthress Burnham! Hello, Jack! Go tell your mother, lad, to come see the fine present I’m after bringin’ her. A pair of young papooses, to be raised along with yez all!”
CHAPTER XV
GETTING ACQUAINTED
As the trackmen and their charges stepped into the little circle of light made by one kerosene lamp nobody spoke. The Indian-like attire of the young Manuels deceived the Burnham household, till the mother’s gaze rested upon Carlota’s face. Then she comprehended that here was a child of white parentage, nor of a class common to the plains, and exclaimed: