In fact, the train, labouring up the heavy gradient, did barely more than crawl through the snow and wind, and the slow beat of the engine told how hard it was even to do that. Acton added thoughtfully, "We've quite four miles yet to the summit, and there's a chance we mayn't——"
"Mayn't what, Acton, please?" said Grim, putting down his magazine.
"Get there, Grimmy."
"To the top? Oh, rot!" said Senior.
"I can't quite remember such a crawl as this, Jack; listen how the engine coughs."
"If we can't get to the top of the incline—what then?" asked Grim.
"Go back, I should say."
"To Lowbay?"
"Yes. But while we do crawl there's no need to fret."
"That would mean goodbye for the present to your place, old man?"