"What did you do with them?"
"Turned them over to the sheriff's officers, of course."
It was nearly an hour before the curious passengers would consent to leave the young soldiers to themselves. Noll finally managed to convey an excellent hint by leaning back in his seat and closing his eyes as if in sleep.
Hal dozed somewhat, but by one o'clock in the morning both recruits were wide awake.
"What time are we due at Clowdry?" Hal asked the passing brakeman.
"More'n an hour late," answered the trainman.
"Whew! That means we won't get there until after three in the morning," muttered Hal.
"I wish we wouldn't get there until daylight," rejoined Noll. "Then I'd feel like dropping back for another nap."
Nearly everyone else in the car was dozing, it being after midnight.
It was half-past three o'clock in the morning when the brakeman rested his hand on Hal's shoulder.