Two or three hours afterwards they boiled a kettle and brewed tea. The shadows were longer and half the lake was dark, but the sunshine was on the plain. In the distance gray smoke stained the sky, and going black, advanced across the grass. Then metal began to sparkle, and one saw a locomotive, rolling dust and a row of cars. The train dominated the landscape, and Kit thought it half a mile long.
“The new wheat is going East,” said Mrs. Austin. “Two thousand tons, I reckon, and to haul a load like that is some exploit. Well, I own when I see the big wheat trains I get a thrill. Before the railroad crossed the plains Manitoba was the halfbreeds’ furs preserve, and when I was a girl and visited at Winnipeg the mills could hardly use the broken farmers’ frost-nipped grain. Now the farmers are getting rich, and Manitoba flour goes across the world. Well, my husband’s a railroad builder, and I suppose I mustn’t boast.”
“After all, the farmers grow the wheat,” Austin remarked and pulled out his watch. “Kit and I must be at the bridge in the morning, and we ought to shove off.”
Harries went for his motorcycle, Florence jumped up, and the big machine rolled noisily away. When the rocking figures vanished behind the bluff Austin laughed and steered his car into the trail.
“Florence’s nerve is pretty good, but if Ted drives like that in the sand belt, something’s coming to her.”
The car started, and Kit, sitting at the back with Alison, was sorry to go. After the turmoil at the bridge, to loaf about the quiet wood and talk to Alison was soothing. Now his holiday was almost gone, he felt melancholy, but they were not yet at Fairmead and he began to joke.
The trail was torn by wheels and long grass grew between the ruts. The car rocked and the wheels skidded, but until the track pierced the sand belt they made progress. At an awkward corner Austin stopped, and Kit saw the motorcycle a few yards in front. Harries had pulled off his coat and knelt by the machine. His face was red and his hands were smeared by sooty oil.
Miss Grey sat in the sand. Her eyes sparkled, and dark spots on her clothes indicated engine grease.
“She jumped the track and fired us,” Harries shouted. “Something’s broke and I guess I’m beat. You’re engineers. Come on and help!”
Austin pulled out his watch. “Sorry, Ted, but unless we’re at the bridge in the morning the chief will make trouble. Can I loan you some tools?”