The dog did not seem pleased with the idea of transferring his prisoner to the custody of another, but he mounted slowly to the deck of the motor boat and sat gloomily watching the two until the cabin door closed against him.
“Well, that’s a nice way to thank a fellow!” his eyes seemed to say, as he turned an ear to the east in response to the beating of wheels on the upward grade.
There was another train coming, and Case opened the cabin door and looked out Captain Joe greeted him with a dignity which was at once a promise of forgiveness and a reminder of previous discourteous treatment.
Case listened an instant and turned his face back into the cabin.
“I’m going out now,” he said to the captive inside, “but I’m leaving the dog on guard. He’ll eat you up if you try to get away.”
With this cheerful remark he turned from the cabin and listened to the steady roar of the approaching train.
“If you are hungry,” he called back, already moving away and leaving the door open so that the watchful dog might be seen from the interior, “there are cold pancakes and bacon on the table, and coffee on the stove. We got supper a long time ago, but this has been our busy night, so we haven’t eaten yet.”
There was an instantaneous rattling of dishes and Case smiled as he peered through the open door. The prisoner was eating as if he had not seen food before in a long time.
“Go to it!” laughed Case. “You’re welcome. And, say, if you know anything about electric stoves, you might warm up that coffee. Or perhaps you can do it quicker on top of the coal stove, if the fire hasn’t gone out.”
The headlight of the on-coming train was now in the pass, lighting the rails until they glistened again, bringing the platform car and the boat set rakishly upon it out in bold relief. And just in front of the engine, running at full speed along the ends of the ties, was Clay. Alex could be seen clinging to one of the cab steps with the fireman threatening him with a shovel of coal.