Presently the conductor, now reinforced by a husky brakeman, stepped squarely in front of Clay and flashed a pair of angry eyes at him.
“Stand out of the way!” he commanded. “I want to look inside!”
Clay stood stupidly staring for a moment and then stepped out of the doorway.
CHAPTER V.—WHAT TOOK PLACE ON THE TRAIN.
There was no need for the conductor to hold his lantern aloft now, so he set it down on the deck and glared into the cabin. The husky brakeman crowded close to him, peering into the interior over his broad shoulder, a cynical smile on his grimy face.
The conductor seemed disappointed at the result of his inspection of the cabin. He gave a grunt and a shrug of the shoulders and turned to Clay, who stood watching him with apprehension in his eyes.
“Where are the others?” he demanded, in an accusing tone of voice.
“We are all here,” replied Clay, doing his best to keep control of his temper, for the manner of the railroad official was insulting.
“Only four?” the surly conductor asked, still looking suspiciously around. “These four belong on the boat, do they?”
The strange boy seemed to shiver with cold or fear. But the door of the cabin was open, and the wind sweeping over the moving train was cold and piercing. In a moment the boy turned his face away.