The engineer bestowed a quick glance at me as he passed, then his gaze wandered ahead.
Grabbing up the two bundles, which were hidden behind a telegraph pole, I made a quick dash forward and succeeded in boarding the first coach from the engine, commonly known as the "blind baggage."
I didn't stop on the car platform, as is usually done, but crawled to the top of the tender, which was well loaded with coal.
As near as possible I made things comfortable by placing the largest lumps of coal out of reach, thus enabling me to partly conceal myself by lying down.
Exultation was now mingled with excitement.
I had just begun to congratulate myself when, to my dismay, I noted that the train was slackening speed. A moment later it stopped.
Footsteps now sounded, hurriedly approaching the engine.
I lay quite still, almost afraid to breathe, as the conductor and porter came up.
"Come down from there! Come down!" cried the conductor.
I raised up intending to ask him to let me go.