"That's the man over there," said their informant, pointing to a nervous officer on the platform.
"Sorry I can't accommodate you in the absence of the lieutenant," was his discouraging reply to their inquiries.
"Well, shall we walk it?" said Ralph.
"Not as long as the railroad is here; I have gotten out of the idea of walking since the captain made the suggestion," said Alfred, as he looked about.
"That looks as though it might go the right way," said Ralph, as he pointed to a long train and noticed a squad of men closing the doors. While walking across they saw an engine backed up and coupled on the coaches.
"This is our chance," said Ralph.
The conductor gave the signal and slowly the train began to move. Ralph sprang up on the running board, and, calling to Alfred, said: "Just in time!"
"Ay, there! where's your permit?" shouted a voice.
"Permit?" said Ralph. "Permit to get to the front? Well, that's news to me. Did you ever hear anything like that?" he continued.
The latter laughed at the audacity of the remark, but the conductor assumed that it was a species of assurance on the part of the boys, and it caused him to hesitate.