"I guess he's the switchman, and he tends to the water tower," Bunny answered. At home they knew a switchman who lived in a little shanty just like this. He lowered and raised gates as trains came and went. But there were no gates here in this lonely place.
But Bunny and Sue knew this person was a switchman, and as he saw them coming down the track he stared in wonder at the children.
"Well, what are you two little ones doing here?" asked the jolly switchman as he greeted Bunny and Sue. His smile was jolly, his voice was jolly, and he seemed quite a jolly person all over. "Where did you come from?" he asked.
"Off that train," answered Bunny.
"What? That freight train?" asked the switchman, who was also the water-tender. He had charge of the pump that filled the tank alongside of the track.
"Yes, we were on that freight train," Bunny answered, "and we jumped off when it stopped."
"Well, of all things!" cried the jolly switchman. "And was the cat with you, too?" he wanted to know.
"Yes," answered Sue. "This was Nutty's cat."
"What, Nutty, the tramp?" cried the switchman. "Did he have you two tots?"
Bunny shook his head.