"I—I guess we'd better go back," said Laddie.
"And mother's flowers!" exclaimed Vi. "Do you know where you dropped them?"
"I dropped mine just where you dropped yours, I guess," returned her brother.
"We'll go pick them up. Come on."
They were both tired when they started to trudge back up the hill. And just as they started they heard a long blast of a whistle, and then two short blasts.
"What do you suppose that is?" asked Vi.
"It's the engine. Oh, Vi! maybe it's going to start without us," and Laddie began to run, tired as he was.
"Wait for me, Laddie! It can't go—you know it can't. The big rock is in the way."
But they were both rather frightened, and they did not stop to find their flowers. The possibility that the train might go off and leave them filled the two children with alarm. They ran on as hard as they could, and Vi fell down and soiled her hands and her dress.
She was beginning to cry a little when Laddie came back for her and took her hand. He was frightened, too; but he would not show it by crying—not then, anyway.