"Not ours," replied Farrar. "Perhaps the driver's dropped his war-bonus?"
"Most-like the Army gent with the dog has got rid of some surplus rations, sir," countered the guard.
"Quite possible," agreed the engineer "luff" with a grin. "You ask him."
The guard clambered on the footboard and swung himself through the open doorway of the van. In five seconds he was back again.
"He's not there, sir," he reported, "and the dog neither. You didn't by any chance see him go along the permanent way?"
The three officers descended. Owing to the fact that the train was standing in a curve only two carriages were visible from where they stood. From the nearmost one an engineer-commander and a gunnery lieutenant were watching the proceedings with bored interest.
"Going to give the train a friendly leg-up, Tommy?" inquired the engineer-commander.
"We've found some one's kit, sir," replied the young officer, picking up the case and fumbling with the lock.
"Hold on!" exclaimed Holcombe warningly. "This isn't quite all jonnick to my fancy."
"What are you fellows doing?" asked the "gunnery-jack." "Shove the stuff in the scran-bag and don't keep the train waiting all day."