“It won’t. You heard the trainman say we were waiting for the local, and that comes in over there on the other side of the station. Let’s see if there are any fish in this stream.”
“Who cares whether there are or not?” But Jimmy followed along the embankment to lean beside Dud over the railing of the culvert and stare into the little brook that flowed beneath. “I see a frog down there, if that will do you any good. I’d like to catch him and put him down Star’s neck!”
They had wandered some forty or fifty yards back from the rear car, which the team had taken possession of, and consequently when a bell clanged far down the track and the command “All abo-o-oard!” reached them, as it did at that moment, they didn’t waste time in expressing surprise or consternation but set off as fast as their feet would carry them.
“That trainman,” panted Jimmy, “will come to a bad end!”
Whether the conductor failed to see them or whether he gave them credit for an astonishing celerity they never knew, but the train began to move before they had covered half the distance between the culvert and the last platform of the rear car. Running over ties is not conducive to speed and for a moment or two they despaired of reaching their goal. But they did reach it, just when the end of the station platform threatened to defeat their efforts, and Jimmy, leading, grasped a handful of iron railing and gave a spring.
What happened next was always very confused in their minds. They had noticed that the rear platform was occupied by someone, but had not recognized who that someone was. As Jimmy’s fingers closed about the railing at the steps a rubber-soled shoe was placed against his chest and the very next thing [Jimmy] knew he [was rolling over on the platform and Dud] was rolling over [with him], and the train was rods away!
[“Jimmy ... was rolling over on the platform and Dud ... with him”]
Struggling somehow to his feet, Jimmy gave chase, shouting like a wild Indian and causing a stupendous commotion amongst the few occupants of the platform. But all he got for his pains was an ironic farewell wave from the figure in the doorway of the last car!
Dud, rather pale of face, joined him, dusting his clothes and staring dazedly after the disappearing express. Jimmy, wild-eyed, turned sputteringly.