Poole and Chance looked at each other quickly, and the former said:
“I told you you were wrong, Chance. They got here on time.”
“And with two minutes to spare,” said Billy, tartly. “Oh, I saw the man taking our time on the inn steps as we came in. We’d have heard about it before now if we had run over the schedule.”
Chance growled something in Burton’s ear and they walked away.
“Ha!” ejaculated Billy. “They both thought it would be a walk-over for them. They never expected to see us during the run.”
“Well, they’ve seen us now. Let’s get to work, Billy-boy. We’ve got to overhaul this car before we sleep.”
“If you say so, Dan,” said Billy, yawning wearily.
“It’s best. We want to get away bright and early—by seven o’clock at least. No running after dark again for us. The cars that started late had that handicap.”
“I know,” admitted Billy.
“Now, in the morning, those cars that we have passed, and that have put up short of this place, will be out on the road in good season. We want to keep ahead of those we have already passed.”