"What was his business wi' it?" Cleg demanded of himself half a dozen times, during that interminable period before they came to the next station.
The train stopped at last, and Cleg dashed the wet locks off his brow and cuddled his beam closer. He could stand it out now, he thought. He was congratulating himself on being in Netherby in a few minutes, when he heard the military voice above him.
"Guard," it said, "the boy you threw out of the train at Dunnure got in below the empty Pullman. I think he is in there now."
Then Sulky Jamie swore loudly and emphatically. Cleg could hear him swinging himself down from the platform upon the line.
The reflection of the lantern showed him the bars and wheels of the forward bogie.
But Cleg did not wait for the arrival of Sulky Jamie. He dropped down and sped out at the dark side of the station, with bitter anger in his heart against the interfering military man. As he looked down from the wire paling he saw the deserted platform of Newton Edward, and a vengeful thought struck him. He ran quickly round the stern light of the train and climbed upon the platform. A lantern was sitting on a barrow. The station master was talking to the engine driver far away at the end, for the late train was always long. The guard was routing out tramps beneath the Pullman.
With sudden determination Cleg pulled the stem of his cap over his eyes, and buttoned the sleeved waistcoat of railway velveteen closer about him. Then he took the lantern in hand. He was going to pay his debts to that evil-conditioned military man with the white moustache.
He could see him now, sitting at his ease, and trying to read his paper by the light of the miserable oil lamp, fed with scanty drains of dirty, half-melted oil, which to this day is supplied as an illuminant by the Port Andrew Railway Company.
Cleg opened the door smartly.
"Ticket, sir!" he said briskly.