Kitty behaved beautifully at first; but presently the rough mountain roads began to jar upon her nerves, I think; for by the time the stage reached the station, she was scratching and mewing at such a rate that I was ashamed of her. I lagged behind, so cousin shouldn't hear.
And was this the depot? A jail, I should say. Such a wicked man staring through the hole in the wall! Wonder what he was put in for?
"The ticket-master, that is," said cousin Lydia, smiling at me, though I hoped she couldn't see what I had been thinking.
Then she bought the tickets; but she wouldn't let Fel or me keep ours. She said the kitty was all I could manage. So I should think!
We heard a shriek like my Big Giant. It frightened me dreadfully; I began to think there was such a man. No wonder kitty jumped. Next moment some yellow things came tearing along. Then I knew it was the cars.
"Come," said cousin Lydia, climbing the steps.
Well, I intended to come. My foot was just a little stiff, but I was hurrying as fast as I could, when up sprang the cover of the basket, and out popped the kitty. Of course, I wasn't going without Silvertoes. She scampered round the end of the depot, and I ran after her. It was of no use; she dropped into a hole. I couldn't have been gone half a minute; but those yellow things took that time to whisk off. I ran the whole length of the platform, calling, "Whoa!" but they never stopped.
The black-whiskered man had come out of his cell, and was locking the depot door.
"O, won't you stop that railroad? Please, for pity's sake!"
The man made no reply; only shut one eye and whistled. I danced and screamed. There were those things puffing out of breath, and determined not to stop.