As he drew near enough for the conductor to see his white, excited face, he exclaimed:
"Where have you been? I thought you were in the cab with Barney."
"I—I tried to go back over the cars," stammered Bob.
"Barney shouldn't have let you. It's too dangerous for a greenhorn."
Wincing at the words, which slipped out unconsciously as the conductor thought of what might have happened to the boy, Bob hastened to defend the engineer by saying:
"Mr. Barney didn't know I was going. I wanted to surprise you by showing you I could go back without your help. And—and then the train started, and I had to hang on to a coal car."
"Well, so long as you didn't get hurt, it's all right. But don't try it again. Now, run back and climb into the caboose. Let's see how quick you can do it."
The last was a diplomatic means to make the boy hurry, for the conductor was anxious to start the train, yet would not until he saw his charge safe in the caboose.
And his ruse was successful, for Bob, eager to show his speed, raced down the track and quickly swung aboard.
Smiling, Hosmer again signalled to Barney,
