"Nix on the circus, says I," hastily replied the other. "I ain't looking for no excitement, an' I ain't paid to amuse th' passengers. I hope we don't even run over a track-torpedo this side of Sandy Creek."
Hopalong returned, and as he came even with them the train slowed.
"What are we stopping for?" he asked, his hand going to his holster.
"To take on water; the tank 's right ahead."
"What have you got?" asked Billy, ruffling his cards.
"None of yore business," replied Lanky. "You call when you gets any curious."
"Oh, th' devil!" yawned Hopalong, leaning back lazily. "I shore wish I was on my cayuse pounding leather on th' home trail."
"Me, too," grumbled Red, staring out of the window. "Well, we 're moving again. It won't be long now before we gets out of this."
The card-game continued, the low-spoken terms being interspersed with casual comment; Hopalong exchanged infrequent remarks with
