"He says he's with
the show."
"Put him off!" howled one of the roustabouts who had been
sleeping on the flat car under a cage. "Never saw him before."
"You sit down there, young man. Next stop, off you go,"
announced the brakeman sternly.
"I'll bet you I don't," retorted Teddy Tucker aggressively.
"We'll see about that."
"Quit your music; we want to go to sleep," growled a showman
surlily.
The brakeman put down his lantern and seated himself on the side
of the flat car. He did not propose to leave the boy until he
had seen him safely off the train.
"How'd you get wet?" questioned Tucker's captor.
"Some fellows ducked me."
The trainman roared, which once more aroused the ire of the
roustabouts who were trying to sleep.
They had gone on for an hour, when finally the train slowed down.
"Here's where you hit the ties," advised the brakeman,
peering ahead.
"Where are we?"
"McQueen's siding. We stop here to let an express by. And I
want to tell you that it won't be healthy for you if I catch you
on this train again. Now, get off!"
Teddy making no move to obey, the railroad man gently but firmly
assisted him over the side of the car, dropping him down the
embankment by the side of the track.
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